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bookstobarbells's review
4.0
This is more of a 3.5, but I rounded it up because I didn’t choose it and want to give it a fair shot. I read this with my tutoring buddy this summer and I have to say, I was surprised at how much I liked it. While there is a LOT of football talk, which is not my thing, the actual story was sweet.
Charlie, the fantasy football prodigy, is best friends with Anna, the granddaughter of Joe Warren, the owner of the LA Bulldogs, NFL’s newest team. Charlie loves the team more than *almost* anyone else and when Anna gives him an “in” with the owner, he takes his obsession to the next level.
What I loved most about this was the storyline was that it allowed both Charlie and Anna to be experts at times. It feels like a reminder to truly listen to kids and know when they are educated in a subject. My reader was excited about this as well because it told him that you’re allowed to shine in the things you’re good at.
In general, this covers topics of family, bullying, friendship, and trusting yourself. You’re able to see Charlie and Anna both grow and mature throughout the story. I also liked that even though it was technically a story about Charlie, it felt very balanced with including Anna. It made it less of a “boy” story.
Overall, the plot wasn’t anything spectacular. I don’t think it covered too many issues well, but it tried. Being what it is, I would be happy if any of my teens picked up these books.
Charlie, the fantasy football prodigy, is best friends with Anna, the granddaughter of Joe Warren, the owner of the LA Bulldogs, NFL’s newest team. Charlie loves the team more than *almost* anyone else and when Anna gives him an “in” with the owner, he takes his obsession to the next level.
What I loved most about this was the storyline was that it allowed both Charlie and Anna to be experts at times. It feels like a reminder to truly listen to kids and know when they are educated in a subject. My reader was excited about this as well because it told him that you’re allowed to shine in the things you’re good at.
In general, this covers topics of family, bullying, friendship, and trusting yourself. You’re able to see Charlie and Anna both grow and mature throughout the story. I also liked that even though it was technically a story about Charlie, it felt very balanced with including Anna. It made it less of a “boy” story.
Overall, the plot wasn’t anything spectacular. I don’t think it covered too many issues well, but it tried. Being what it is, I would be happy if any of my teens picked up these books.
shighley's review
3.0
For quite a long time, this book was a 5 for me. Unfortunately, by the end it became so cliched, predictable, and syrupy sweet that I swear my teeth hurt! As he did in QB1, I feel like Lupica is pandering to kids and underestimating their intelligence. At one point near the end, one of the characters says, "I couldn't make this stuff up". Yes, you did.
Things I liked about the book:
-understanding, supportive parents. Charlie's mom gives him great advice.
-some of the dialogue is laugh-out-loud clever and funny, especially at the football press conferences.
-you don't have to be an athlete to make an impact, and deep-thinking and reasoning can help you advance. I heard an interview on the radio with Lupica the week this was released; he mentioned that this was the first book that he had written where the main character was not primarily an athlete, but a smart kid.
-few of the characters are caricatures, including the coaches
Not so much
-Charlie dwells on not having a dad around, and dwells on it, and dwells on it
-the things that happen in the last third of the book are so predictable, cliched, and formulaic.
-I got very tired of the back and forth with Anna and Charlie about who was insulted, short-changed-- get over it!
-at some times, they seemed too mature to be 12, other times it fit.
Things I liked about the book:
-understanding, supportive parents. Charlie's mom gives him great advice.
-some of the dialogue is laugh-out-loud clever and funny, especially at the football press conferences.
-you don't have to be an athlete to make an impact, and deep-thinking and reasoning can help you advance. I heard an interview on the radio with Lupica the week this was released; he mentioned that this was the first book that he had written where the main character was not primarily an athlete, but a smart kid.
-few of the characters are caricatures, including the coaches
Not so much
-Charlie dwells on not having a dad around, and dwells on it, and dwells on it
-the things that happen in the last third of the book are so predictable, cliched, and formulaic.
-I got very tired of the back and forth with Anna and Charlie about who was insulted, short-changed-- get over it!
-at some times, they seemed too mature to be 12, other times it fit.
jbrooxd's review
5.0
GREAT story for football fans. Helps to know about the game as plays and positions are discussed with an assumption that readers are going to understand. This may be the book I have enjoyed reading the most all year.
claire11's review against another edition
4.0
I don't like football so I was very reluctant about reading it. I had to read this for school so I decided to stop procrastinating and read it. When I did read it,I realized that you didn't have to like football to like this book.
libscote's review
4.0
Okay so clearly this is a fantasy book. Well it's not a fantasy novel but in that it's a sports fantasy that many kids would want to come true. As a former fantasy league member, I enjoyed that aspect of the book. It reminded me of the thrills I got watching my players compete each week. And also brought back the thrills of the Super Bowl this year as a Patriots fan. A winner.
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