Deep Zone

By Tim Green

Sport: Football

Rating: 3 3/4 stars

This is billed as a Football Genius novel. Fans of Troy, the football genius, and of Ty, the wide receiver who was chased by the mafia, will be thrilled to see them united in this story.  Both boys are in Miami for the 7 on 7 tournament for kids played on the morning of the SuperBowl.  When Ty and Troy meet, they aren’t on the friendliest of terms as Ty is rather smitten by Troy’s friend Tate.  He is also worried about the mafia coming back to haunt him and his brother.  Troy, meanwhile, is preoccupied by his on-the-run father and whether or not he really keeps showing up wherever Troy happens to be.  So when both things the boys are concerned about combine—there may well be an explosion OFF the field!  There is plenty of football action and a twist at the end of the story that fans will be happy to see.

The Underdogs

By Mike Lupica
Sport: Football
Rating: 3 3/4 stars

In yet another heartwarming story, we meet Will Tyler, an extremely talented wide receiver.  Will is upset because his small town is dying a slow death, with few jobs, and the town is saying they don't have enough money to fund his football team.  Will gets the brainwave to write to New Balance to get his team sponsored, and they step up, but finding enough members for the team?  That's another problem.  Then finding a coach?  Yet another one.  But Will doesn't give up. And when he finally gets his team pulled together, he is going to make sure they don't give up either, not until they make the champsionship game.  If you've read any other Mike Lupica books, you pretty much know how this is going to end, but that doesn't make it less sweet.  A satisfying story with plenty of football action.