Game Changers (Lupica)

Mike Lupica delivers a New York Times bestselling middle grade series! Ben McBain is every football team's dream player. He's a jack-of-all-trades guy that can handle almost any position. When the game is on the line, Ben's number is the one being called for the final play. But Ben wants to be the starting quarterback and the one thing standing in his way is the coach's son.Shawn O'Brien looks the part. He has been groomed by his father, a former professional quarterback. But despite his size and arm strength, Shawn is struggling. Ben is torn between being a good teammate and going after his own dream. As Ben finds out, Shawn isn't the easiest person to help. And when Ben gets an unexpected opportunity, the entire game will change for the both of them.Best-selling author Mike Lupica kicks off a winning new series about sports and friendship that will captivate readers. Praise for GAME CHANGERS #2: PLAY MAKERS:"Like the first in the series, this volume provides an action-packed look at middle school sports as it explores issues of friendship, problem solving and coming-of-age." -KIRKUSPraise for GAME CHANGERS:"Even the female characters display intelligence and insight, a rarity in male sports fiction. A first-rate, inspiring football story, this will leave fans with an understanding that not all teamwork occurs on the gridiron." -BOOKLIST ONLINE REVIEW Mike Lupica is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of several books for young readers. His NEW YORK DAILY NEWS column is syndicated nationally. Mr. Lupica lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four children. You can visit Mike Lupica at www.mikelupicabooks.com. The other guys trying out for quarterback had made some good plays tonight. And some great throws. Just not like this one. Not off the kind of busted play that Ben had turned into pure money.It was why Ben couldn't help himself now, had to steal a look over at Coach, see what his reaction was.Only there wasn't one.Coach O'Brien was over on the sideline, back turned, showing Shawn the proper way to pivot away from center and make the handoff he'd messed up earlier.Coop saw where Ben was looking."He didn't see," Coop said."They never do," Ben said. Praise for GAME CHANGERS #2: PLAY MAKERS:"Like the first in the series, this volume provides an action-packed look at middle school sports as it explores issues of friendship, problem solving and coming-of-age." -KIRKUSPraise for GAME CHANGERS:"Even the female characters display intelligence and insight, a rarity in male sports fiction. A first-rate, inspiring football story, this will leave fans with an understanding that not all teamwork occurs on the gridiron." -BOOKLIST ONLINE REVIEW

Mike Lupica presents the second book in his NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Game Changers series! Still living large off their incredible football championship win just weeks before, Ben McBain and his crew must now prepare for basketball season. Ben is known as the best point guard throughout the league. And now that Shawn O'Brien has joined their team, they are a shoo-in to win it all. But there is a new kid in town, Chase Braggs, a point guard like Ben who seems to be better, stronger, and faster. Refusing to let his team down, Ben hits the courts hard to practice. Ben's rivalry with Chase seems to take the fun out of playing ball with his best friends. Will Ben be able to pull it together for his team and for himself? Praise for GAME CHANGERS #2: PLAY MAKERS:"Like the first in the series, this volume provides an action-packed look at middle school sports as it explores issues of friendship, problem solving and coming-of-age." -KIRKUSPraise for GAME CHANGERS:"Even the female characters display intelligence and insight, a rarity in male sports fiction. A first-rate, inspiring football story, this will leave fans with an understanding that not all teamwork occurs on the gridiron." -BOOKLIST ONLINE REVIEW Mike Lupica is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of several books for young readers. His NEW YORK DAILY NEWS column is syndicated nationally. Mr. Lupica lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four children. You can visit Mike Lupica at www.mikelupicabooks.com. From GAME CHANGERS #2: PLAY MAKERS"Well, I hope I can do that when you're playing your hardest," Chase Braggs said, and then said he'd see Ben when they played the next Saturday in Rockwell.There was a ball just sitting there on the floor, just outside the three-point line. As Chase walked across to where his coach was waiting for him, he casually scooped up the ball, turned and squared up and fired one last shot that hit nothing but net, like it was as easy as making a layup.Then he wagged his finger one more time the way he had in the game, kept walking.Not even chasing after the ball, as if he knew somebody else would go pick it up later. Just turning and giving Ben one last wave, not to say good-bye, Ben knew, just to make sure that Ben had been watching.Ben stood there and watched as Chase, hair almost as red as the red uniform he was wearing, got one last high five for the day, this one from his coach.Ben feeling as if Chase had made one last shot on him, and thinking:I was playing my hardest. Praise for GAME CHANGERS #2: PLAY MAKERS:"Like the first in the series, this volume provides an action-packed look at middle school sports as it explores issues of friendship, problem solving and coming-of-age." -KIRKUSPraise for GAME CHANGERS:"Even the female characters display intelligence and insight, a rarity in male sports fiction. A first-rate, inspiring football story, this will leave fans with an understanding that not all teamwork occurs on the gridiron." -BOOKLIST ONLINE REVIEW

Mike Lupica presents the third book in his NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Game Changers series! Ben and his friends, the Core Four Plus One, are so excited to play in their town's All-Star Baseball league. But in the first game of the season Ben gets hit by a pitch. It's never happened to him before and it shakes him up.Another player on Ben's team, Justin, is acting really weirdly. Ben's known Justin for a while and they're friendly but he's not one of Ben's closest "boys." Justin is the team's best hitter but his behavior on and off the field is erratic. Ben discovers that Justin's parents are getting a divorce and Justin is thinking about quitting the team. Like good teammates do, Justin helps Ben deal with his issues at bat while Ben is there for his friend while his family is struggling. Praise for GAME CHANGERS #2: PLAY MAKERS:"Like the first in the series, this volume provides an action-packed look at middle school sports as it explores issues of friendship, problem solving and coming-of-age." -KIRKUSPraise for GAME CHANGERS:"Even the female characters display intelligence and insight, a rarity in male sports fiction. A first-rate, inspiring football story, this will leave fans with an understanding that not all teamwork occurs on the gridiron." -BOOKLIST ONLINE REVIEW Mike Lupica is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of several books for young readers. His NEW YORK DAILY NEWS column is syndicated nationally. Mr. Lupica lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four children. You can visit Mike Lupica at www.mikelupicabooks.com. From Game Changers #3: Heavy HittersMr. Brown came running in from third, Ben's dad came down from first. When Ben looked up, Robbie was there, too, looking as if he was in more pain than Ben at the moment.Somehow Sam and Coop and Shawn were already crouched down next to Ben, Mr. Brown having to ask them to give him room.Mr. Brown said, "Let's have a look."Ben rolled up his sleeve. It was then that he saw the imprint of the ball's seams on the inside of his arm, like they'd been tattooed there.Ben's dad asked Ben if he could slowly flex his arm, see if he could make a fist and bring his arm up to his shoulder, like he was doing some kind of exercise.Ben did that."It hurts where I got hit," he said, "but not when I move it.""Good," his dad said.Ben said, "Dad, I think the place I would have picked is no place."Mr. Brown asked him to clench and unclench his left fist, then give his wrist a shake. Ben did that, too. Ben's dad gently put a thumb to Ben's arm, between the seams. "Nothing broken, not there," he said. "Would've been much worse if it got you on the elbow or wrist or hand."Ben looked at Mr. Brown and then his dad and said, "I'm not coming out.""Ice wouldn't be such a terrible idea," Mr. Brown said."What are you always saying when I guy catches one on TV?" Ben said to his dad. "Rub some dirt on it and walk it off?""That's what you say to the TV," Jeff McBain said, "not your son.""I'm not gonna rub, period," Ben said.He got up then. Praise for GAME CHANGERS #2: PLAY MAKERS:"Like the first in the series, this volume provides an action-packed look at middle school sports as it explores issues of friendship, problem solving and coming-of-age." -KIRKUSPraise for GAME CHANGERS:"Even the female characters display intelligence and insight, a rarity in male sports fiction. A first-rate, inspiring football story, this will leave fans with an understanding that not all teamwork occurs on the gridiron." -BOOKLIST ONLINE REVIEW