The Underdogs

September 19, 2011
Twelve-year-old football talent Will lives and breathes his sport. And he's not about to let the tough times suffered by his western Pennsylvania townâincluding a major factory closureâsignal the end of the football program he loves. With a Hail Mary passâeffort, Will makes a passionate plea to footwear maker New Balance and secures funding to play if he can pull together a proper team. He eventually rallies an unlikely groupâincluding a girl and Will's father as reluctant coachâworthy of a championship. Lupica (The Batboy) again nails the emotions of likeable kids who just want to play, and who aren't too overscheduled or distracted for neighborhood pick-up games. Frequent mentions of the history and hardships of Will's town and references to the nearby favorite pro team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, help keep this Cinderella story grounded in contemporary reality. Despite a sluggish start and a familiar trajectory, football fans will likely respond to the detailed and exciting game action once the season gets rolling and find inspiration in Will and his teammates' tenacity. Ages 10âup.

August 15, 2011

A 12-year-old halfback with a huge passion for football fights to keep his team on the field.

Will Tyler keeps reliving the final play of the previous year's championship, when his team came so close before his fumble caused the loss to their well-heeled rivals across the river. Unfortunately, budget cuts may keep the town from fielding his team this year. Like other manufacturing towns, Forbes, Pa., has lost jobs and businesses that might sponsor a sports team. Will takes a chance, writes to a national company and comes up with the funds to keep the team going. That was almost the easy part: The team no longer has a coach, former players are not interested and skepticism abounds. One of the few who want to play is Hannah, a new girl in town with great ability and as much grit as Will. For Will's dad, who has agreed to coach, and his teammates, this is nearly a deal-breaker. Sports-loving readers will identify with Will, whose heart and determination leap off the page. His budding friendship with Hannah rings true and contributes to his growth on and off the field. The relationship between Will and his widowed dad provides an emotional touchstone, while the desperation of a small town trying to hang on permeates the story.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2012

Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old Will Tyler and his widowed dad don't have much, and their small Pennsylvania town is fading since the athletic-shoe factory closed down several years earlier. But Will has football-until he finds out that the town council can't come up with the funds to keep the youth teams going. In a desperate Hail Mary move, he sends a heartfelt letter to the New Balance CEO asking for funds. When he gets word that the company is going to sponsor the team, Will thinks their troubles are over-until he discovers that several families are leaving Forbes for towns with more promise of jobs. Suddenly, there's a real possibility that there might not be enough players to make a team. Will encourages his dad, who has avoided the sport since a serious knee injury ended his own career, to sign on as coach, and together they convince the guys to take a chance on Hannah Grayson, a new girl who has a killer kick. The Bulldogs (or Underdogs, as Will fondly calls them) are on the roster, but it's still an uphill battle: with so few players, nobody sits out during the games. Sure enough, the team solidifies and gives the town something to cheer about. While the plot reads like a feel-good Hollywood movie, even Lupica's minor characters have depth and the dialogue rings true. There's plenty of action for sports fans, and readers will root for Will and his teammates till the very last page.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2011
Grades 5-8 When his economically downtrodden town announces that it will drop support for a football program for 12-year-olds, Will Tyler is crushed. After fumbling in the final game of the season the year before, Will had expected to be able to redeem himself in a new season. In desperation, he writes to Rob DeMartini, the real-life chairman of the New Balance sneaker company. Mr. Martini responds with the needed sponsorship, and the season is on. The usual motley group (included a spunky girl and a talented player who must be coaxed to play) is formed into an effective unit by the coaching of Tyler's wise father. The story ends with a predictable triumph, but despite the familiar plot and New Balance product placement, Lupica again delivers a sports novel that his fans will enjoy. The fraying creakiness of Will's town is effectively portrayed, and Will comes across as a real, multidimensional kid, not a cardboard hero.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)