Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica

Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica

244 pages

Mark Twain Nominee

(from jacket cover)

What would you do with a million dollars?

Nate Brodie is nicknamed "Brady," and not just for his arm. He's the biggest Tom Brady fan in all of New England. He's even saved up to buy an autographed Brady football. And when he does, he wins the chance at something he's never even dreamed of-to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars. On live TV!

Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his job and his family is struggling to keep their home. It's no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So instead of being happy, all Nate feels is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him. Yet his best friend, Abby, refuses to let him feel sorry for himself. Not with what she's going through.

This is the first Lupica book I have read, mainly because he writes sports novels. This one if about football (obviously from the cover) and is full of terms and jargon that made absolutely no sense to me. To be honest, I would have recommended this book to teens, because I always here people and kiddos raving about Lupica. But I never would have picked it up for myself if I wasn't working on reading all of the honor nominees. But, in the end, I was amazed...wonderful, touching story line. You almost ache for Nate and everything his family is going through...Dad loses his job and has to take part time work at an athletic store, with Mom working two jobs. Then you have Nate's best friend, Abby, who is going blind from an eye disease. Then Nate gets the chance to go to the field on Thanksgiving night...if he can throw the ball through a hole 20 inches wide from 30 yards away, he could win one million dollars...and that money could do a lot to ease the pain and suffering around him. To be perfectly honest, I finished this book with tears in my eyes...it moved me so much, after the 2011-2012 nominees are read, I will have to see what else Mike Lupica has in store for teen readers.