Underhand

by M.J. McIsaac

Fifteen-year-old Nick Carver is tired of living in his older brother's shadow. Markus is the lacrosse team hero, love interest of Nick's longtime crush and now the recipient of a prestigious scholarship from the Philston Weiks Academy.
When a mistake at provincials results in Markus's goal being discounted, rumors start going around school that he cheated. Suddenly, Philston Weiks is "rethinking" Markus's scholarship offer. They've also invited other players, including Nick, to try out for Markus's spot. Nick is flattered but conflicted. He's pretty sure his brother didn't cheat. But can he prove it? And if he does, will he ruin his one chance to finally be in the spotlight?

Genres: Sports, Realistic Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

Reviews

[JamesonEvans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underhand

Underhand by, M.J McIsaac, is about a story of boy named nick that is living in the 21st century and has an older brother, named Markus, and him and his brother both play for the same lacrosse team( the Maplehurst Vikings) and both love to play the game. But Nick gets jealous when Markus starts dating the girl of his dreams Lindy Hilner. But Lindy will have to wait because Nick faces a bigger challenge when he finds out that his brother Markus is offered a scholarship to Philston Weiks and someone lies to the head coach of Philston Weiks and claims that Markus cheated in his lacrosse game and now they are rethinking his scholarship.
NIck was a very jealous person. Nick was really jealous older his older brother Markus. One of the main reasons that Nick was jealous of markus was because Markus is dating Nick’s dream girl Lindy Hilner. Even though nick rarely ever talks to her she is still the girl of nicks dreams. Nick gets really jealous especially when he finds out that lindy and markus are going to have ice cream together,”Then ice cream with Lindy hilner will not be happening’’.Another major reason why Nick Is very jealous of his brother Markus is because he got a scholarship to a very high educated and rich high school to play lacrosse for.
Nick is also very carrying and athletic. Nick doesn't realize it at first but really he actually cares about Markus. When Nick finds out that someone has lied and is trying to take his brothers scholarship he is determined to find who did this and to get back his brothers scholarship. And during his mission he also stays very focused on his goal,’’ That's not why I am here,I am here for Markus.’’pg.153 Nick is also very athletic and competitive when it comes to lacrosse. Whenever nick is on the lacrosse field he is always fired up,’’ That’s how it is for me anyway. When i put on my helmet and see the world behind those bars.’’pg.1 Nick is very athletic and caring all throughout the book.
All throughout the book the author made things seem like something that they weren't. For example in the very beginning of the book on pg.1 the author states that,” You see a tiger pacing back and forth, people say he is bored’’. When the author says this she means that a human is acting as if they were a tiger and they are pacing back and forth.also on page 2 the author does the same thing,”the ball is mine, safely nested in the pocket of my stick while I barrel to the net. In This sentence the author describes the ball as if it were an egg and the pocket of the stick was its nest. Also she describes nick as barreling down the field.
Action packed and very realistic this book was very detailed and was probably one of the best books that i have ever read( it doesn't say much since I don't read that much).

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it because lacrosse is interesting.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story about lacrosse and being a good brother.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like lacrosse so it was a good book

[Gillian Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the fast pace of the read. She writes tight and focused. The lacrosse detail is well understood by the writer and conveyed well in the story. For a boy who loves lacrosse nor sports in general, this might be a great recommendation.

But I didn't love the main character or the plot. (SPOILERS AHEAD) In the first three chapters, the main character is beyond not likable, he is almost anti-social in a socio-pathic kind of way. He likens himself to a caged tiger, is clearly not a team player, is selfish, does not love his brother, and actually wants his brother to feel pain and covets his girlfriend. While the character does "turn around" to having a good intention to "clear his brother's name," it seems forced, since he doesn't like his brother and he actively intends to steal his girlfriend. The crux of the plot is that a rumor could cost his brother a lacrosse scholarship, but in what world would this actually happen? The plot hinges on whether the timekeeping error made by the brother's girlfriend that allowed the brother to have a "superplay" and catch the eye of the scouts was cheating or not. The rumor that it was all premeditated cheating is what gets the scholarship offer pulled. But, it's kind of a silly thing to hinge a plot on. Because whether or not the game play was allowed or disallowed, a scout would base his offer on the player's skill. And most adults don't consider rumors concocted by other players to be worthwhile criteria for recruiting. So the world of the story doesn't work for me. Also - and maybe this is because the book was written in 1984 - but the only women are "the mom" and "the girlfriend."

[Mathilde]

Le livre UNDERHAND d'Aria Topez sur Wattpad

[grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I love to go out and lax with my teammates, and I think this is the perfect lacrosse book to read at any time.

[Landen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underhand by M.J Mcisaac was a great book. This book was about a kid named Markus and his brother Nick. Markus and Nick both play lacrosse and Markus, always took the spotlight from Nick. Also Nick was jealous of Markus, because Markus's girlfriend was Nicks crush. During the book Markus got a scholarship, and got it reconsidered because of Markus's girlfriend accidentally not resorting the time before the game winning score. Read the book, to find out more about the events they went through to get Markus's scholarship back.

I really loved this book. It always made me want to flip to the next page and keep reading. Also it never stopped having different conflicts. There is honestly nothing I would have changed in this book. Overall it was one of the best books I have ever read.

I would recommend this book
to adults or kids that like sports, adventure, and comedy. If you like any of those topics this is the book for you. Please read this fascinating book you will like it.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick and Markus Carver are excellent lacrosse players. However, Markus is recognized as the star and Nick is tired of being overlooked when Markus is around. Markus seems to have it all: a girlfriend, an offer for a scholarship at an elite school, and the adoration of his teammates. When Markus is accused of cheating in a game, though, Nick is unsure whether or not he should try to help clear his brothers name.

[Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was amazing! it was a great story about when two brothers are up for some pretty serious scholarships and one of them has to choose between telling the truth or staying true to his family and a girl. hella good