Football Hero

Ty Lewis's big brother, Thane "Tiger" Lewis, has graduated from college and has been drafted into the pro leagues by the New York Jets. That couldn't be better news for young Ty because he lives in New Jersey with a disagreeable uncle, but now he gets to see Thane every week. They have gotten even closer since their parents died six months earlier in a car accident. Now Thane is giving everything he has to his little brother. They need each other in more ways than one. Former NFL player Tim Green brings a fresh voice of realism to this follow-up to FOOTBALL GENIUS with gritty descriptions of football plays, accurate accounts of life in the big leagues and some not-so-pretty visions of the seedy world of gambling that surrounds professional sports. Young Ty is unwittingly dragged into this negative underworld by his greedy Uncle Gus, who pressures Ty into getting inside information on the Jets. Gus, who makes Ty work nights after school in his cleaning business, gives the information to his bookie, "Lucy." In spite of the gritty subject matter, Green writes with an authentic voice tinted with poetic nuances. Readers unfamiliar with or perhaps uninterested in the world of football will appreciate his use of language. Green employs metaphors and picturesque descriptions to keep the reader glued to the story. He is a master of tension as turning pages happens quickly; his audience craves the next scene and chapter until arriving at the appealing conclusion, where the message is brought home loud and clear: Team is everything and brothers take care of brothers, but family is of the utmost importance. An example of Green's vivid writing is in the details and images he uses to color the reader's mind throughout the book. "He yanked several paper towels off the roll on the wall and handed them to her. She plastered them to the long red gash across her palm and the blood bloomed like a rose in a science movie. Charlotte sucked air in through her teeth with a hissing sound that reminded Ty of filling his bicycle tires at the gas station." Green's artful writing makes words like "plastered," "gash," "blood," "rose" and "hissing" seem as if they've always belonged in the same sentences. For gridiron fans, FOOTBALL HERO has the whole team: practice, locker rooms, rivalries, gambling, fantasy football, injuries, games, deceit and strategy. The fantasy turns into cold, hard reality when the FBI investigates the gambling ring to which Uncle Gus is supplying information. Ty and Thane soon realize that family is important, but the brotherhood of football plays is a pretty close second. --- Reviewed by Joy Held

Writer Wellness: A Writer's Path to Health and Creativity Other reviewers have done a great job explaining the plot of "Football Hero" by Tim Green. Anyone who reads this book will enjoy the story and the satisfying "good guys win with a compromise" ending. What is just as valuable is Green's writing style for young readers and the voice he projects in this title and last year's book "Football Genius." Green has experience writing adult thrillers and non-fiction about life in the National Football League. Young readers get to partake of his writing talents and skill with all things literary by reading his new books. The language is accessible, the chapters are comfortable and managable in length, and the action is well considered. Green turns a not so good situation for a teenaged boy who has lost his family into a winning final score by giving young Ty Lewis a conscience. His choices to do the right thing are influenced by his older brother Thane's sage like stories of advice and this brings them closer while they are healing over the loss of their parents. There are many brotherhoods featured in "Football Hero" and Green prioritizes them so that readers understand that brothers can and should be able to count on each other for anything. Teachers, librarians, and parents looking for something to encourage boys 8-12 to read will be pleased with Green's books.

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (7/08) Welcome to the world of the National Football League! "Tiger" Lewis is predicted to be a top draft choice. His future looks bright and he should be rolling in fame and fortune very soon. He is all excited about the upcoming draft. He wants his younger brother Ty to join him for the "big draft weekend." Ty would love to spend more time with his older brother but he has major obstacles in his way. Ty is a pretty good football player as well. Only thing is he can't even compete for his school's team. Uncle Gus and Aunt Victoria are Ty's legal guardians now that Ty and Tiger's parents have been killed in a car accident. Uncle Gus demands that Ty work in his cleaning business. What kind of life can this be for a young boy who has high hopes for a future like his older brother? Gus is obsessed with gambling! He can't seem to ever pass up a good or a not so good bet. Ty Tiger is drafted by the Jets. Ty is excited for his brother. "Football Hero" tells the story of a draft choice in his rookie season in the National Football League. The author Tim Green uses his own experiences as being a draft choice and NFL rookie to bring insight to the story. Middle schoolers will love this story. Aspiring athletes will see the turmoil that goes into their beloved game and the hard work that it takes. There is a touch of mystery in the story as you wonder if Uncle Gus can ever be cured of his addiction without drastic trouble or destruction. Even if you want to read just one book about the NFL, football or young adults this summer, you will want to snag this one. "Football Hero" by Tim Green is a sure-fire touchdown for young readers!

This book is just as good if not better than Football Genius. Tim Green really know the sport and some of the shady dealings that go along with it. In this story Ty, whose parents passed away get shipped to live with his aunt and uncle. Ty's older brother Thane is a college football star is destined to be one of the top picks in the upcoming NFL draft. Ty really wants to play middle school football but his uncle has other plans as he gets him a work permit for his 12th birthday and expects Ty to help out in his cleaning business. When Thane gets drafted Ty gets talked into helping out his uncle, who is gambling with the mafia, in exchange for being allowed to play football. What happens next is a whirlwind story that keeps you reading and wanting more. This is the second youth football story released by Tim Green and I cant wait for more releases.

Ty Lewis' parents have died in an accident, so he has gone to live with his dad's sister, Aunt Virginia, and Uncle Gus. Ty's older brother is Thane (aka Tiger) Lewis, a hopeful NFL first-round draft pick from Syracuse University. Thane and Ty are close, but because Thane is finishing up his college degree, Ty is forced to remain with his aunt and uncle. Living with his aunt and uncle is horrible. Ty remembers the loving home he came from, and misses his parents terribly. His relatives make him sleep on a stained mattress on the floor in the laundry room. His uncle has scavenged an old Porta Potti that he forces Ty to use instead of the indoor plumbing. And now it's his twelfth birthday. Ty doesn't expect anything exciting, and it's even worse than he thought possible. His uncle presents him with a work permit allowing Ty to work for the family cleaning business. So while Ty and his cousin, Charlotte, spend their evenings after school scrubbing toilets and floors, his uncle sits back and drinks beer and socializes. Ty has two shining spots in his life: his brother, Thane, and the chance to play on his middle school football team. Ty is fast and has sure hands. Coach V has great plans for Ty for the upcoming season. But his Uncle Gus does everything he can to keep Ty from playing football and away from his brother. Then, Thane gets his draft pick and is worth millions. Uncle Gus enters into illegal gambling with the mafia, and Ty and Thane are the unwitting pawns. With the intervention of the FBI, Ty may come out better or worse than he started. But you have to read the story to see how the plot twists and turns. I admit that I have never heard of Mr. Green before reading this story. Mostly because I will be honest and say I am not a fan of football. I go out of my way to avoid any game that may be on TV. But Mr. Green's story sounded exciting and thrilling. The story moved fast and had plots outside of football to interest those beyond the sports fans. This book will easily have appeal to boys ages 10 to 100. The reader will be satisfied to see that the underdog does come out on top in the end! Reviewed by: Jaglvr