Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica (256 pages)
Thirteen year old Nate Brodie is the star quarterback for his eighth grade football team, the Valley Patriots. Everyone calls him “Brady” because he is Tom Brady’s number one fan and he also has an amazing throwing arm. Nate gets the chance of a lifetime when he goes to buy a limited edition football autographed by Tom Brady that he’s been saving up for. He enters and wins a contest to attempt a million-dollar throw during halftime at a New England Patriots game. To win the million dollars, Nate must hit a twenty inch hole from thirty yards away and he only gets one shot! This is the most important play of Nate’s life because his family is having a hard time financially and could really use the money. His parents have lost their jobs and they are about to lose their home as well. Nate is also worried about his best friend, Abby. She is a talented artist, but has a disease causing her to go blind. Just when Nate needs his golden arm to come through for him the most, it starts to let him down and he is benched on his team. Will Nate be able to make things right before his million-dollar throw? I enjoyed reading this book because it is a suspenseful story about football, but it also shows how important it is to never give up no matter what challenges you face.
Dakotah B.’s Rating: ****
Siblings Chris, Heather, and R.O. are hanging out in the Cayman Islands while their scientist parents study the islands’ sea turtle farm. They are experienced adventurers and love to take on exciting new tasks such as diving or rock climbing. While out scuba diving, the three discover two men chipping away at a coral reef, which is protected by the government. Intrigued by the criminals who are destroying the natural reef, they move in for a closer inspection. They discover that the reef has grown around authentic Spanish gold that had fallen into the ocean due to a shipwreck in the 1600’s. The kids report the criminal activity but the men are determined to take every bar of gold they can get their hands on. During an evening stroll on the beach, Chris and his date, Natalie, notice lights under the ocean water and go in for a closer look. What happens next will keep you on the edge of your seat! Read this novel by Oklahoma author Richard Trout because he is visiting our school on Tuesday, March 9, 2010!
Newland Archer, a young man in the early 1900s, is engaged to marry pretty May Welland. According to New York society, May is “perfect” in every way. Unfortunately, when May’s cousin, the Countess Olenska, arrives, Archer begins to think otherwise. Though May is pretty and traditional, the countess is different and exciting. Newland finds himself in a dilemma. If he marries May, he will have a normal and happy life, though he will never get quite what he wants. If he marries Countess Olenska, he’ll get what he wants but at a price. He will hurt May and be remembered as a horrible person by his friends and neighbors. Should he do what’s best or follow his heart?
Friends Hailey and Claire have been living in a dilapidated beach club for years, and they are devastated when Claire’s grandparents announce they’re moving to Florida. Longing for a little excitement in their last summer together, a sudden summer storm washes a mermaid into the club’s pool and the girls discover her. The mermaid’s one wish is to go on a date with the cute boy who works at the snack bar, Raymond. Hailey and Claire promise to make this happen, but only if the mermaid promises to leave the next day, before she turns to dust. Of course, the mermaid is smitten with Raymond, as he is to her, but she must leave before it’s too late. Read this tale of friendship and the magic of believing by Alice Hoffman.
When fifteen-year-old Chicago native Mary Alice is sent to live with her crotchety grandmother in rural Illinois, she is not too happy. As soon as she arrives, her feisty grandmother takes her straight to school, where she is shunned by her classmates. Every person in town is scared of her grandmother and thinks Mary Alice can’t be too great either. However, Mary Alice does learn a lot about taking care of herself from her grandmother and she grows to like the rural life. Filled with hilarious hijinks, country living, and good old-fashioned family love, this tale will appeal to many readers.
Harry is with the Dursleys until he gets a call from his friend Ron. He gets invited to go to the 422nd Quidditch World Cup. All is well until Voldemort’s followers, the Death Eaters, come and destroy the place. Then when Harry goes back to Hogwarts he learns that they are going to have a tournament called the Triwizard Tournament, ergo canceling Quidditch, but it’s not what it seems. Read this marvelous book to find out what happens at the end of the Triwizard Tournament.