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The Buttons #2
Button Down
Ever since local boy Lester Ward got drafted by the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and football fever hit Goodhue, Iowa, scrawny Ned Button can think of nothing but the game. Sure, Lester’s younger bully of a brother is determined to keep Ned and his gang from ever getting near a real pickup game. But Ned has a few tricks up his sleeve: he can catch and sometimes even throw, much to his surprise. And he’s got his eccentric grandpa Ike, who has less get-up-and-go these days but no shortage of down-home wisdom to pass along. Like that being a football star is less about being big and more about strategy and playing as part of a team. And that having friends and family in your corner is a bigger prize than a lucky football will ever be.
From the acclaimed author of The Luck of the Buttons comes another story about a sometimes hapless, always winning family that scores big points for humor and heart.
From the acclaimed author of The Luck of the Buttons comes another story about a sometimes hapless, always winning family that scores big points for humor and heart.
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First published September 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 12, 2020
It was a cute story and more for kids I think but it had relevance since I am from Iowa and they even mentioned the town I was from and I am a Hawkeye fan and I worked in Iowa City. From that perspective it was interesting.
February 23, 2013
Button Down
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how our assumptions and unexamined stereotypes make us act. And I’ve been wondering how books can help us change. Button Down is the second book by Anne Ylvisaker about the Button family. They’re from rural Iowa. During the Depression the Button family may not have much, but they do have each other – and they have the Hawkeye football.
For the first time in Goodhue history their high school football hero is going to State to play ball. Ned, being a Button through and through is not very talented, but he is dedicated to the game. As Lester is leaving for college he tosses out his ball and miraculously Ned catches it. He only has seconds to savor his catch before Burton grabs the ball from his hands and claims it as his own. Burton is Lester’s younger brother and son to the owners of the Ben Franklin. He claims he can do whatever he wants to a Button, and he does. But you can’t play football alone. You need a team to play against so Burton and Ned set up a game – the winner get to keep the Lester’s ball.
Ned and his group can’t practice in the field. Burton’s team does. Ned’s team has to play with a newspaper ball wrapped with twine. It’s the best they have, and not nearly as good as the real thing. It seems there’s no way they won’t get killed. Sometimes in order to succeed, you need someone who believes in you and that’s when Granddaddy Ike get’s involved. He can hardly walk. He can hardly hear and his heart seems to be failing, but he helps Ned understand that winning football is not about what you have or how hard you can hit; it’s also about strategy, plays and doing what they other team doesn’t expect.
“I might have underestimated you,” said Granddaddy. Figured you were like the rest of this lot, tree roots growing out of the soles of their shoes, tethering them to this one spot of soil, now to kingdom come. Rather hear about a thing than do a thing.”
Nothing is as it seems or as smooth as we wish it was, but reading Button Down to find out how they game goes is worth every page – when you finish you’ll have a new idea about what it means to have heart and how much is matters to have someone who knows you inside and out and believes in you all the way.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how our assumptions and unexamined stereotypes make us act. And I’ve been wondering how books can help us change. Button Down is the second book by Anne Ylvisaker about the Button family. They’re from rural Iowa. During the Depression the Button family may not have much, but they do have each other – and they have the Hawkeye football.
For the first time in Goodhue history their high school football hero is going to State to play ball. Ned, being a Button through and through is not very talented, but he is dedicated to the game. As Lester is leaving for college he tosses out his ball and miraculously Ned catches it. He only has seconds to savor his catch before Burton grabs the ball from his hands and claims it as his own. Burton is Lester’s younger brother and son to the owners of the Ben Franklin. He claims he can do whatever he wants to a Button, and he does. But you can’t play football alone. You need a team to play against so Burton and Ned set up a game – the winner get to keep the Lester’s ball.
Ned and his group can’t practice in the field. Burton’s team does. Ned’s team has to play with a newspaper ball wrapped with twine. It’s the best they have, and not nearly as good as the real thing. It seems there’s no way they won’t get killed. Sometimes in order to succeed, you need someone who believes in you and that’s when Granddaddy Ike get’s involved. He can hardly walk. He can hardly hear and his heart seems to be failing, but he helps Ned understand that winning football is not about what you have or how hard you can hit; it’s also about strategy, plays and doing what they other team doesn’t expect.
“I might have underestimated you,” said Granddaddy. Figured you were like the rest of this lot, tree roots growing out of the soles of their shoes, tethering them to this one spot of soil, now to kingdom come. Rather hear about a thing than do a thing.”
Nothing is as it seems or as smooth as we wish it was, but reading Button Down to find out how they game goes is worth every page – when you finish you’ll have a new idea about what it means to have heart and how much is matters to have someone who knows you inside and out and believes in you all the way.
January 26, 2023
Read this with my age 10, football loving, graphic novel addicted son. He was hesitant to start it, but we both ended up loving the book and rooting for Ned.
September 9, 2012
When local football hero Lester Ward heads off to play college ball, the small town of Goodhue gets football fever. Small but scrappy Ned Button dreams of following in Lester's footsteps, but it seems impossible until he learns to take a few lessons from his ailing grandfather. I would recommend this as a readaloud for 4th or 5th graders; the story is simple but the characters are worth rooting for. A few side characters seem a little underdeveloped (most of the girls, sadly) but the main relationship between Ned and his grandfather is really likable. This is a good pick for anyone looking for a story about family, playing smart, and small victories.
I received a free, advance e-book copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free, advance e-book copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2017
Goodhue's #1 son, Lester Ward, is going to play football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Ned Button is more excited than anyone - because he caught the football that Lester threw. Unfortunately, Burton, Lester's younger brother, takes the football back from Ned. So begins the tale of how a game of football can change a person's destiny. With Granddaddy's strategy ideas, suddenly Ned sees a way to regain that football. Even more important, though, is that now Ned has a strategy for life. "It's not the getting lost you have to worry about. It's the not getting started." Rich vocabulary enhances this story of family, friends and football.
January 8, 2013
Ryan is reading this book for a project at school so I gave it a read, too. Very cute story set in small town Iowa in the late 1920's. The hometown hero leaves to play football at the University of Iowa, and the 11 year old boys in the town idolize him and all things football related. Many pick-up games are played for "glory" and the main character, Ned, is desperate for that glory. To achieve glory (and the bragging rights), Ned learns some life lessons and football plays from his grandfather. It is a sweet book about growing up on small town Iowa when football and family meant everything.
September 19, 2012
Loved this second in a series of books about the inimitable Button Family. This one is about Ned Button, and has football, humor, great heart, lovely writing and writing as crisp as the Iowa fall in which the story is set. Pub date is Sept. 25. Great for ages 8-12, who are looking for a wholesome, feisty story.
July 30, 2013
This book is the second book by Anne Ylvisaker about the Button family. Each book stands on its own and has a different Button as the main characters. Both books are wholesome, interesting, heartwarming. A different time period, but it reminds me of reading Little House on the Prairie.
August 1, 2015
This was a good book with the wrong reader. I took a risk trying a sports themed book and I think it's just not really my genre. I do admit that the ending of this book is really good and grandaddy is a great character.
October 3, 2012
My love for the Button family predisposed me to adore this. I thoroughly enjoyed my return visit. Don't be fooled by the small size of this one. Longer review later for abookandahug.com
March 23, 2013
I thought that the writing was stronger here than in Luck of the Buttons. I appreciate Ylvisaker's ability (willingness?) to be concise, but my favorite part was the grandfather's characterization.
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June 3, 2013Giuliana: I liked the first one, but this one was so sad!
June 9, 2014
Inspired by B rated kids sports movies?
June 17, 2014
I found this pretty boring and could not get into it.
January 12, 2013
Adorable. I love the Buttons.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews