"'It's not about getting knocked down, it's how you get back up.'" I usually don't read books about football, but this one was great! 8th grader Teddy's whole life is football. He lives, eats, breathes football. But his world is turned upside down when his father, who hasn't been part of Teddy's life for years, suddenly shows up on his doorstep and seems to think (and act like) he's the new coach of Teddy's football team. He expects Teddy to be the perfect player, which Teddy can't be all the time, and makes him try positions he's not accustomed to. On top of all that, Teddy and his friends Jack, Cassie, and Gus are organizing a fundraiser to support their school's music program, which was a big project to take on. Teddy is taking life one step, or tackle, at a time, and he needs to put on his A-game to work through his problems on and off the field. This book was an easy, fun read, and I recommend it to all sports lovers, especially those who love football! I liked this book a lot, and learned more about football then I've ever known! Another great novel by Mike Lupica! For ages 8+
The Extra Yard (Home Team)
By Mike Lupica
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 3 - 5 | n/a | 4.9 | 54424 |
Teddy, a young football player, learns that sometimes bridging the distance in your family can be harder than stretching for an extra yard on the field in the second book of the Home Team series from New York Times bestselling author and sportswriting legend Mike Lupica.
Last spring Teddy’s life changed for the better. He started working out, shaping up, and even earned a spot on the Walton baseball team, and with the team he went all the way to the Little League World Series. But the best things to come out of that season were his friendships with Jack, Cassie, and Gus, and the confidence to finally try out for the sport he really loves—football. So when eighth grade begins, Teddy couldn’t be more psyched.
Until his mom drops a bomb: his father—who left them a long time ago—is back in Walton and back in their lives. And Teddy isn’t happy about it. As a former star football player at the school, Teddy’s dad is thrilled to find out his son is going out for the team, but Teddy begins to wonder if his father only cares about him now because he’s putting on the helmet. Can Teddy find a way to go the extra yard for the team and for himself, or is the distance between him and his father too much to overcome?
Last spring Teddy’s life changed for the better. He started working out, shaping up, and even earned a spot on the Walton baseball team, and with the team he went all the way to the Little League World Series. But the best things to come out of that season were his friendships with Jack, Cassie, and Gus, and the confidence to finally try out for the sport he really loves—football. So when eighth grade begins, Teddy couldn’t be more psyched.
Until his mom drops a bomb: his father—who left them a long time ago—is back in Walton and back in their lives. And Teddy isn’t happy about it. As a former star football player at the school, Teddy’s dad is thrilled to find out his son is going out for the team, but Teddy begins to wonder if his father only cares about him now because he’s putting on the helmet. Can Teddy find a way to go the extra yard for the team and for himself, or is the distance between him and his father too much to overcome?
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9781481410014
ISBN-10: 1481410016
Published on 4/4/2017
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 320
Book Reviews (2)
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I read this book because I like football a lot. This was a good book to read because it was about a kid named Teddy who worked hard to play baseball, but he really loved football and wanted to make the team. He makes the team and then his long lost dad shows up and starts helping out which makes things hard for Teddy. In the end their relationship changed and they got a little bit closer.