First Team

New Kid #2

by Tim Green

From New York Times bestselling author and former NFL defensive end Tim Green comes the companion novel to New Kid. Brock is back, and in a new town, this time playing football. But will his plans to make the first team be shattered?

Brock Nickerson is on the run…again.

But this time his dad promises it’s going to be different. With his strong left arm, Brock knows he can be a great quarterback, and with the help of his new friend, Mak, he has a plan to beat the odds and make the first team. But the coaches have plans of their own, especially for the kids from the wrong side of the tracks, which is exactly where Brock now lives.

Brock is trying to finally fit in, but his father’s past is creeping up on him—and one chance meeting causes everything to come crashing down. Will Brock finally be able to navigate his new life, or will his past force him back on the run?

In this thrilling companion story to New Kid, Tim Green includes all the gripping action on the field that readers have come to love with an edge-of-your-seat intensity off the field that will keep kids turning the pages until the very end.

Genres: Sports, Football, Fiction, Middle Grade, Friendship, Young Adult

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 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

[Preston M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great and emotional book. It shows how everyone has a chance at life. It shows that everyone can make it to the top, even if they are from the bottom. This book almost made me tear up. Great book. Very very powerful.

[Turner Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The book takes place in Calhoun Ohio a small town that is separated by a river on one side you have the Flatheads as the people on the other side call them. They are called flatheads because where they live is flatland. The main character is Brock a tall muscular guy and he is the new kid on the football and he wants to play the position who gets the most attention. Quarterback. The only bad thing is that Brock lives in the flatheads and the coaches don’t really care much about flatheads. Brock clearly wasn’t ready and he didn’t have to be because the offense coordinator Frank Van Kulffer nephew is the starting quarterback. When Brock get reps in practice he doesn’t preform and is so close to being move to line. Brock doesn’t give up and at the end of practice and throws one of the coaches a ball and it is a tight spiral and it travels 50 yards through the air! And he’s in 7th grade! On his way back from practice he stops by the library and meets a girl name Laurel and her brother is the star quarterback for Calhoun. The next time he stopped by to say hi to Laurel and saw her brother Brock was having another bad day and thought it worse because he thought that he is her boyfriend and was made that he was flirting with her. Thankfully it was an offer for Taylor to help him with his QB issues. After a few more practices him and the varsity coach Spada shows up and Brock puts on a mini QB pro day in which he throws all the routes a couple times. That didn’t go over well with Van Kulffer. After that a kid named Kurt Wentzel was demoted to Brock’s spot and Brock was now 2nd string. In their first game Wally played well and they won. The problem came in the second game when a big kid with the last name of Surbich nailed Wally and he didn’t come back up. Wally got blindsided because Mak Brock’s best friend whiffed on the block. Brock got in and played one play he handed the ball off to the running back and he fumbled and it wasn’t even Brock’s fault. In the second game Laurel’s mom stepped in and demanded that Brock start the next game and with this city being biased and did whatever the richest person in the city demanded Brock got the start. Brock’s first pass was intercepted and was a pick six Van Kulffer was livid on the sideline and Coach Hewitt the head coach said if you don’t want him to start the leave and he left. Brock rallied the team and had one last play and this one was crazy trying to picture. He took the snap and they blitzed a corner off the edge Brock ran out the pocket and was drilled as time ran out but he didn’t go down he ran right into Mak and kept churning his legs and fired a hail marry pass and it stuck to the receivers hands and he scored the game winning touchdown and Mak lifted him up and said “Me and you first team forever.”

[Jack Ryan]

The book First Team by Tim Green is about a kid name Brock who has to deal with his dad's past in his new city Calhoun. With his new best friend Mak he is determined to make first team but the offensive cordnaitor has other plans like his nephew Wally. The book First Team was a very good book and I would want to read more Tim Green books

[Dante · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Team, in the fiction section, written by Tim Green .This is a book about a kid named Brock and he is having to deal with his dad's past, this includes moving state to state. His new town is Calhoun. Brock is trying to make first team or A team for quarterback but the coach's nephew is the quarterback and has been playing since he was in diapers. after realizing this town inst the nicest of them all hes already hitting his quits on it, but and new best friend and girl may change his mind on leaving. If you are into sports but also a little of reality life then this is the book for you. I don't love reading but there was something about this book that made me want to keep turning the page. The way the author keeps you connected to this book is like super glue. I don't think the writing is very over powering but I believe that Tim Green still did a wonderful job with the story. The way he had the scenes set was almost set up for you to keep turning the page. I believe that the theme of the story is that there may be some problems along the way but in the end its all about who you have to support you, and who really loves you. I can relate to this story because I have been on enough sports teams where the coaches son is favored so I could know how hard it is to get the piston that you want. I would recommend this book to someone that would like a sports book book but also a taste of reality.

[Josiah Gulbro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about Brock the kid who always has to change names and be the new kid. All he wants is to stay in one place and play baseball, but his Dad is always on the run from somebody from somewhere. One time when he's on the run he escapes, then they stop running and stay finally in Calhoun, Ohio a remote place in the middle of nowhere. He figures out that Calhoun is football town and decides to play football, he wants to be quarterback but because of his size no one will give him a chance. Will he overcome everyone's doubt and be on first team

[Dacia Schoulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really REALLY loved this book

[Luke Ivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that I read is called First Team by Tim Green. Brock is a teenage boy on the run from people that are trying to kill his dad. They have been everywhere in the country trying to fit into their new communities. After the last move his dad decides that they can finally settle down somewhere. They end up in Calhoun Ohio where Brock meets his new friend Mak pretty quickly. He finds out that Calhoun is big on football. He meets a girl, Laurel, and becomes friends even though they’re from “the wrong side of town”. Brock wants to play football and has an amazing arm so he wants to try out for Quarterback. But the problem is that he’s the size of a lineman and the QB is one of the coaches nephews. So with Laurel, her new friend from the right side of town and a little help from her brother and mom, Brock is going to do his best to make first team. Laurel also turns out to be a little more than just a friend. They might still be on the run. Can Brock make first team?

I loved this book. The way it was written, is just awesome. I love all the different parts of the story, being on the run from bad guys, making friends and fitting in, and of course football. How they all come together to make this story is just amazing. I feel like I can really connect to the characters, and just the plot itself, even though I obviously am not in quite the same situation as him. It does kind of get confusing in some parts and I feel like a little more background is needed at some times and I also feel like the book was kind of cut short, like I wish the book was longer and went into a little more with what happened later. But hopefully this means there will be a sequel. This is probably one of my top 10 books that I have ever read.

I can relate to this book a lot for the most part. I’m the Quarterback now for our team but I wasn’t at first. When I first started playing tackle football, the other guys for the most part had played for a couple years before that. So I was the new guy and I had to work my way to the top. This is similar to Brock, being the new kid and trying to prove himself in a pretty brutal community. He eventually makes it, like myself, and is the starting QB. But then again, my dad isn’t part of the government and I’m not always on the run from people trying to kill me.
I’ve read a lot of sports books in my life, especially through the past two years. Most of them involve kids starting from the bottom and working their way to the top, or as in this book, first team. None of the books, at least that I can remember, have ever involved being chased by people trying to kill him. Even though this is a very original text, I still find it being similar to a lot of others that I have read. A little bit of family issues, having to prove themselves, to me this book reminds me a lot of the Gamechanger books by Mike Lupica. I love those books.
One thing that reminds me a lot about the problems that we have in the world today, is when he is automatically thought of as lower than the rest of them just because he lives in the “flatlands”. We find that quite a bit here in the world today, like if you live in a part of town that has less money, or isn’t as nice as other parts of the city, then you are for some reason thought of as not as good as the others. That is the most relation I can find in this book that really applies to the world we live in today.

[Noah M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book that I read was called First Team by Tim Green. I have read many books written by Green and this one is my favorite. This book was full of lots of suspense and had a slight underdog story feeling to it. Near the end of the book, several big surprises about the main characters caught me off guard.Throughout the book, Brock tries to become first tem quarterback while also trying to talk to a beautiful girl named Laurel. Even though I’m not a huge reader, this book was very interesting and made me want to keep on reading.
The book started out with Brock and his dad running from a federal agency in Georgia where they stole a plane and flew to New Jersey. Once in New Jersey, Brock’s dad promised him the start of a normal life and not having to live like fugitives. After spending the summer in New Jersey, they decide to move to Calhoun, Ohio to start a new life. When they arrive, they buy a house in the poor part of the town called the Flatlands.
The first day in town, Brock meets a new friend named Mak who asks him to join the football team. Because Brock is from the Flatlands, he has little chance of making first team quarterback. He practices day-in and day-out to prove to the coaches his greatness while also meeting a girl at the library named Laurel. Throughout the book, Brock tries over and over to prove to the coaches his special abilities at quarterback while also getting to know Laurel more.
One of the main things that I loved throughout the book was how their was the main plot of the story being Brock trying to make the first team quarterback and the other smaller plot of the story which was Brock trying to talk to Laurel and have her mom date his dad. It was very interesting to see how knowing Laurel and her family in the story helped to tie into making the first team quarterback. Brock studied the plays with Taylor, Laurie's brother, to help him get the chance for first team. Another interesting main element of the story I loved was the suspicion behind Brock’s father. Even though it was confusing near the beginning of the book of who Brock and his dad where running from, the book left hints of why they were wanted. It made the book have more of a suspense feeling. I had to piece together small points in the book about him being a wanted man.
There was only one main thing that I did not care for in the book however. The ending of the book was almost too cheesy. Since I have read many of Green’s other books, I figured that in the very end Brock would make first team.
I think that the overall plot of the book was very interesting. Like I said earlier, this was one of the only books I have ever read that made me want to keep on reading until the end. I would recommend anyone reading this book even if they are football enthusiast or not because part of the main plot has nothing to do with him making the first team.

[Tyson I · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book that I just finished reading is called First Team by Tim green. This book has a 690L lexile level. Brock's mom and dad were both secret agents ,but when Brock's mom died his dad has to carry it out. Now Brock has a new name and a new face and new friends and he will have to go to a new school. Brock has always had a passion for baseball. Although when he realizes that football is a bigger sport in his new town Brock goes all out to try to make First Team. when the game and his life is on the line will Brock make the right choice.
The theme of this book is don't judge a person by where they come from. In the book Brock doesn't get a lot of opportunities to play because he comes from the ¨wrong¨ side of town. Brock's dad is trying to lay low so they have to live on the poorer rougher side of town. Brock gets motivated when he doesn't get any reps at practice so he works harder and shows the coach's how good of a thrower he really is. ¨Brock was fifty yards from the coach. He took a step and rifled the football. It arced up into the air, spinning in a tight and perfect spiral. Coach Hewitts hands shot up in front of his face and he caught the ball.¨ This textual evidence proves that Brock really did have a good arm and he deserved to play. When Brock heard that the coaches only played the kids from the ¨right¨ side of town. He got even more mad it just made him work even harder to achieve his goal.
I liked this book because it involves a lot of sports and it has a lot of action watch keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book isn't very confusing it's pretty straight to the point. It's not very believable it's kind of secret agent on the run type of book ,but it is very thrilling. It was a pretty easy book to read I would say that it is about a sixth grade level. My favorite part is the ending when Brock comes back from throwing a pick six and throws four touchdown passes to win the game. It reminds me when I threw a pick six in my last football game and then I came right back out and through two more touchdown passes. The author Tim Green likes to make you think that the character in the story in this case Brock. Is going downhill and is in trouble and then he comes right back up and their is a happy ending.

[LydiaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book is First Team by Tim Green, a former NFL player. First team has a reading level of 4.5. First Team is about a young boy named Brock Nickerson, he just moved to a new town and changed his identity. His dad is a secret agent that is being chased. Brock joins the football team and the coaches are amazed by his arm. They want him to be their quarterback but it is not that easy, Brock and His dad live on the wrong side of the tracks and his offensive Coach Van Kuffler does not like him. He has to show the coaches that he is good enough to be on the first team. Good thing the varsity quarterback Taylor likes him and is willing to help him. He tries to have a relationship with Taylor's little sister Laurel that can see right through him and sees that something is troubling him. On top of that, Brock's missing and thought to be dead mom shows up and shows Brock what it feels like to be loved. In the end Brock made the winning pass and made it to the First team and laurel and him are still good friends.

The main character Brock is always thinking about something and he is very secretive like in the book when Laurel is trying to figure him out and she says, “I see quite secretive… I'm not the first girl you ever liked but I scare you. You love your dad and respect him a lot. I think you're playing football to fit in, but you're excited because you also know that you could be really good.” Brock is amazed by how right she is and she is completely correct. Brock respects his father and looks up to him and he knows that he has potential in football that is why he loves it so much.

This book is a good book for teens because it has a good reading level and the main character is a teen too. I liked that in the book it had some young love and it was kind of cute to read about it. In the beginning of the book it was a bit confusing but it got better as the book went on. I really liked the ending of this book mostly because it was a happy ending but Brock got to feel how it feels to be loved by a mother and that really made me think how lucky I am that I have a mom that cares for me and loves me. My favorite part of the book is probably when Brock and Laurel meet and have their first kiss.

[IsaacL · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Team
By Tim Green

Tim Green always does an amazing job writing his books. Even though his books are fiction he can make them seem like that is happening or could be happening, also his books can teach you what you can do if your ever in some of the positions like they are in his books. His books can make you think what you would do if you were in the same positions as the kids in these books. First Team’s lexile level is 700.


I think the Central Idea of this book is to stay positive no matter what life throws at you. I think that this is the Central Idea because in the story First Team a boy named brock and his dad are all alone because brock’s mother died. With his dad’s job they are always having to move and Brock hates being the new kid all of the time. But this time his dad had promised that the next place that they moved to they would stay at. Brock and his dad had to get plastic surgery because of their injuries from a plane crash but also so they wouldn’t be know by any of the people that are trying to kill his dad. After they finally moved brock joined football and his coach didn’t like him because he was going to take his nephew’s first team spot as a quarterback to he didn’t let him take any reps at practice and made him work super hard after practice to make him look bad. Brock never gave up because he was determined to get on the first team no matter how hard things get he wasn’t going to give up.


I highly recommend Tim Green books to everyone even if you're not really interested in sports books I think you might like his books. I think you would be most interested in these books if you played the sports that he writes about. Even if you don’t like reading I really think that you will like his books. I never liked to read until I found Tim Green books and now I love to read his books changed my whole perspective on reading and I think if you give his books a chance it might change yours also.

[Frankenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Can you… call me Brock?” This was the key question from Brock’s dad to help him during an emergency in the book First Team by Tim Green. I’m only halfway through the book, and so far, I like it and would recommend it.
The plot of the book is about a son of two spies. The son didn’t know that his parents were spies. The main character of the book is named Brock, who was on his high school football team. The theme of the book was that Brock was playing football and he didn’t know that his parents were spies for the United States.
I think one thing that the author did poorly was transitioning from the beginning of the book into the second part of the book. It felt like he had two ideas and he couldn’t decide on one idea so he thought to do both of the ideas. In the beginning of the book Brock was on the mission with his dad, then the author changed his mind about what the topic of the book. How the transition was strange because it really didn’t flow well.
One thing that I like that the author did well was making sure to keep what the son’s parents did for a living a secret until halfway into the beginning of the book because he wanted people to be interested on what was going to happen next.
I think that a couple of things that I wish that the author did better was go more in-depth about how the parents became spies.
In conclusion I would recommend this book to people that like an action book because there is a lot of action in this book. Why I was interested in this book is because I love playing football and watching the game. I also thought why it was interesting is because there are spies in this book.

[MIke Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book First Team is a realistic fiction novel by Tim Green. The book is about a seventh-grader Brock who is trying to live a normal life. He wants to live a normal life because he and his father have been chased by evil Russians for months. The Russians already killed his mother, but after Brock and his father crash, they undergo surgery which changes their appearance completely. " Neither of us look the same. Your Face or mine,". So they move to a small town in Ohio where Brock wants to play football, but there is a stuck up coach that's nephew is the QB so he tortures Brock to make him look bad. With the help of a rich yet humble family, they convince the coach that Brock is the man for the job once the starting QB goes down.

Some key characters are Brock(protagonist), John is Brocks's father who was in the FBI, Audrey is Brocks's mom who also was in the FBI, Mak Is Brocks's best friend and left Tackle, And Laurel is Brock's girlfriend from the rich family.

The story mainly takes place in a small town in Ohio called Calhoun. The town is split by rich and poor people the poor live in the flatlands so Brock lives there and this causes many problems.

My favorite part of this book is at the end when Brock heaves a long hail mary pass downfield with no time left to win the game for his 7th-grade football team in his first start ever. "Brock reset his feet and blasted the ball with all his might. Xavier saw it and kept running. The ball flew up and away, arching downwards towards the endzone. Xavier extended his arms and Brock clenched his teeth. The ball stuck, and Xavier pulled it in,".

I would recommend to this book anyone between 11-15 that likes football and action.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gavin Smeeton
11/12/18
8B

The book First Team, by Tim Green, is a realistic fiction and is a sequel to New Kid. First Team is about Brock Nickerson's drama on and off the field. Brock and his father have been moving around a lot because of his father's past job as a spy, but his father said things will be different now since settling in this new city, Calhoun. Brock loves football and has a good left arm. His new friend Mak and Brock are determined to make the first team or A team for the quarterback. He is determined to making the team and staying on the team because of where he lives. If you play sports you understand the pressures of making the team especially if you are up against players that are better than you and also if you are new to the town. This book made me want more from page to page. I couldn't wait to see what happened next in the story. This book shows you how everyone has problems in their life but hopefully, you have someone to support you with them. I rate this book a 10 out of 10 because it kept me wanting to read more. If you like sports books I would recommend this book to you.

[Dylan Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "First Team," by Tim Green, Brock tries to make the first team at his middle school. The genre is realistic fiction, the characters are Brock, who is the main character, wants to be the quarterback of the new team, and is friends with Laurel and Mack. Laurel is Brock's friend, the richest girl and a librarian. Mack is Brock's best friend, a linemen on First Team, and Brock's helper. They live in Calhoun, Ohio and the setting was mostly in the city at school. One conflict in the story is that Brock does not like Coach Van Kuffler. The 3 most important things that happened were when Brock threw a 50 yard pass to Coach Hewitt, when Brock fumbles on his first drive, and when he helps his team win a game. I think others would enjoy this book because it is very exciting, it is explained very well, and it is written by a good author.

[I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Green's First Team is one of the best books I have ever read. This book is about a kid named Brock who always has to run away from his past life and get a new name and identity. This time he has moved into the town of Calhoun, Ohio where his father tells him they are there to stay. Immediately he becomes friends with a kid riding his bike through the town named Mak. I'm the type of person who doesn't read unless I am forced to during school. But, this book was so good that it had me reading it in the car, while I could have been playing video games or sports, and had me reading while I was supposed to be doing other things. This book has so many surprises that you would never see coming if you read the first book. THIS BOOK IS THE BEST THING EVER!!!!!

[Michael B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First Team By Tim Green is about Brock and his dad, Brock constantly moves because his dad is targeted by people that hate the government. Brock has to move Calhoun to start a new life because his Dad is under a threat if he stays in one area. Once in Calhoun Brock meats Mak, Mak suggests with Brocks size he should play football. Once Brock's dad agrees to let him play football. Brock wants to play quarterback because he has a strong left arm, but the coaches nephew Wally Van Kuffler is the number one quarterback. Brock has to prove what he's got. Overall I enjoyed the book at the beginning I was little confused but after the first 50 pages I started to understand the point of the book.

[Maddux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an action packed sports book by Tim Green. The book starts off telling you about him playing baseball, but his dad was a spy who is now trying to hide from someone. They have been moving around from place to place, changing their names every time. They decide to settle in a small town in Ohio called Calhoun. That is where the rest of the story takes place. He met his friend because he fell off his bike in the beginning of the story. He then played football for that school for the rest of the season, but one of his coaches didn't like him because he wanted his nephew to be the quarterback, Brock's position. But with help he eventually gets there on the first team as a quarter back playing with his friend.

[Joey Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

First team by Tim Green is a football novel about a kid named brock who moved to a new town and joined a football team. He made friends with a kid named Mak who also lives on the same side of the river as him. When he joins the team, a coach is being rude to him calling him names. Brock, during all of this, is trying to make first team. This is a really good book and I recommend you read it. I give it 5/5 for its humor, realisticness, and for moments that don’t seem real. If you like any sort of book about sports, you should read this.

[Joseph S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the First Team was a great book showing how a kid out of nowhere could be an amazing football player. He was first a baseball player but when his friend told him the town was a football town he tried it out. His father and he are being tracked by a Russian bad guy. They almost get away on a plane but it crashes. The damage from the crash gives them a totally new facial identity. What happens next is for you to find out.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was pretty good as there was an attention-grabbing start. In addition, there were many plot twists which made the book better for the reader. However, I didn't like the end as I believe it didn't fill out the whole story. The book was also not very predictable, which is a good thing.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a real page turner. I would get to the end of of a chapter and have to keep going to find out what was going to happen next!

Some of the characters in this book were a bit over the top or unrealistic (in particular coach Van Kuffler). But there were also other characters that were likeable and made rational decisions. So I focused on those.

Overall, this was a fun read.

[Sandy Sopko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly interesting plot. I read this book because a student challenged me to read outside of my comfort zone (which would be sports) and when I asked for the best sports book he ever read, this was his recommendation, First Team. I really enjoyed it, except for the descriptions of practice plays and football game action, haha! So, aside from the football stuff, it was pretty good!

[Connor Lefevre · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a great book and if I had a choice I would definitely read it again, because it was a good story all around and it had suspense, and it explained all the choices the character made in this book.

[Leo O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite series. The new kids series was very interesting. Tim Green makes all his books relatable and has good conflict. This was even better than the usual. Theres nothing bad I can say about Tim Green books.

[Shelly Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a quarterback from the wrong side of town become the starter? This book deals with issue of equity, but not related to race-rather related to SES. Kids from the poor side of town play positions that don't need brains, only brawn because the coaches don't believe they are smart enough.

[Brennan Barttelt]

I thought this book was very good. There was always things happening that made me want to keep reading. I feel like he ended the book in a weird way, as we are left with not knowing things, and I do not think he made a second book.

[Nolan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just like every other sports book the team is terrible and then wins the championship. The book also has other problems like how Brock and his father are in danger from the Russian. this book was very predictable ⭐⭐⭐

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very good book. Very exciting and thrilling, easy read.

[Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is easy read for anyone. I recommend this to anyone.