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Last Chance for First

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"If the final score of a game is the most important part of a story, it's not much of a story. That score only matters insofar as it affects characters- why they care what the score is, " says Robby's creative writing teacher. Robby is in his junior year of high school and believe his future depends on that final score.

In Tom Hazuka's novel LAST CHANCE FOR FIRST, it appears on the surface that Robby's having the perfect high school experience: he's a good student with a great soccer career ahead of him. However, he's got to remain headstrong with some tough challenges. His soccer coach is overpowering and takes things too far at practice. One of his teammates makes a wrong choice one night and his actions affect the team's chance for the championship. His girlfriend has some secrets that she needs to reveal, and his parents constantly compare him to his older brother, who can do no wrong.

Robby has to step up and play the hardest game he's ever played before: just making it through this year. He learns what he really cares about and that the final score isn't what truly matters.

This was a good first novel by Tom Hazuka. He creates realistic scenes that can happen in any high school. I look forward to his future books.

Reviewed by: hoopsielv

Hazuka writes an entertaining contemporary fiction novel that is right on target when depicting a sixteen year old high school athlete, Robbie, who struggles with the everyday challenges of being a "jock", dating an outspoken yet genuine girl, meeting the high expectations of his parents, and finding his own moral ground. His writing is easy to read and allows the reader to walk in Robbie's footsteps. The characters are well developed, the plot and subplots are engaging, and the short chapters make it a fine example of young adult literature. A definte recommendation for young adults who will eaily relate to the storyline.