Something for Joey (Bantam Starfire Books) [Paperback]

Richard E. Peck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1983 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Bantam Starfire Books

Together, they won college football's highest award.



This is a true, memorable, compassionate story of courage and love between two brothers. In 1973, while John Cappelletti was winning the Heisman Trophy as the outstanding college football player in America, his younger brother Joey was suffering from leukemia. But John, now a running back for the Los Angeles Rams, had a very special medicine for Joey. It was called touchdowns. And John scored them in bunches because they were "Something for Joey." The story of the Cappelletti family is a story of courage you will never forget.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Together, they won college football's highest award.

This is a true, memorable, compassionate story of courage and love between two brothers. In 1973, while John Cappelletti was winning the Heisman Trophy as the outstanding college football player in America, his younger brother Joey was suffering from leukemia. But John, now a running back for the Los Angeles Rams, had a very special medicine for Joey. It was called touchdowns. And John scored them in bunches because they were "Something for Joey." The story of the Cappelletti family is a story of courage you will never forget.

From the Inside Flap

Together, they won college football's highest award.



This is a true, memorable, compassionate story of courage and love between two brothers. In 1973, while John Cappelletti was winning the Heisman Trophy as the outstanding college football player in America, his younger brother Joey was suffering from leukemia. But John, now a running back for the Los Angeles Rams, had a very special medicine for Joey. It was called touchdowns. And John scored them in bunches because they were "Something for Joey." The story of the Cappelletti family is a story of courage you will never forget.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (March 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553271997
• ISBN-13: 978-0553271997
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.6 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Diseases > Fiction
  • #67 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Sports > Football

More About the Author

At age nineteen, Richard E. Peck was commissioned the youngest officer and pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. He then completed college in 2 ½ years, his Ph.D. in three. He's worked as a stock boy, door-to-door salesman, disk jockey, playwright, actor and club comic, and eventually president of three universities. Not all at once.

His novels celebrate the places he's lived: Philadelphia, Rome, New Mexico, Wisconsin. He writes - all day, every day - when he's not golfing or visiting his grandchildren. He has a clear goal in mind for his work. "Two novels a year," he says. "Each one better than the last, until I get it right."

His best-selling book, TRAVELING AT MY DESK, collects 52 humor and travel columns originally published in Philadelphia, Swarthmore, and Albuquerque newspapers; and those columns are the basis for his frequent, entertaining talks.

You can contact him at: www.richardepeck.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My #1 Book of All Time!, July 25, 2003

By 

A 13-year old (The Great New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something for Joey (Bantam Starfire Books) (Paperback)

This book put me into reading. I can't understand how Peck could write such a good story without me knowing. I didn't eve know he had written this book and i think this book should recieve great awards for the effort put into the book and the final result. It was obvious that Richard Peck put something specail into this book that no other book has. I have seen, through this book the ingredients of a spectacular book. The vivid language has made the feelings of John and his brother Joey, a subject of Leukemia, combine together to make what i think is the world's greatest book.
John, a very good but not publisised football player for the Nittany Lions, has what seems to be the closest relationship with his brother, Joey. Joey has an extreme case of Leukemia where his white blood cells and his bone marrow are not strong enough and are too scarce to fight off many mild diseases such as the Chicken Pox. But despite the differences between them in age, about 10 years, John accomplishes everything for his younger brother. An example of this extreme brotherly connection is when John scores 4 touchdowns, something he had never accomplished before, just because it was Joey's birthday. Joey's life is very difficult, being in unbearable pain at times and having to see his doctors very often, but what seems to be the only thing that keeps Joey alive is the great ecstasy that goes through his mind when John scores touchdowns. When John wins the Heisman Trophy, the most priced possesion of great football players, he dedicates it to Joey, which is by far the best part of the book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, Awesome, Awesome, July 18, 2004

By 

Barbara Greer (OK, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Something for Joey (Bantam Starfire Books) (Paperback)

I first read this book my junior year of high school and the story has stayed with me for 12 yrs now. This is such an inspirational story about a young boy suffering from leukemia and his older brother who plays college football. The older brother finds a way to make his brother's life a little brighter, by making touchdowns. I laughed, I cried throughout this book. It's wonderfully written and emphasizes the bond between the brothers and the entire family. I think this should be required reading for all high school students.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sideline Effects, March 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Something for Joey (Bantam Starfire Books) (Paperback)

The statement, "fighting for your life" has new meaning when used to describe nine-year-old Joey. This suspense filled drama, Something For Joey, tackled us. When you read about Joey (a boy suffering from leukemia) and the side effects he has from the common childhood disease, chickenpox, your emotions will fumble. The combination of compassion and action kept us interested in the book until the very last page. "John was at his side, at Joey's side, the whole time he was sick." This book was at our side until it was finished.