Game Changers: Book 1 [Hardcover]

Mike Lupica (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 8, 2012 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Game Changers (Book 1) | Lexile Measure: 870L (What's this?)

Mike Lupica delivers a New York Times bestselling middle grade series!

Ben McBain is every football team's dream player. He's a jack-of-all-trades guy that can handle almost any position. When the game is on the line, Ben's number is the one being called for the final play. But Ben wants to be the starting quarterback and the one thing standing in his way is the coach's son.

Shawn O'Brien looks the part. He has been groomed by his father, a former professional quarterback. But despite his size and arm strength, Shawn is struggling.

Ben is torn between being a good teammate and going after his own dream. As Ben finds out, Shawn isn't the easiest person to help. And when Ben gets an unexpected opportunity, the entire game will change for the both of them.

Best-selling author Mike Lupica kicks off a winning new series about sports and friendship that will captivate readers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Ben McBain, 11, knows that he has what it takes to be a great quarterback, although he can't convince his coaches to see beyond his small stature. So he's not surprised when Coach O'Brien tells the team that his own son, Shawn, will get the position. Outwardly, Shawn has it all-the size, the arm, the speed. But he doesn't have a deep love for the game, and, when plays don't go perfectly, he spirals out of control. Determined to make the season the best it can be regardless of the position he plays, Ben tries to befriend the temperamental boy. Shawn slowly opens up about the pressure he feels from being coached by his father, a retired NFL player, and how he can't relax and enjoy the moment. When the team loses the first two games of the season and Coach O'Brien puts Ben in as quarterback halfway through the third game, the Rams go on to win. This is the start of a turnaround for the team, and further wins put the championship back in their sights. But as their team does better, Shawn retreats into sullenness and wants nothing to do with Ben. While the ending of this engaging story is predictable, Lupica has a great ear for dialogue, and even the minor characters are fully developed. The tone is inspiring without crossing into didacticism, and there is plenty of football action throughout.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

In praise of Game Changers

"Ben is a strong character, surrounded by a great group of sidekicks. Readers who, like Ben, live and breathe football, will enjoy." -Kirkus Reviews

"Lupica's football action engages, and his delineation of the athlete's thought process and emotional highs and lows of competition feels visceral and real." --Kirkus (Review of Million Dollar Throw)
"Lupica is at his best when he puts the reader right in the center of the action..." --Booklist (Review of Summer Ball)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (May 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545381827
• ISBN-13: 978-0545381826
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Football
  • #61 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Values

More About the Author

Mike Lupica is one of the most prominent sports writers in America. His longevity at the top of his field is based on his experience and insider's knowledge, coupled with a provocative presentation that takes an uncompromising look at the tumultuous world of professional sports. Today he is a syndicated columnist for the New York Daily News, which includes his popular "Shooting from the Lip" column, which appears every Sunday. He began his newspaper career covering the New York Knicks for the New York Post at age 23. He became the youngest columnist ever at a New York paper with the New York Daily News, which he joined in 1977. For more than 30 years, Lupica has added magazines, novels, sports biographies, other non-fiction books on sports, as well as television to his professional resume. For the past fifteen years, he has been a TV anchor for ESPN's The Sports Reporters. He also hosted his own program, The Mike Lupica Show on ESPN2. In 1987, Lupica launched "The Sporting Life" column in Esquire magazine. He has published articles in other magazines, including Sport, World Tennis, Tennis, Golf Digest, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, ESPN: The Magazine, Men's Journal and Parade. He has received numerous honors, including the 2003 Jim Murray Award from the National Football Foundation. Mike Lupica co-wrote autobiographies with Reggie Jackson and Bill Parcells, collaborated with noted author and screenwriter, William Goldman on Wait Till Next Year, and wrote The Summer of '98, Mad as Hell: How Sports Got Away from the Fans and How We Get It Back and Shooting From the Lip, a collection of columns. In addition, he has written a number of novels, including Dead Air, Extra Credits, Limited Partner, Jump, Full Court Press, Red Zone, Too Far and national bestsellers Wild Pitch and Bump and Run. Dead Air was nominated for the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best First Mystery and became a CBS television move, "Money, Power, Murder" to which Lupica contributed the teleplay. Over the years he has been a regular on the CBS Morning News, Good Morning America and The MacNeil-Lehrer Newshour. On the radio, he has made frequent appearances on Imus in the Morning since the early 1980s. His previous young adult novels, Travel Team, Heat, Miracle on 49th Street, and the summer hit for 2007, Summer Ball, have shot up the New York Times bestseller list. Lupica is also what he describes as a "serial Little League coach," a youth basketball coach, and a soccer coach for his four children, three sons and a daughter. He and his family live in Connecticut.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Knows Football November 29, 2012

By Scott William Foley VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I picked this book up through Vine for my high school classroom. I have several students who love sports, so I figured this would be right up their alley.

Once I began reading the book, I immediately had concerns about the main characters being ten-years-old. Those concerns were put to rest, however, when it became apparent that Lupica wrote them to sound far older. There were many times I felt as though they were college players, not pee-wee league. On the one hand, this bothered me to a certain extent. On the other hand, though, I reminded myself that the book wasn't written for a thirty-five-year-old, it was written fro young adults and children. Bearing this in mind, I think my students will better relate to it because the characters sound older than their dictated age.

I'd always heard Lupica wrote sports well. Now I know this to be true. His terminology is accurate and he achieved authentic pacing in regards to the games played. My athletes will really love that he got those things right.

Finally, I greatly appreciated the positive messages delivered within the book. Lupica makes a point to reinforce the importance of good sportsmanship, team chemistry, doing the right thing, and having loving relationships with family.

Though the dialogue of the characters seemed too sophisticated for the ages, I thought this book overall succeeded on many levels. I've already put it into the hands of a football player in my class and can't wait to get his take on it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars My nephew loved it! October 18, 2012

By Anna VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I'll start off by saying I am NOT a Lupica fan, but I have to admit he writes a great sports book. My nephew is in Lupica's target audience and he enjoyed the story, and the book is great for young people in the midst of growing out of children's literature.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Choice for Reluctant to Read Boys October 12, 2012

By L. Courtney VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

My son, like many other tween boys, would rather do something active than sit to read a book. Mike Lupica books have engaged him and held his interest.

Game Changers revolves around the sport of football. It is not too difficult of a reading level. And the subject matter is sure to appeal to boys (or girls) who enjoy the sport. Mike Lupica writes knowledgeably about the sport. The book is clean and appropriate for the grade level. As is often the case in Mike Lupica books, there is a valuable lesson to be learned. And the story holds the interest of reluctant readers who are sports fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written Sports Book for Pre-Teen and Early Teen Boys November 20, 2012

By Ms Winston TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I think this looks like the start of an exceptional series for boys up to about age 13, although in my experience most kids in that age group tend to want to read about children slightly older than themselves. My 17 year old grandson, who is, like the rest of the family, a football fanatic, had no interest in the book due to the main characters being only 11 years old. And, I have to admit, the age of the characters rather surprised me, as this book could easily have been translated to JV football level, which would only enhance its appeal to a larger age group. The author, Mike Lupica, knows the game and seems to understand boys of the age group covered in the book -- there is no "mushy love-stuff," even though there is a female character. I have to admit to a prejudice against books that try to promote "romances" between children and I found having a genuine friendship between the sexes very refreshing.

The basic plot outline is the friendship between two young players -- Ben McBain and Shawn O'Brien. Ben is a natural football player, who understands the game intellectually and has the physical prowess to play almost any position. He wants to fullfill every football - loving young boy's dream, however -- he wants to be the quarterback, only he is much smaller than most boys his age that play that coveted position. Shawn is the son of the coach, who was a professional player and a quarterback. The problem is that Shawn doesn't have Ben's instincts and is struggling. He asks Ben for help in improving his game, and Ben wants to help while at the same time wanting to fulfill his own dream of the being the team's QB. The boys are presented pretty realistically and are for the most part appealing.... Ben could have come off as somewhat of a goody-goody but due to the skill of the author just seems very human. And Shawn does as well, having the burden of being the son of the coach who also happens to be a famous player. I highly recommend this book as a gift to boys who are interested in football or other sports. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Really, 4.5 stars November 13, 2012

By H. A Truett VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

My son loves Mike Lupica's books. We usually listen to them as audio books. However, when this one popped up for review, I requested a copy. We used it as a read aloud, making it part of our homeschool day.Having two boys, I enjoy Lupica's books because they teach me some things about sports and the love of a game, without me getting a headache trying to keep up with the rules.

In this book, Shawn is harder on himself when he messes up than anyone else can be. Instantly, my son identified with Shawn. Once my kid feels he's messed up in a game, the rest of the game is ruined for him. When he relaxes and enjoys what he's doing, he throws strike after strike after strike. People stop to stare as he pitches on his park and rec team. But, like Shawn, when the fun stops, so does his confidence and the good attitude goes right down the drain. Haydn and I paid special attention, due to this similarity, to how the character of Shawn was developed, and I was happy with the eventual growth and humility. I hope it helped my son to see himself on the pages of this story.

My only real complaint from me is a grammar issue. I have not noticed it in any of Lupica's previous novels. The word "said" seemed to be used every line. No one yelled or cried or told or interjected. They all "said." I started skipping the word and just reading the dialogue. Usually, you could tell who was talking without the said. Perhaps this only bothered me as a writer, and other readers may not even notice.

The story was great. We will definitely continue reading Mike Lupica's novels.