 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Million-Dollar Throw
- By Mike Lupica
- Genre: Sports
Common Sense Media says
Another Lupica sensitive dad/son sports story.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this book will mostly satisfy sports lovers and football fanatics, it has a strong plot about Nate helping his best friend Abby deal with the onset of blindness. It also deals with how kids and parents both learn to deal with stress and the unavoidable problems that arise in life. For kids whose parents have faced job loss and for everyone else who knows someone that has been impacted by the economy, this book may help them accept the changes that come.
What's the story?
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.
Is it any good?
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.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the concept that it's not whether you win the game, but how you play it. Why is this a good metaphor for life?
How many people face a disease like Abby does, retinitis pigmentosis? Was it avoidable? What did you think about the way Abby accepted her disease? Was she hiding how she really felt?
What did Nate do that helped Abby the most? Would you have done the same things, or done other things for her?
Nate faced a great deal of pressure to make the million-dollar throw and win the money. He showed courage in many different ways. What were some of those ways?
What is the hardest part for adults about losing their jobs? How can other people help them?
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AGE
perfict for kids from 8 to 108
I loved it! For people who don't now sports it might be a little hard to under stand but i'm sure they would love it to.
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AGE
AWESOME BOOK! ITS A MUST READ 4 PEOPLE WHO LIKE SPORTS! ITS ALSO TEACHES YOU ABOUT THE DISEASE RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA!
Its awesome even after reading only 30 pages! Check it out!
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AGE
perfect for boys and girls who love sports
love it, it was a very heartwarming book.
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AGE
I read the book after my son finished it. I really enjoy reading Mike's book. This one may be one of his best works yet. I really wanted to find out what was going to happend to Abby. The ending surprised me.
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| Author: | Mike Lupica |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Sports |
| Publisher: | Philomel |
| Publication date: | November 3, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 256 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 14 |
| Read aloud: | 9 |
| Read alone: | 10 |
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