POP

by Gordon Korman

     Sixteen year-old Marcus has moved cross country with his mother following his parents' divorce.  He wants nothing more than to make the varsity football team in the quarterback position at his new school.  The problem is that last year's team was undefeated and they lost only a few players to graduation. Everyone in town is counting on a second perfect season.  The team is set, and neither the coach nor the quarterback want to rock the boat by adding new players.  However, the coach is willing to give Marcus a shot, so he spends several hours everyday practicing his passing in a local park.  Early on, Charlie, a middle-aged local character, starts meeting Marcus at the park.  This guy obviously knows football, and teaches Marcus more about the game, especially how to tackle and be tackled, than he's ever learned before.  But Charlie is one strange guy and everyone in town just cheerfully puts up with his antics.  When Marcus finds out that Charlie is not only a retired NFL player, but also quarterback Travis Popovich's dad, he is more perplexed than ever.  Marcus makes the team, but has a running feud going with Travis, an extremely confusing relationship with the head cheerleader, and an even crazier relationship with Charlie Popovich.  Pop is a great sports read with much more than football going on.  Author Gordon Korman has written a winner with this Texas Lone Star title.    --reviewed by Mrs. Sams