Ty Lewis can't believe it when Coach V recruits him for the football team. This is Ty's big chance to prove how fast he is on the field, get a fresh start in a new school, and be like his older brother, Thane "Tiger" Lewis, who's about to graduate from college—and is being courted by the NFL.
But Ty's guardian, Uncle Gus, won't let him play. Uncle Gus needs Ty to scrub floors and toilets for his cleaning business while he cooks up gambling schemes with the local mob boss, a man called "Lucy."
When Lucy hears just how famous Ty's older brother is, he becomes suddenly friendly. Are the questions Lucy is asking Ty really about fantasy football . . . or is the Mafia using Ty to get valuable insider info from his superstar brother? Desperately worried, Ty must come up with a plan to save Thane's football career—and, ultimately, his life.
Author of the New York Times bestselling Football Genius, former NFL player Tim Green will have you on the edge of your seat rooting for Ty—and enjoying an up-close look at what it's like to be inside the NFL.
Read More
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
[T]he moral choices faced by the hero are heart-wrenchingly realistic, while the detailed description of the world surrounding the life of a professional football player will appeal to the many fans of the sport.
Children's Literature - Heidi Quist
After a lifetime of adoring his near-perfect brother, Ty Lewis finds himself in middle school with some hope for having the same football talents as Thane "Tiger" Lewis. But while Thane is on the road to recruitment by the Jets, Ty faces the abuse of his legal guardian uncle whose mind is on everything but good parenting. Specifically, he thinks it a good birthday present to get Ty a work permit so he can help with the family business: cleaning a bunch of sleazy businesses at night and therefore not playing on the football team. Some turns in events thanks to Sal, a mob-member client of his uncle, Ty does get back to playing, but life does not necessarily get much better. Beyond dealing with his aunt and uncle's forcing him to use an outhouse as opposed to their indoor plumbing, their snootiness at his every uttered word, and their complete disregard for his feelings, Ty's difficulties come from a number of other sources as well. He deals with a school bully, with some undeserved school discipline, and finally with finding himself in the middle of an illegal gambling plan, which includes backstabbing his beloved Thane. The irony is that Thane is largely oblivious to everything his brother is enduring but still Ty finds wisdom in his every word, permitting him to remain highly esteemed in Ty's and the unwitting young reader's mind. Readers who enjoy melodrama, over-the-top stupidity in the villain, and a warped sense of family values will enjoy this audio book, particularly with the various voices that add just the right dose of inanity to the mix. Six CDs.
School Library Journal
Gr 5–8—After the death of his parents, 12-year-old Ty Lewis moves into a trailer park with his aunt's family. The boy is constantly reminded by his Uncle Gus that he should be grateful that they took him in and allow him to sleep on the floor in the laundry room and to use the port-a-potty set up outside. At school, Ty is teased about the pillowcase he uses for a backpack and for his second-hand clothing. Football is the one bright spot in his life. Ty is the fastest kid at school, and the football coach has noticed him. But Ty's dreams of playing on the team are derailed when his uncle demands that he work every evening after school. Things start to turn around for Ty when his older brother, Thane, signs with the NFL. Suddenly Ty is thrown into the spotlight of an illegal gambling ring run by the local mob. Uncle Gus, a compulsive gambler, forces Ty to reveal sensitive information about injured players on Thane's team. Ty and Thane come under the scrutiny of the FBI who wants to close down the gambling ring. Author Tim Green skillfully narrates his fast-moving sports thriller (HarperCollins, 2008) along with a full cast of excellent voice actors. As a former NFL star, Green knows exactly how to convey the game's excitement and suspense. Fans of sports stories and thrillers will enjoy this action-packed tale.—Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN
Read More
