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Game Plan
Beano must find out if he is up to the challenge of coaching the Barton High Tigers after Coach Pritchard is seriously injured in a car accident, especially with the crucial final game coming up. Reprint.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Thomas J. Dygard
23 books11 followersIn His Own Words...
"I can't remember when I first started writing fiction. it was shortly after I began reading fiction, I'm sure.
"I've been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I read a lot of the same kinds of books I'm writing-the John R. Tunis sports stories, for example. I also read a lot of history when I was young-and I still do now. It's always fascinated me.
"When I was a high school senior, I was offered two jobs, both of the apprentice sort. One was in a commercial artist's studio, on a recommendation from my art teacher. The other was in the sports department of the local newspaper, following work on the school paper. I took the sportswriting job.
"For four years I worked for the Arkansas Gazette while attending the University of Arkansas, first at Little Rock and then at Fayetteville, covering football, baseball, basketball, boxing, golf, tennis-everything that made up the sports page. After graduation, I joined the Associated Press as a newsman at Little Rock and later worked in AP bureaus in Detroit, Birmingham, and New Orleans. Eventually, I was Chief of Bureau in Little Rock, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Tokyo, Japan. I retired from the Associated Press in 1993 and now live in Evansville, Indiana.
"For me, writing fiction is fun, relaxing, and satisfying-an enjoyable change of pace, a recharging of the batteries.
"My first young adult novel, Running Scared, got started one night in a motel room in Champaign, Illinois, when I had nothing else to do. Before long, the story had me in its grip. The creation of the thing was a fascinating experience. I liked the characters. I liked leading them through their problems to their triumphs. I kept going until one day it was finished.
"I did not set out to write for young people. Looking back, I think it was something of a blessing that 1 did not. As I wrote Running Scared, I imagined the reader as an adult, but after it was finished, it seemed more appropriate for young readers. The result, I think, was that the story did not talk down to teenagers. In every book I've written since, I've tried to keep the same approach."
"I can't remember when I first started writing fiction. it was shortly after I began reading fiction, I'm sure.
"I've been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I read a lot of the same kinds of books I'm writing-the John R. Tunis sports stories, for example. I also read a lot of history when I was young-and I still do now. It's always fascinated me.
"When I was a high school senior, I was offered two jobs, both of the apprentice sort. One was in a commercial artist's studio, on a recommendation from my art teacher. The other was in the sports department of the local newspaper, following work on the school paper. I took the sportswriting job.
"For four years I worked for the Arkansas Gazette while attending the University of Arkansas, first at Little Rock and then at Fayetteville, covering football, baseball, basketball, boxing, golf, tennis-everything that made up the sports page. After graduation, I joined the Associated Press as a newsman at Little Rock and later worked in AP bureaus in Detroit, Birmingham, and New Orleans. Eventually, I was Chief of Bureau in Little Rock, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Tokyo, Japan. I retired from the Associated Press in 1993 and now live in Evansville, Indiana.
"For me, writing fiction is fun, relaxing, and satisfying-an enjoyable change of pace, a recharging of the batteries.
"My first young adult novel, Running Scared, got started one night in a motel room in Champaign, Illinois, when I had nothing else to do. Before long, the story had me in its grip. The creation of the thing was a fascinating experience. I liked the characters. I liked leading them through their problems to their triumphs. I kept going until one day it was finished.
"I did not set out to write for young people. Looking back, I think it was something of a blessing that 1 did not. As I wrote Running Scared, I imagined the reader as an adult, but after it was finished, it seemed more appropriate for young readers. The result, I think, was that the story did not talk down to teenagers. In every book I've written since, I've tried to keep the same approach."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 9, 2018
The Barton High Tigers’ head coach is injured and everyone is worried who’ll be the coach for Friday’s upcoming game, enter the student manager. Game Plan by Thomas J. Dygard follows Beano Hatton as he is propelled from nobody student manager to acting coach with all the pressures of school work and getting players to follow his lead, all while figuring out how to actually coach and prepare for a game.
Except for the first chapter, the narrative follows Beano Hatton beginning for being called to the principal’s office for the first time in his life—though not the last he’d have that week—and being asked to coach the Tigers football team against rivals Carterville. Except for telling his best friend Danny to cover for him as student manager, Beano keeps quiet until the Principal gives the team the news and hands it over to Beano. What follows is an awkward, stressful week as Beano figures out how Coach Pritchard scouts and makes up game plans while at the same time attempting to get the team to follow his lead, easier said than done with the star quarterback having an issue with him. But once Friday night comes and the ball is kicked, Beano has to manage the game.
From kickoff to the final whistle, Dygard writes a convincing flow of a football game which after the narrative build-up before and through the game of Beano making coaching decisions makes for a thrilling last third of the book. The first two-thirds of the book reads like a made-for-television young adult movie, but actually good. Though some of Dygard’s dialogue and words choices are a little off, they would be far superior to what one would hear and see on the aforementioned movie. The only other fault would be Dygard basically not having Coach Pritchard not have any notes on upcoming opponents which sounds far-fetched even for a little town high school coach with a staff of one.
Game Plan is one of those young adult sports books that is simply a good read that can be done in a day because it draws you in and frankly is nearly perfect for a book of its genre. Thomas J. Dygard hits all the right narrative keys to make this book keep the reader interested in how a nobody student manages to gain enough confidence of the football team to lead them through the last game of the season.
Except for the first chapter, the narrative follows Beano Hatton beginning for being called to the principal’s office for the first time in his life—though not the last he’d have that week—and being asked to coach the Tigers football team against rivals Carterville. Except for telling his best friend Danny to cover for him as student manager, Beano keeps quiet until the Principal gives the team the news and hands it over to Beano. What follows is an awkward, stressful week as Beano figures out how Coach Pritchard scouts and makes up game plans while at the same time attempting to get the team to follow his lead, easier said than done with the star quarterback having an issue with him. But once Friday night comes and the ball is kicked, Beano has to manage the game.
From kickoff to the final whistle, Dygard writes a convincing flow of a football game which after the narrative build-up before and through the game of Beano making coaching decisions makes for a thrilling last third of the book. The first two-thirds of the book reads like a made-for-television young adult movie, but actually good. Though some of Dygard’s dialogue and words choices are a little off, they would be far superior to what one would hear and see on the aforementioned movie. The only other fault would be Dygard basically not having Coach Pritchard not have any notes on upcoming opponents which sounds far-fetched even for a little town high school coach with a staff of one.
Game Plan is one of those young adult sports books that is simply a good read that can be done in a day because it draws you in and frankly is nearly perfect for a book of its genre. Thomas J. Dygard hits all the right narrative keys to make this book keep the reader interested in how a nobody student manages to gain enough confidence of the football team to lead them through the last game of the season.
April 18, 2024
This story takes place in less than a week, but a lot happens in that amount of time. I really liked Beano and how he thought through things and handled all the many situations that came up. There were a few people I wasn’t sure if I was going to like them or not, but at the end . . . well, I won’t give things away.
This was a fun story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys sports books, especially football. It’s clean but not Christian.
This was a fun story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys sports books, especially football. It’s clean but not Christian.
February 4, 2019
I recently read Game plan by Thomas J. Dygard. The book sets place in a local town school. The main characters are beano hatton, principal Tyler, star quarterback Marty tucker and other football players. I wanted to read this book bc of how much I like sports.
The high school football teams head coach got critically injured in a car wreck. The young manager of the team beano hatton was made the new head coach. He had to prepare the team for there last game of the season against their school rivals. Most people doubt him but that only drives him to work harder.
I think the book had a pretty good ending. I think the conflict resolved nicely. My favorite part of the book was in the beginning when Marty had gotten the news that he was gonna be there head coach for the last game. I liked how surprised everyone was.
This book is really just like a lot of other sports books. I think people who are interested in sports would like this book. My personal opinion about this book it that it wasn’t really one of the things I like to read about. I think it was a good book but it didn’t really spark my interest.
The high school football teams head coach got critically injured in a car wreck. The young manager of the team beano hatton was made the new head coach. He had to prepare the team for there last game of the season against their school rivals. Most people doubt him but that only drives him to work harder.
I think the book had a pretty good ending. I think the conflict resolved nicely. My favorite part of the book was in the beginning when Marty had gotten the news that he was gonna be there head coach for the last game. I liked how surprised everyone was.
This book is really just like a lot of other sports books. I think people who are interested in sports would like this book. My personal opinion about this book it that it wasn’t really one of the things I like to read about. I think it was a good book but it didn’t really spark my interest.
October 15, 2019
this book was boring but it gets you points.
November 10, 2016
I recently read Thomas J. Dygard's novel "Game Plan." This book is about a kid named Bueno who is the student manager for the Tigers. After the second to last game of the season, the Tiger's coach, Coach Pritchard, got in a car crash on his way home. The Tigers only had the one coach so they had to find a new coach and they chose Bueno. Bueno, being someone who always does their homework, did his homework on the Tiger's rival Centerville. The Tiger's starting quarterback Marty didn't like Bueno coaching so he quit. Marty came back for the last game and got back the starting spot. Bueno created a trick play that scored the first touchdown for the game. The Tigers, led by Marty, gave the game ball to Bueno to show him respect and to thank him.
June 9, 2011
The book,"Gameplan" is a great book for someone who enjoys football and sports readings. It is about a student, Beano, at Barton High School whose football coach got into a major car accident resulting in not being able to coach the team. Due to the hospitalization the Barton high football team is faced a huge challenge. To let Beano, who is the coaches TA, coach the team or to forfeit the undefeated season. The team does follow through with Beano heading the team to victory but some of the players may have a problem wit that. Many players and teachers look forward to winning the game even when the quarterback quit and there is a student coach!
November 22, 2013
The overcoming and will power to succeed in this story is great for people trying to be a leader in the world. To be put in a bad spot and told to make the best of what you're given is best shown through this book. Not to give up and to keep pushing even when it seems the odds are against you are shown in this book. When Hurbert is given the headcoaching job after a fatal accident to the coach, this is his time to show he can be a good leader and lead the football team to its district championship. This is a good book if you're looking for a book to show that no matter how big or small you could make a difference.
January 22, 2016
I think that the book GAME PLAN by Thomas J. Dygard was a very good book. It is about a kid name Beano who was a student manager for the first three years of high school for his football team. The head coach was in a car accident, and they named Beano as acting head coach till Coach Pritchard got back. It was a good book because, everyone can learn from it. He was a senior and was a head coach for a high school football team. Also, it was about a topic that I like. I read a lot of sports books, and this was about football. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read, or likes to read sport books. It is well written, and an overall good book.
October 23, 2015
I found this book pretty good. To me this book lacked in action, and pop out details. I found myself very bored throughout this book, and I never really got into it until about 3/4 of the way through. However, the conflicts that developed throughout the story I felt were perfectly implemented. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy football books, but I wouldn't read it if you don't like persistent action.
February 19, 2016
The book Game Plan is truly a great book. It teaches a great lesson that teaches people that they can do anything. Beano who was also the football team manger became coach of the football team. He was a shy kid who didn't think he could coach the team for their last game of the season. This was a huge game because it was against their biggest rivals. Beano had to deal with the criticism of many people around the town. Nobody knew if they were going to win the game or not.
January 12, 2017
I read the book Game Plan by Thomas Dygard. This is a good book for anyone who likes sports or football. It is about a kid named Beano who is the student manager of the high school football team. He faced with a big challenge when Coach Pritchard is in a car accident and can't coach the team for their last game. The principal decides that Beano will be the coach. This book shows that you can do anything you want if you believe in yourself.
May 6, 2011
It was a very intersting book.I loved the book because it was about football and they never gave up during the book.It was a great book to read and I read it really fast. If you like football books then I would defiantly read this book if I was you.
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December 29, 2012I like it very much
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews