Million-Dollar Throw (by Mike Lupica)

Thirteen year old Nate is already a star football player when he wins a chance to throw a football through a target and win a million dollars. His dad has lost his job and his family may lose their house. But even worse, his best friend Abby is losing her eyesight to a disease. His team is counting on him to win games, his parents really could use the million dollars, and Abby needs his support. It's hard enough to be a teenager without all those problems. Nate's dad used to be the one he shared everything with, but these days they don't even watch football games together. It looks like even his hero Tom Brady can't help him when Nate gets replaced as quarterback on his own team. But Nate puts the team first, and his parents convince him that just attempting the contest throw will be a once in a lifetime experience.

This story is all about football, and it's all about heart. Most kids have felt the impact of the economy on their families or their friends, and this realistic picture of parents struggling will help readers cope. It's heavy on the football play by plays, but for sports lovers it will be manna. It's also a good story about a father/son relationship, and the mom's pretty cool too. Abby is almost too good to be true, but her courage sets an example and provides the lesson that football is not the most important thing in the world, even for a jock. Even being a famous quarterback or winning a million dollars is less important than friends and family. No, this story isn't too corny to make a great father/son read aloud.

Author: Mike Lupica
Publisher: Philomel
Publication date: November 3, 2009
Number of pages: 256
Hardcover price: $17.99
Read Aloud: 9
Read Alone: 10