Play Makers

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