Harmon, Michael. Stick. New York: Alfred A. Knoph, 2015. 978-0-385-75436-1. 229 p. $20.99. Gr. 7 and up.

Brett “Stick” Patterson is the high school football star.  He’s got a seemingly bright future ahead of him, but he’s hiding issues at home, like pressure and abuse from his alcoholic father. He’s not even sure he cares about football anymore.  Preston Underwood is the classic genius-nerd of the school.  He faces bullying on a daily basis; most often from kids like “Stick”.  The two are an unlikely pair to be friends, but as Preston ends up tutoring Brett, and Brett makes a decision that will change his life, the two boys realize they have a lot more in common than it may seem.  Both are loners that have parents with issues, and both wear a uniform to hide their losses.  Brett lost his mother, who died, in childbirth.  Preston tries to be a neighborhood vigilante at night, as he is trying to make up for the fact that he did not react and help his father when he was being mugged.   A different kind of sports book, these characters will appeal to many students.   THOUGHTS:  Great read for middle and high school students, just be aware that there is harsh language. I’m always looking for sports related books.  I found that it dealt much more in depth with the friendship and bullying issues of the two main characters, so maybe not exactly the best choice for someone looking for a “football book”.  The dialog is very realistic, and I saw aspects of my students in Preston and Brett.

Realistic Fiction          Rachel Gutzler, Wilson High School

 

Klass, David. Losers Take All. New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015. 0-374-30136-0. $15.34. 305p. Gr. 7+.

Jack Logan hails from a family of sports heroes, but he has never particularly voiced an interest in athletics, much to his father’s dismay.  But, things are about to change.  When Fremont High’s beloved principal suddenly passes away, head football coach, Muhldinger, is voted in by the school board and slide tackles Jack’s senior year.  One of his first acts as principal is to mandate every student to participate in a sport.  Logan teams up with some other athletic misfits to form a third-string soccer team.  Coached by their Latin teacher, Jack and his friends lose spectacularly to a junior high girls’ team.  When Muhldinger gives the team a verbal lashing on the bus that ends up being recorded, the video goes viral.  Now the beloved losing soccer team has made news and put “Muscle High” in the media spotlight.  As the Losers’ season gains momentum, Jack takes a competitive turn as he dribbles his way toward an unexpected soccer opportunity.  THOUGHTS: You can’t help but cheer for the losers, especially anyone who has ever been pressured to participate in a sport or made to feel inessential simply because sports was not an interest.

Realistic Fiction           Christine Massey, JWP Middle School