The Franchise

September 1, 2013
Grades 9-12 As in other books in the series, The Opportunity, a teen is offered a dream internship in an exciting, high-profile field. Here it's Latrell, a statistics whiz, who has developed a strategic football algorithm, but no one in the NFL's Los Angeles Stars has the time for or interest in his project. Linebacker coach Frank the Franchise Foley becomes a father figure to Latrell, and when he tries Latrell's computer program, the Stars' season begins to turn around. Told in first person, the fluent, conversational narrative incorporates general football and computer terminology. The primary focus is on personal relationships, ethical decisions, and values, without moralizing. Characters are broadly drawn; it's good guys Latrell and Frank pitted against the heartless, money-obsessed suits. Aimed at reluctant readers and using short chapters, an enticing plot, and an admirable protagonist, this is a provocative, ethically satisfying glimpse of the gritty underside of professional football.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2014
Each book in this hi/lo series features an inner-city teen who's just landed a dream summer internship thanks to mysterious mogul Harmon Holt. Fashion designing, moviemaking, songwriting, or football management, each protagonist must learn to navigate the business side of his or her field while overcoming other personal obstacles along the way. Though the stories are mostly formulaic wish fulfillment, they are quick, entertaining reads.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)