 | Game change Author: Monninger, Joseph | |
| Price: $8.19 | ||
Summary:
When Zeb Holloway is called to be starting quarterback one week before the state championship game, he realizes he may have a future outside his rural New Hampshire town.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 4.40 Points: 9.0 Quiz: 193265 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 3.70 Points: 15.0 Quiz: 70631 | |
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 Gr 6–9—In Grafton County, New Hampshire, football rules all. Seventeen-year-old Zeb Holloway is content living in the shadows as backup quarterback. His peaceful routine of working at his uncle's auto repair shop and hunting deer in New Hampshire's backwoods is turned upside down when the star quarterback is injured a week before the state championship game. Zeb is instantly thrust into the spotlight with newspapers, college scouts, and admirers watching his every move. Zeb works to stay true to himself and his support system during the hectic time. Through intense dialogue, rich details, and comments from town members, Monninger heartwarmingly and realistically portrays Zeb and his companions as relatable individuals who do not have the perfect lives. The description of football and the community pressure feel authentic. Zeb deals with the stress of athletic expectations, life with one parent, and developing romantic relationships. Readers find themselves rooting for his happiness more than a football victory. The plot lacks intense action but makes up for that in humorous narrative detail and character development. VERDICT Recommended for a young adult collection looking for more sports fiction. —Emily Bayci, Naperville Public Library, IL - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 09/01/2017 In the rural town of Rumney, New Hampshire, senior Zeb Holloway’s life seems fairly set: repairing cars with his uncle, hunting deer on weekends, helping his overworked single mom, and sitting on the bench as the backup QB on his high school’s football team. Things change when the star QB breaks his leg and Zeb must step up, be a leader, and start the state championship game. Used to a quiet life, Zeb suddenly feels the pressure of everyone watching and counting on him. More than just a game, this opportunity makes him realize he needs to start thinking about his future. A coming-of-age story with the American dream simmering underneath, Monninger’s novel will grab the attention of sports fans, even reluctant readers, and Zeb’s adjustment to a role outside his comfort zone will resonate with many readers as they navigate their high-school years. Spanning the week leading up to the chance of a lifetime and the biggest game of all, Zeb’s story is full of heart and discovery. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.
