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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
my thoughts on this was that the book was good over all, but there was just little things i personally didn’t like.
1. im not a big football girl so thru most of the football scenes i would just sorta skim thru them
2. peter. I DISLIKE PETER SO FUCKING MUCH, like no he was i think one of the biggest reasons mick kept going back on the steroids
3. the end. it wasnt only an unsatisfying ending but like also not a good ending. it pretty much hinted at him getting back on the steroids would be really easy for him and its like not the best ending to be honest
do i recommend? mm depends
did i like it? for the most part
1. im not a big football girl so thru most of the football scenes i would just sorta skim thru them
2. peter. I DISLIKE PETER SO FUCKING MUCH, like no he was i think one of the biggest reasons mick kept going back on the steroids
3. the end. it wasnt only an unsatisfying ending but like also not a good ending. it pretty much hinted at him getting back on the steroids would be really easy for him and its like not the best ending to be honest
do i recommend? mm depends
did i like it? for the most part
Overall, this was an effective and entertaining book about a high school football star and his descent into using steroids. The game scenes weren't too long and drawn out so the non-sports fan won't be bored. The book focused mainly on Mick's obsession with being a starter on his team, his relationship with his dad (a former college star and NFL burnout), his interactions with friends and teammates, and his emotional state after using enhancement drugs. I wish the novel had delved a bit more into the after-effects of his steroid use, but it ended rather abruptly and without a definitive decision on Mick's about his future; I liked that he didn't immediately and easily denounce his drug use. However, the end just seemed rushed and rather abrupt. Other than that, it was full of action and did focus quite a bit on his depression and roid rages.
Course evaluation: This is an interesting look into the world of competitive sports and steroid use. Deuker does not take any shortcuts with the plot, allowing Mick to experience depression and rage as well as great success on the football field; he presents Mick’s drug use in a realistic way, showing how easy it is to justify. He also allows the reader to make the final judgment on Mick’s behavior with an open ending. Football fans will appreciate the action-packed game scenes as well as the exploration of Mick’s emotional and physical changes. Deuker falls short with the abrupt ending and quick treatment of Mick’s recovery; the rest of the novel is a close study of Mick’s drive to success at all costs and the end just felt a bit rushed.
Course evaluation: This is an interesting look into the world of competitive sports and steroid use. Deuker does not take any shortcuts with the plot, allowing Mick to experience depression and rage as well as great success on the football field; he presents Mick’s drug use in a realistic way, showing how easy it is to justify. He also allows the reader to make the final judgment on Mick’s behavior with an open ending. Football fans will appreciate the action-packed game scenes as well as the exploration of Mick’s emotional and physical changes. Deuker falls short with the abrupt ending and quick treatment of Mick’s recovery; the rest of the novel is a close study of Mick’s drive to success at all costs and the end just felt a bit rushed.
Mick Johnson wants to be a football star and will do anything it takes to achieve his dream.
I've been in a bit of a book slump lately and nothing I've picked up has seemed very good. This book got me through the slump. I read it in one afternoon. A great read about drive and steroid abuse. There's no happy ending and I can easily see Mick giving in to temptation again, but I'm really rooting for him!
I've been in a bit of a book slump lately and nothing I've picked up has seemed very good. This book got me through the slump. I read it in one afternoon. A great read about drive and steroid abuse. There's no happy ending and I can easily see Mick giving in to temptation again, but I'm really rooting for him!
High school football + steroids = YA problem novel.
Good book, though--Deuker really gets to the heart and brains of athletes. And it's not at all conclusive at the end; what does Mick do after he leaves rehab?
Good book, though--Deuker really gets to the heart and brains of athletes. And it's not at all conclusive at the end; what does Mick do after he leaves rehab?
Really interesting. Great teenage boy read. A lot of football descriptions that would have lost me if I hadn't been so fascinated by the thought process of the main character in regards to steriods.
Mick has focused his whole like around football and he's always done well. In high school however, the stakes are higher and when he's no longer the top player for his position he has to decide what he's willing to do to stay on top. A little too much football for me, but I enjoyed the story. Teen guys who love football will probably think it's just right.
Quick, easy read! Finished it in 2 days cause I didn't want to put it down!
This is NOT A GIRLY BOOK. Just wanted to put that out there because the title can sound misleading to others. I mean Gym Candy? Very misleading...
Mick Johnson was made for football. His father was once a football star even going all the way to the NFL but he didn't last... His father even set him back a grade so he would be a year older than everyone else. He has an advantage with his age and his who his father is because since he was small he was taught the game and he never gave him an inch. His mother doesn't really understand how much football means to him but that's alright. As long as he has football he'll be okay. And then he's starting as a freshman Running Back with his friend Drew by his side as Quarterback. They've known each other for a long time and their friendship will be rocked by how Mick starts to act. Standoffish, too busy, and unnecessarily angry. The problem is that Mick isn't good enough. If he was only stronger he could have won a game. And then later on he is threatened by another Running Back. He goes to steroids and from then on out we will discover how strong he really is.
Ah-Mah-Zing! There aren't that many YA Sport books out there so this one was a treat and then it was about steroids so it made it even more fascinating. I felt for Mick but I couldn't see why he was doing it only at the end. I guess since his father never went to his games unless he was starting... there was pressure from him. And with the new guy coming in but I really didn't see so much pressure in the beginning. One little mishap and then you go for steroids and then the side effects? Ew. Nevertheless this book was crazy good. I loved every minute of it. I think it was so close to being a 5 star book but then the pressure thing I didn't get. I didn't see it there.
Nice twist Deuker. You had me thrown off there for a second. It made you wonder at the end which I love when author's do that. I was even more impressed with this book because I read Runner by the same author and I didn't like it that much so when I read this one I was happy and relieved. Deuker redeemed himself in my eyes. So check it out if you like Sports books.
http://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/
Mick Johnson was made for football. His father was once a football star even going all the way to the NFL but he didn't last... His father even set him back a grade so he would be a year older than everyone else. He has an advantage with his age and his who his father is because since he was small he was taught the game and he never gave him an inch. His mother doesn't really understand how much football means to him but that's alright. As long as he has football he'll be okay. And then he's starting as a freshman Running Back with his friend Drew by his side as Quarterback. They've known each other for a long time and their friendship will be rocked by how Mick starts to act. Standoffish, too busy, and unnecessarily angry. The problem is that Mick isn't good enough. If he was only stronger he could have won a game. And then later on he is threatened by another Running Back. He goes to steroids and from then on out we will discover how strong he really is.
Ah-Mah-Zing! There aren't that many YA Sport books out there so this one was a treat and then it was about steroids so it made it even more fascinating. I felt for Mick but I couldn't see why he was doing it only at the end. I guess since his father never went to his games unless he was starting... there was pressure from him. And with the new guy coming in but I really didn't see so much pressure in the beginning. One little mishap and then you go for steroids and then the side effects? Ew. Nevertheless this book was crazy good. I loved every minute of it. I think it was so close to being a 5 star book but then the pressure thing I didn't get. I didn't see it there.
Nice twist Deuker. You had me thrown off there for a second. It made you wonder at the end which I love when author's do that. I was even more impressed with this book because I read Runner by the same author and I didn't like it that much so when I read this one I was happy and relieved. Deuker redeemed himself in my eyes. So check it out if you like Sports books.
http://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/
Oh, man, I really WANTED to like this book. It's earned itself 2.5-3 stars because I think it could've been an important story, but to be honest, the book itself is just...okay. The pacing isn't great, as other reviewers have pointed out. It spends a lot of time describing football plays (which would've been fine, honestly, if it weren't for the more glaring pacing issues) and very little describing the finale of the book. Things escalate and wrap up within a few pages, in one of the must abrupt endings I've read in a while.
It's also extremely heavy handed - I understand that the author wanted to know the dangers of performance enhancing drugs and there's a lot to be said for novels that delve into toxic masculinity the way this one does. Unfortunately, his ending is clumsy. I get it, trust me: addiction is hard. You can have all these resources at your fingertips and still not be sure you'll be able to recover. I would much rather have read about the main character fighting for that recovery though, instead of simply...ending the book with the implication that he won't. Maybe that's just me; maybe I don't do hopeless novels well, especially when the main character is a child.
While that might be more personal preference, the random scenes of homophobia were genuinely unforgivable for me. Maybe if they'd been part and parcel of the implicit conversation on toxic masculinity, but instead it's just...resolved because the man they're talking about ISN'T actually gay, don't worry, he has a hot girlfriend. Ultimately, Deuker is supposedly a good one to recommend for kids who don't like reading (you can tell, the reviews seem to be a mix of teachers and students), but to be honest, this won't be my go to.
It's also extremely heavy handed - I understand that the author wanted to know the dangers of performance enhancing drugs and there's a lot to be said for novels that delve into toxic masculinity the way this one does. Unfortunately, his ending is clumsy. I get it, trust me: addiction is hard. You can have all these resources at your fingertips and still not be sure you'll be able to recover. I would much rather have read about the main character fighting for that recovery though, instead of simply...
While that might be more personal preference, the random scenes of homophobia were genuinely unforgivable for me. Maybe if they'd been part and parcel of the implicit conversation on toxic masculinity, but instead it's just...resolved because the man they're talking about ISN'T actually gay, don't worry, he has a hot girlfriend. Ultimately, Deuker is supposedly a good one to recommend for kids who don't like reading (you can tell, the reviews seem to be a mix of teachers and students), but to be honest, this won't be my go to.