Game Changer (The Game Changer)

by Tommy Greenwald (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade

 Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery--and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident.

Was this an inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or was something more sinister happening on the field that day? Told in an innovative, multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy's inner thoughts, Game Changer explores the joyous thrills and terrifying risks of America's most popular sport.

Select format:
Paperback
$9.99

More books in the series - See All

Kirkus

The story will resonate with those on both sides of the debate about the role of youth football in society, and the unusual...

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8--Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma after a severe football practice injury. But it soon becomes clear that it may not have been an accident; sinister motives may have been at play. Teddy's parents, who are at odds with each other, come together to deal with the tragic event. Greenwald dives right into the serious issues surrounding the dangers of football and hazing. The complexity of the story also plays out in the format: Greenwald uses text messages, one-sided conversations, transcripts, various reports, and Teddy's own thoughts to unfold the layers of story in this documentary style sports mystery. VERDICT A must-buy for libraries looking for innovative narratives for sports fans. Readers who enjoy Tim Green, Mike Lupica, and Kwame Alexander will want to pick this up.--Amy Lukich, Tinley Park Public Library, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Tommy Greenwald

Tommy Greenwald has enjoyed reading all his life, which is why he's appalled that his kids Charlie, Joe and Jack, would prefer getting a dental check-up to checking out a book. After years of pleading, threatening, and bribing, Tommy finally decided the only way to get his kids to read was to write a book about how to get out of reading. The Charlie Joe Jackson series is the result. And they read it! (So they say.) The Executive Creative Director at SPOTCO, an entertainment advertising agency in New York City, Tommy lives in Connecticut with his wife, Cathy; his non-reading sons, Charlie, Joe and Jack; and his dogs, Moose and Coco.

Illustrated by J.P. COOVERT.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781419731433
Lexile Measure
750
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication date
September 11, 2018
Series
The Game Changer
BISAC categories
JUV015020 - Juvenile Fiction | Health & Daily Living | Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
JUV039100 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Peer Pressure
JUV032030 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Football
Library of Congress categories
Family problems
Football
Coma
Family crises
Sports injuries
Football injuries
Hazing

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!