Gr 5-9-Fifteen-year-old Joey has always loved playing football with his dad, but has managed to flub the tryouts for his high school team two years in a row. Relegated to water-boy status, he dreams of stardom. He gets his chance when the team's wide receiver is suspended for cheating and the coach just happens to see Joey make a stellar catch. During his first game, one magnificent catch follows another and he is on his way to leading his last-place team to the state finals. All is not rosy, however: the quarterback resents him for taking Matt's place, his pessimistic mother is convinced that he is going to get seriously injured, and his schoolwork takes a nosedive. Joey is torn between wanting to ask out a popular cheerleader and his newfound feelings for his best friend, Samantha. While Eulo's love for football shines through in all the game detail, characters are stereotypical and there are no surprises in this self-described "Cinderella story." Also, a racist incident involving a team party with "no-crows-or-jumping-beans" is far too easily resolved. Die-hard football fans may enjoy seeing how Joey overcomes all of the odds, but with great sports fiction available from the likes of Mike Lupica, Carl Deuker, and John Feinstein, this is an additional purchase.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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