The Walk On

August 4, 2014
Freshman Alex Myers believes he’s destined for gridiron greatness, graced with an unnaturally strong and accurate throwing arm. But when his parents’ divorce means starting school in a new town, he learns the quarterback position is already taken—by the coach’s son. The tyrannical head coach wants to win, but not at the expense of his son’s playing time. This first installment in the Triple Threat series follows roughly the same formula as Feinstein’s Sports Beat mysteries: lots of play-by-play action, sensational plot developments, and an attractive, whip-smart, sports-crazy romantic interest for Alex. Feinstein skillfully captures the mania that surrounds high school football, but does so uncritically, making it easy to see how high school athletics can become breeding grounds for entitlement. Though Alex’s chances of getting to play are never in doubt, his path—injury, fake injury, doping—takes some highly improbable routes. Fans of sports fiction won’t care about that, but an ending that leaves the outcome of the Big Game hanging might make them impatient for resolution, presumably coming in the next book. Ages 10–up. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM.

August 15, 2014
A cliffhanger of a football novel bristling with social, personal, familial and ethical issues to complement the gridiron action, from best-selling sports writer Feinstein. Alex Myers is newly located to a town outside of Philadelphia after his parents' divorce. He will be entering his freshman year in high school, and he has designs on becoming the first-string varsity quarterback. This is a bit of a stretch for both Myers and Feinstein, because freshmen-even Joe Namath-don't typically get invited to varsity practices. Moving on, it becomes apparent that Alex has one heck of an arm, even to the starter, who just happens to be the coach's son, a friendly and encouraging kid. Coach, on the other hand, might as well have come straight from Camp Lejeune. Feinstein's writing strives for the boyish but has a sophisticated undercurrent. The story has a steady stream of sports for those with a jones for that genre, but it is also a mystery and a testament to misplaced ego (both youth and oldsters), along with touching on puppy love, the sting of jealousy and parental affection. Oh, not to forget, the freedom of the press as well. Just a few minor issues, all handled with appropriate delicacy or firmness, as required. All the goods for the sports enthusiast-and more. (Fiction. 11-15)

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November 1, 2014

Gr 6 Up-This book begins with freshman Alex Myers, a new transplant to Chester Heights, Pennsylvania, at varsity football tryouts where he meets fellow newbie, Jonas Ellington. Unbelievably, both are superior to the upperclassmen in their positions, quarterback for Alex and wideout for Jonas. Dictated by the quest for another State Championship, and the subsequent scholarship offers for upperclassmen, high school football politics kick in, and Alex finds himself playing backup behind two lesser quarterbacks. The starting quarterback, who happens to be Head Coach Gordon's son, quickly honors Alex with the nickname "Goldie" in recognition of Alex's faultless throwing arm. While most of the school blindly cheers the dictates of Coach Gordon, the school newspaper is a breeding ground of investigative reporters, one being freshman Christine Whitford. Football action on the field, suspicious events off the field, combined with modern dilemmas faced by both teen and adult characters, make this coming-of-age story a page-turner for all mystery and sports fans. It compares well with Mike Lupica's QB 1 (Philomel, 2013), which focuses on a freshmen quarterback in Texas, and Carl Deuker's Payback Time (Houghton Harcourt, 2010), which follows a high school journalism student who investigates a football player. Feinstein's latest is an excellent addition to sports-fiction collections.-Sharon Lawler, Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2014
Grades 6-9 Alex Myers, 14, is the new kid at his suburban Philadelphia high school. Knowing that he has a great arm, he tries out for the football team, but the quarterback position is already takenby the coach's son, Matt. So it's third string for Alex, despite his talent, until, in Friday Night Lights fashion, Matt is injured and Alex must step up. Although this follows a familiar script, Feinstein, as usual, does an excellent job with the particulars. Not only is the sports action well recounted, there is plenty about Alex's personal story to keep less fervent fans involved: his parents' separation, his interest in the school's flirty sports reporter, and the support he gets from unexpected sources like Matt. A surprise twist, which might keep Alex off the field, seems a bit contrived but makes for an exciting ending. Like Roy Tucker in John R. Tunis' classic The Kid from Tomkinsville series, Alex Meyer can play a host of sports. With football season over, can basketball be far behind?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)