New Kid

New Kid #1

by Tim Green

New York Times bestselling author and former NFL defensive end Tim Green delivers another baseball tale that will keep kids on the edge of their seats. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica or Dan Gutman's Baseball Card Adventure series.

Tommy's the new kid in town, like he's been so many times before. Now he goes by the name Brock, and he's having a hard time fitting in, especially when his new friend is the bully from the wrong side of the tracks. Thanks to a prank gone wrong, the baseball coach notices Brock and offers him a place on his failing baseball team. But can Brock prove himself on and off the field before he becomes a new kid…again?

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Childrens, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

Tim Green, for many years a star defensive end with the Atlanta Falcons, is a man of many talents. He's the author of such gripping books for adults as the New York Times bestselling The Dark Side of the Game and a dozen suspense novels, including Exact Revenge and Kingdom Come. Tim graduated covaledictorian from Syracuse University and was a first-round NFL draft pick. He later earned his law degree with honors. Tim has worked as an NFL analyst for FOX Sports and as an NFL commentator for National Public Radio, among other broadcast experience. He lives with his wife, Illyssa, and their five children in upstate New York. Football Genius is his first novel for young readers. For more updates, visit www.facebook.com/authortimgreen

Reviews

[Paige Lacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this with some boys this round of lit circles. This book had a great plot line, I just wish it would have ended differently for Brock because he deserved a happy ending.

[MichaelM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have read it two times in total, and have liked it even more the second time I read it. I like how the author has included small details here and there, and how he made the characters personalities pop out. The whole plot was perfect, and there wasn't a time where it disappointed me. I would advise people to read it.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very good- not your average baseball book.

[Joey Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Kid by Tim Green was just your ordinary teen sports story but it had an interesting twist. The story follows a young Tommy Rust, who was an outstanding baseball player for his local little league team, is up to bat with the championship on the line. He has already hit a homer in his first AB, after two strikes he steps back in only to find his father walking out onto the field. Tommy knew by the look on his father's face that it was time to move. Tommy wanted to stay and finish the game but with his dad being on the run from the law, he had to go. His father takes him to a small town in NY called Liverpool. Tommy is the new kid at school, well Brock Nickerson is now the New kid. Tommy had to change his name. While at school he meets the hometown troublemaker, Nagel. Nagel starts to get Brock into trouble until one day Nagel and Brock are throwing rocks at their coaches window. Brock breaks the window and the coach is mad. He then realizes what kind of arm Brock has and persuades him to play on his travel team. Brock then plays on his travel team but when his dad is caught everything goes up in smoke. Brock is crushed but in the travel championship game Brock hits a HR to win it.

I would recommend this book for someone who loves sports books and for a kid who is just trying to fit into a new environment. This book was a good read if you like suspenseful sports stories. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and it makes you want to keep reading. The way Green uses imagery in the story to describe the scenes is phenomenal. He would describe the sound of the glass breaking so perfectly that I could hear the sound while reading.

[Jaden Onaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very inspirational. It basically was about a kid named Jake who had to go through coming to a new team that had scouts coming to watch them. This book is very inspirational and shows how he had to work hard to accomplish these goals.

[Max Tesker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book keeps me hooked and has a lot of action and lots of misturies for a sports book

[Rainier Birco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty good and the author did an awesome job of representing the character in the book which is Brock Nickerson. This book grabbed my attention through chapters and chapters of this book which was great. However though the reason why I gave this book a 4 star instead of a 5 star is because the author could have done more to the ending because it left me hanging at the end of the story. The part I liked about this book is that Brock made history on a baseball team that has never won a championship before till he hit a home run at the end of the inning to win it all.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brock's father interrupts his baseball game to tell him they have to move immediately. After so many sudden moves, Brock is tired of always being the new kid and having to start over again. Things don't start off well for him at the new school, either. Who knows why they have to move so much or why Brock's dad is so secretive about his job and so strict with Brock.

An engaging story about a talented baseball player whose life is full of mystery.

[Noah_Gaudreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I your into sport and action books, boy is this the one for you. It is about a kid who plays baseball and is very good but his dad works for the government and there is your problem. READ IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

[Kasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

You thought this was a feel good story about baseball? FUCKIN NOPE IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT THE INSIDIOUS NATURE OF ABUSE

[Xavier.F · Rating 3 out of 5]

dont give up

[Linnae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharply observed characters struggling through some tough problems.

Life hasn't been easy for Tommy, especially ever since his mom died, and it has just been him and his dad. It seems that whenever he starts to really get in a groove at school or on the baseball field, his dad decides it's time to move. Again. These aren't just any moves, either. They are "pick a random town on the map, change your name, don't ever talk about your past" kind of moves.

When his dad pulls him out of a championship baseball game, Tommy has just about had enough. In the new town he goes by Brock. There's only a few months left of school and he's hopelessly behind. He's supposed to just keep his head down and do what his dad says, but he's ready for some answers. If he dares ask the questions. His dad has never been the real warm fuzzy type.

Then a new "friend" (the term is negotiable) gets him in trouble with the baseball coach. Except instead of really coming down on him, the coach gives him a chance to redeem himself--by pitching for a community baseball team that's historically down on its luck. Brock is pretty sure his dad will never agree to it, but he gets up the guts to ask anyway. He really wants this. If only they can just stay put for awhile.

* * * * *
This one had a lot of high-stakes tension in it. Brock's relationship with his dad feels like it's teetering on the edge of an explosion and you can just feel the pressure building throughout the book. Well-written characters. Many of the characters are dealing with difficult situations, in addition to what Brock's going through, including abuse/neglect, alcoholism, etc. While they are not glossed over, they are not all explored in depth either.

I would recommend this for older middle grade students or young teens. So the tweenagers, I guess! I think it may have been a bit intense for my 9-year-old. At least, he hasn't wanted to read any of the sequels at this point. I was glad I read it with him, so we could talk about several things, including Brock's relationship with his dad and his decision in the end.

I blog at: www.ofbooksandblooms.com

[Conor Furlong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a kid named Brock Nickerson who moved from Oklahoma and was named Tommy Rust. He and his dad moved to New York and Brock went to his first day of school. Brock met Nagel and fought him. They both got it trouble and Brock could not go to school. He and Nagel snake out off their houses and went to prank their gym coach. Nagel said, "Brock you throw the rock hard and not brake the window shutters." Brock did but a little too hard. He broke the sitter and the window. The next day Brock went to school and was pulled out of gym class and Mr. Hudgens said he had to throw a baseball at the school wall and get it in a square three times in a row to get out of the mess. Brock did it with ease with three pitches. When he went back in to gym, a dodge ball game was going on so he jumped in. Brock went to the finals agents Bella, Brock chucked it at her and go her out. This happened one more time and in the third game it was Bella and Brock and Brock threw it first but Bella caught it and Bella won. Some kids came to him and said, "Nobody has ever beaten her." Bella congratulated him and Brock got a little crazy and asked what she was doing after school. Bella had softball practice and Brock said I will go. Brock then knew that his dad would be raged that he was with a girl. That night Brock went to Mr. Hudgens house to pitch a little bit. After ten pitches rocks came. Hudgens ran out and got hit. Nagel and his gang were there and Nagel's brother got Brock in a headlock. Hudgens threw a ball at Nagel's brother. He went down and Balled out. The next day Bella was all sad because Brock did not go to her practice. That as far as I got.

[Alex Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read this quarter was New Kid by Tim Green. This book was not one of my favorites this year, but it’s alright. The main character is a boy who switches his name a lot right now his name is Brock Nickerson he plays baseball and is not the greatest and the kid that moves schools a lot. His mother passed away earlier in his childhood and now lives only with his dad. The Lexile level of my book is 710L.
In this book Brock isn’t the best baseball player in the town and his coach puts him onto a “failing team.” This team is made up of people that are put up on a team where most of the bad people that can’t make the better team go onto the failing team and plays for them. Brock has moved a lot of times and they pretty much just put a random spot on the map and moved to there and started to live there. Each time they have moved “Brock” switches his name like one time his name was Tommy and then changed it to Brock for when he moved again. He also meets this really good baseball coach named coach Hudgens he is not your average coach he teaches Brock how to play baseball and how to be successful in life. He also has a daughter Bella who becomes pretty good friends with Brock.
I would rate this book out of ten a seven it is a pretty good book that has a lot of new adventures and cool life lessons. If you are somewhat into sports I would suggest you to read this book that Tim Green wrote about this teenage boy and his life. This book has a lot of meaning and motivation to it and really I couldn’t stop reading it. So if your into sport books I would suggest New Kid because it’s a good book.

[Wyatt Sparks]

The “New Kid” written by Tim Green. The story is about Brock Nickerson who is really good at baseball. Brock and his dad move all around, Brock is always having to change his name and find new friends. Brock moves to a new town and meets coach Hudgens. Coach Hudgens watches Brock during a dodgeball game and believes he has potential. Coach Hudgens works with Brock as a pitcher.

Coach Hudgens wanted Brock to play on a travel team but his dad wouldnt let him play. Brock decided to play and practice with his Coaches traveling team anyway. Brock decides to try and convince his dad that he is meant to be a baseball player. Eventually his dad says he can if he is careful. His dad tells him tht they have bad people after them because of his dad's job. He works with Barrett Malone who is a star baseball player. While he is working with him, ESPN people show up and film Brock playing baseball.

Brock's team ended up playing in the Princeton cup against the Knights. Brock pitches a no hitter. Then there's a surprise ending with his father showing up to the game.

The book is written from Brock's perspective and he tells the story. The book is kind of sad because of how much Brock has to go through. It is an easy book to read and understand. The author tells many details about how difficult Brock's life is.
I did enjoy reading this book because it involved sports but the story is kind of sad and I did not like the ending.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Kid by Tim Green (New Kid #1) is a middle school/young adult’s novel. The novel’s main character is a young man named Brock, although we are introduced to him by another name at first. Brock is a good kid being raised by his father, but their relationships and their living situation is different.

We met them as they were leaving in the midst of a ballgame and then driving a long distance to a new town. Brock seemed to know the rules for what is acceptable in his life and how to follow them. His father disappears at various times for days and Brock is expected to go to school and come home without anyone being the wiser.

Brock begins to question their life and he wants answers. Even with the small amount of information that he finds out, he becomes more suspicious of his father. Then Brock as a young man manages to find trouble and then a team. His father lets some information out, but Brock has still more questions.

The novel was a suspenseful read without it being obvious. Each chapter gives a bit more information about Brock and his life. Each chapter makes the reader have more questions as more information is revealed. The student (I am reading this with) and I are enjoying the novel. This book is a great read for kids who love baseball and sports. AND I just found out about the fact there is another book that follows this one! (Score!) New Kid by Tim Green is a really good read.

[Seth Erdman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book “New Kid” written by Tim Green, is a great book for adventures readers. In the beginning of the book Tommy, is taken out of his championship game just before he could of hit a grand slam home run, to win the game. But his secretive dad insisted on taking him. They ran to the car and got in. Tommy’s dad tells him that his new name is Brock Nickerson.

I found the beginning of this book very confusing. But throughout the book, Tim Green hands little clues about why his father had to leave and take Tommy out of the game, and into a new state. He knows that his dad loves him, but keeps a lot of secrets away from him about his family. He sees that his dad keeps a gun in his pocket, he knows he does not approve of whining or crying, so Brock respects him like a soldier. Brock struggles to find himself, at his high school in upstate New York. Until the baseball coach spots a talent in his pitching. Brock's dad is unsure whether to allow him onto the team. But finally lets him play, until snatching him away again, at the worst moment possible.

In conclusion, I gave this book a three out of five stars. It was a good book, but could get confusing, and hard to tell what is going on at times. I would recommend this book to baseball lovers, and people who love adventures, and mysterious stories.

[Matthew Lawrence]

The last book I recently read was New Kid by Tim Green. The book is about boy named Brock who is good at baseball, but has to move every once in a while because people are hunting his dad. They moved to Syracuse, Washington and had to join a new school. He found a new travel team and found out it was the gym teacher´s team. He joined the team and off the start everyone hated him except a girl named Bella. They go to a tournament in Princeton and they win, but then Brock´s dad had to take him away and move.
Since I love and play baseball I thought it was a good fit that I started reading and finished this book. I really liked the book and I wish they would make a new one. If I could change anything about this book it would be really hard because the book is already really good.
I would recommend this book to a lot of my friends or any people who love baseball. This book is for a grade level from about high elementary grades and middle schoolers.

[Ethan S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect example of Tim Greene’s style of writing that is influential, engaging, exciting and unexpected. I rated this book so highly because the whole book I was intently locked in and was excited for what came next. I love this book because the storyline is just amazing. It makes me want to read more and once I was done with the first book I needed the second. This book is book 1 of a 2 part series about a father and son running from an unknown organization. While the kid in some cases named (Brock) has to adjust and make new friends/trying to fit in. This book starts off with Brock playing in the championship baseball game (his favorite sport) but his dad has an emergency and they have to leave the game. He ends up having to adjust to his new home and make new friends but this time somethings different somethings special about this time. This is a entertaining read and I highly recommend you read it too.

[Danica K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book New Kid by the author Tim Green. This book is about this family who works for the government.Their son Brock doesn’t know that yet.But about every couple weeks or months they have to move again. Brock on the other hand had lost his mother when he was little because of his parents job.
The author did a great job putting your mind into the story. For me it was really easy to imagine what was happening in the story.I would also recommend this book if you like baseball or just sports in general.
The book was very well written. It had character and the book was really easy to read. Like I said, if you like sports or baseball I would recommend this book.The book was very predictable. One of my favorite parts of the book was when Brock stood up for himself against his father for being on ESPN.

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the books that I really got into and couldn't put it down. The book New Kid is based on this kid who has this weird life. We had to move to a smallish town in New York. The kid the book is based on loves baseball with all of his heart, but he is moving so much that it is hard for him to play. As he loves baseball he finds this coach who coach one of the best pitchers in the MLB. The kid didn't no this at their first encounter and finds out after they did something that he wasn't suppose to do. Then the coach teaches the kid and he plays baseball for him as this is happening he is getting really good a pitching, and working very hard. As time goes on the coach does many different things with the kid.

[Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book New Kid is a great easy to read book. I would reccomend this to anyone that loves a good story that is an easy read. This book is about Tommy Rust who is a basebal player but his dad is always on the run making it hard for Tommy. Tommy and his dad have to run away making Tommy now Brock Nickerson. Brock is new and he has a a bully that doesnt like Brock.
Brock has a great throwing arm and joins a travel team. Brock is working his way into the community but his father could interupt Brock and his baseball and academic career. I loved this book and the whole story that it had to bring! I would reccomend this book to anyone that loves a great story and has meaning, power, and love for the game.

[Marco Balestrieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated New Kid by Tim Green four out of five stars, because it was a good story about a kid that learns a lot through baseball. The story takes place in Liverpool, New York. It is about a kid named Brock who moves around a lot. His dad was in a really bad accident and got paid a bunch of money because of that. He moves to a new places all of the time with his dad. He meets a really good baseball coach, Coach Hudgens that teaches him how to play baseball and other life skills. Coach´s niece Bella becomes very good friends with Brock. If you like sports and new adventures, I think this will be a book you will enjoy.

[Dylan B · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Kid “Tim Green” I thought this book was really good and the author did an awesome job explaining the character’s life in the book which is Brock Nickerson. You can really tell his personality because the author used “You have to give me another chance” he is determined. This book got my attention through the first few pages of this book which was great. The author could have done a better job explaining the ending because it left me hanging at the end of the story. The part I liked about this book is that Brock made history on a baseball team that has never won a championship before he ended up hitting a home run at the end of the inning to win it all. You should read the book asap.

[Brenden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good thought, has some relatable moments, and is packed with action, but at the same time it doesn't feel real nor right. For example: it feels relatable to some kids probably for their dad to be gone and not to share their business/ past life just how Tommy feels. But it doesn't feel real when he throws a rock into one of the coaches windows then the coach immediately recruits him for the baseball team because he threw that rock. It is relatable for a teenager to be suspicious or annoyed with a single father just like Tommy is with his father. Overall though the book keeps you entertained and wants to read more.

[Brenden Serrano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good thought, has some relatable moments and is packed with action, but at the same time it doesn't feel real nor right For example: it feels relatable to some kids probably for their dad to be gone and not to share their business/past life just how Tommy fecls. But it doesn't feel real when he throws a rock into one of the coaches windows then the coach immediately recruits him for the baseball team because he threw that rock. It is relatable for a teenager to be suspicious or annoyed with a single father just like Tommy is with his father, Overall though the book keeps you entertained and wants to read more, (less) ledit

[Alex Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that the character is very hard to relate to and that's a good thing... The author Tim Green Writes in a way that it makes me feel like I'm not looking into a mirror. But the fact that the characters have great depth is amazing! The chapters are too short, like 2 to 3 pages long. However, it doesn't cut into the middle of the action (I'm not telling what the action is). But in between the chapters time passes and it is uneventful, so the Tim Green doesn't skip important information or actions. Overall, a good read and it does lose a star for the too short chapters.

[Jake Ottensmeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recomend the book New Kid it really has a cliffhanager of every chapter that really makes you keep reading. The New Kid puts you in a situation where your mom/dad moves a lot for work and he can really never get comfortable at one place. Coach Hudgens was his mentor and he got him to be really good at baseball. His father was not very fond of that though and took him out because he got on ESPN because of his skills. I love this book becuase it teches you to be thankful for what you have.

[Brandon Hoyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tommy Rust other wise know as Brock, is familiar with being the new kid in town. His only friend is a bully which doesn't help him make a ton of friends. After a prank that doesn't go the way that he planned, the baseball coach notices his abilities to play baseball. I liked this book mainly because of my love for baseball. If you are a baseball or just a sports fan, I think that you would love this book

[Dick Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot remember why I got this book, it was several years ago. It is meant mostly for young boys but I have to admit the story and the writing were excellent. The author kept things simple, easy to understand and yet you never felt he was writing down to kids. The action moved along briskly and the characters were wonderful. I probably won't read another but I am glad I read this one.