Rating: 
(4 reviews)
Author: Mike Lupica
Publisher: Philomel
Product Description
What would you do with a million dollars, if you were 13?
Nate Brodie is nicknamed “Brady” not only for his arm, but also because he’s the biggest Tom Brady fan. He’s even saved up to buy an autographed football. And when he does, he wins the chance for something he’s never dreamed of—to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars.
Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his job and his family is losing their home. It’s no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So all Nate feels is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him. Even worse, his best friend Abby is going blind, slowly losing her ability to do the one thing she loves most—paint. Yet Abby never complains, and she is Nate’s inspiration. He knows she’ll be there when he makes the throw of a lifetime.
Mike Lupica’s latest sports novel is also his most heartwarming.
4 Comments
As with all Mike Lupica books, it’s not just the real characters, it’s the story they tell. This book is billed as a young adult book, but I suggest that “old” adults will love it, as well. I read it in one day, as did my 2 boys. Life isn’t just about winning and losing..it’s how you play the game…This story has a young boy coming of age at a difficult time, learning that a good day isn’t just a good football game that he starred in and a bad day isn’t just about a game gone wrong..it’s much more than that..Nate Brody navigates himself through some tough life events and comes out better, more mature and happier. Mike has a gift, he has an ear for people and uses his remarkable voice to share great life stories with us. Talk about an easy Christmas gift!!!
Travel TeamHeatThe Big FieldSummer BallMiracle on 49th Street
Nate Brodie is the star quarterback of his eighth-grade football team,nicknamed
“Brady”because of his golden throwing arm and his being Tom Brady’s biggest fan.
One day he goes to buy a special autographed Brady football,and enters a contest where he wins the chance to throw a pass through a target for one million dollars at halftime of the New England Patriots’Thanksgiving night game.But Nate’s got big personal problems.His dad’s out of a job,his family going to lose their home,and
best pal Abby is going blind.Then his arm deserts him.Can Nate fix things and triumph on his big night?Mike Lupica tells you-brilliantly-in this deeply moving story that is a winner in every way.A strong and solidly-crafted plot,with
beautifully drawn characters.Adults and kids will both really enjoy this.
It is Mike Lupica’s masterpiece!
Not only did thirteen-year-old Nate Brodie have an extraordinary throwing arm, he also had a deep sense of compassion and empathy. So when his best friend Abby started to lose her vision to a retinal disease, Nate struggled desperately to support her in any way he could. When Nate’s father lost his job at the large commercial real estate company and both his parents had to take on multiple lower-paying jobs, Nate did his best to accept their new schedules and the difficulties they had making it to his games.
He could even come to terms with the placement of their house on the market because of the pressure his family was under, pressure his dad blamed on “never having enough money and starting to think you’re never going to have enough again.” When Nate won a raffle giving him a chance to win a million dollars by throwing a football through a target at an upcoming Patriots game, he realized the prize money could solve all his family’s financial problems. Everyone around him knew he had the raw talent to make that throw, but Nate started losing confidence when he allowed all the worries and the pressure to get inside his head and in the way of his magic arm.
How would he make that million-dollar throw if he could not even keep his position as starting quarterback on the school team? This riveting sports novel is bound to grab the attention of young readers seeking strong characters and an interesting plot. Thrown into the mix is an important lesson in economics related to the constraints placed by a tighter budget on a family’s purchasing power and ability to spend time with each other. The book will undoubtedly meet the high standards that kids now expect from a Mike Lupika novel.
What a great story! As usual I got this book for a gift but ended up reading it myself. I then went out and bought extra copies because I know family and friends will want to be sure “Nate” comes home for the holidays. Even NY Giant fans will like this story. Hopefully the movie is not far behind.