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The Turnover
From New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica comes a story about a young basketball player confronting the truth about his hero and grappling with right and wrong on and off the court.
Gramps is Lucas’s hero, which is second only to the fact that he is also Lucas’s basketball coach. Gramps coached the team to victory in the championships last year, and when he decides to come out of retirement to coach another season, Lucas is thrilled. This season will absolutely be the greatest yet.
So when his English teacher challenges the class to write a biography of the person they most admire, Lucas can’t think of anyone he’d rather write about.
Except...Gramps is being cagey. He avoids every question Lucas asks, and gets angry every time Lucas brings up his past as a hotshot basketball player. Lucas can’t help but wonder—is there something Gramps is trying to hide? And if there is, will Lucas be prepared to face the truth about the man he thought he knew?
With basketball championships fast approaching, time is running out for Lucas to decide.
Gramps is Lucas’s hero, which is second only to the fact that he is also Lucas’s basketball coach. Gramps coached the team to victory in the championships last year, and when he decides to come out of retirement to coach another season, Lucas is thrilled. This season will absolutely be the greatest yet.
So when his English teacher challenges the class to write a biography of the person they most admire, Lucas can’t think of anyone he’d rather write about.
Except...Gramps is being cagey. He avoids every question Lucas asks, and gets angry every time Lucas brings up his past as a hotshot basketball player. Lucas can’t help but wonder—is there something Gramps is trying to hide? And if there is, will Lucas be prepared to face the truth about the man he thought he knew?
With basketball championships fast approaching, time is running out for Lucas to decide.
243 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2020
27 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Mike Lupica
110 books1,206 followersMichael Lupica is an author and American newspaper columnist, best known for his provocative commentary on sports in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 14, 2024
The annals of youth literature feature many beloved authors of sports fiction. From the days of Zane Grey's baseball novels, to Clair Bee's Chip Hilton series, to Matt Christopher, Fred Bowen, "Jake Maddox", John Feinstein, Tim Green, Derek Jeter, and more, there have been sports books for boys who otherwise might not read at all. Starting in 2004 with Travel Team, sports journalist Mike Lupica joined the fray, and several of his junior novels are among the best sports fiction I've read. Twelve-year-old Lucas Winston, the main character in The Turnover, is a talented point guard for the Claremont Wolves middle school basketball team. He and his friend Ryan Moretti feed off each other's energy in games like a pair of pros, running the pick-and-roll to near perfection, but their precision teamwork didn't come about by accident. Lucas's grandfather coaches the Wolves, a former college basketball player whose instincts for the game are keen as ever. Last year Lucas, Ryan, and Gramps led the Wolves to the league championship, and this year they are favored to repeat. Lucas wants nothing more than to prove last season was no fluke.
"Sometimes what mattered most in sports was overcoming something. It brought out the best in you."
—The Turnover, P. 41
Lucas and Ryan love basketball, but Lucas also loves to write. His teacher, Mr. Collins, encourages him to practice by keeping a journal. Ryan is less enthusiastic about writing, but his parents insist he maintain good grades, and when Mr. Collins assigns the class a report about an influential person in their lives, Ryan worries that a bad grade could prompt his parents to make him quit the team. He'll need Lucas's help to craft a decent report. For Lucas, deciding who to write about is a cinch: Gramps is his hero, a man as passionate about the Wolves' success as his grandson is. Lucas is bemused when Gramps doesn't seem excited to be the focus of his school report. He isn't a confrontational person, but he makes it clear he'd rather Lucas choose another subject. Gramps's son—Lucas's father—died when Lucas was a baby, so Gramps has been like a father to him, and Lucas doesn't want to write about anyone else. He knows so little about Gramps's young adult years, and the curiosity spurs Lucas to do a little research on his own. What he finds shocks him to the core.
"Sometimes not giving up has consequences."
—Julia Winston, The Turnover, P. 110
Gramps's college basketball career in the early 1960s was hardly the stuff of legend, but Lucas is puzzled when at first he can't find any online information about him at all. When he discovers the secret Gramps has kept hidden for more than half a century, Lucas no longer feels sure he ever truly knew his grandfather. How could his coach, who preaches ethics and responsibility to the Wolves, have strayed so far out of bounds, and then lied about it all these years? As the Wolves buzzsaw through their league schedule, piling up wins thanks to Lucas and Ryan's sparkling team play, the truth about Gramps throws a wrench in the works. Always the best of friends, Lucas and Gramps now start avoiding each other. On the court Lucas tries to curb his anger, but when the games are over he can barely bring himself to be civil to Gramps. Can their relationship be saved? They may need a miracle to find their way back to each other.
"The key to real happiness in this world is appreciating what you have, and knowing what you want. Everything else is just noise."
—Gramps, The Turnover, P. 14
Like a basketball team in flawless sync, Mike Lupica writes with easy rhythm, and The Turnover offers food for thought for any reader, sportsman or otherwise. What Gramps did sixty years ago is serious; Lucas has good reason to waver in his certainty that the man is a paragon of virtue. But how long should mistakes be held against a person if they have changed their ways and moved on? Should we be defined by our worst moments? If we preclude any possibility that individuals grow and improve as people, then all of us are only ever one mistake away from ruin, and who wants to live like that? It takes courage and self-discipline to forgive an egregious offense, but you'll be a stronger person for it. No teammate or coach is perfect, but you can resolve not to let that keep you from finding your potential together.
"You can't live your life fixed on what you never had...You start doing that, it will eat away at your heart."
—Gramps, P. 14
Besides the obvious, Gramps has a legitimate reason for hesitating to talk about the past. "You know what's another sign of knowing you're really old?" he says to Lucas. "Talking about old times more and more. I see it with my friends. I sometimes get the idea that they think the best things that will ever happen to them have already happened." Valuing the past is good—without it, what reference point do we have for who we are and who we're becoming?—but if you fall into the trap of believing your halcyon days are behind you, what is left to look forward to? It's crucial to live in the moment, so you don't miss out on new memories that could turn out to be the best you ever had. Lucas's mother points this out while cautioning him not to squander the Wolves' championship potential because he's mad at Gramps. "You only get so many seasons in your life," she says. "Not all of them are going to be special. This one still has a chance to be." In sports and life, a person is allotted only so many seasons. Embrace the special ones with wonder and joy, because later on you'll wish you'd made the most of them. You won't ever regret swallowing your pride so you can experience life to the full.
Much of this book is worth three stars: the themes are rock solid, the characters are superb, and Mike Lupica's writing pulled me rapidly through the story. However, I can only rate The Turnover two and a half stars. The logistics of how Gramps's scandal gets exposed on a large scale are difficult to believe, the dialogue isn't always realistic, and various other narrative elements are below what Mike Lupica is capable of. For kids who love basketball and appreciate deeper concepts, though, The Turnover isn't a bad selection. The right kind of reluctant reader will love it.
"Sometimes what mattered most in sports was overcoming something. It brought out the best in you."
—The Turnover, P. 41
Lucas and Ryan love basketball, but Lucas also loves to write. His teacher, Mr. Collins, encourages him to practice by keeping a journal. Ryan is less enthusiastic about writing, but his parents insist he maintain good grades, and when Mr. Collins assigns the class a report about an influential person in their lives, Ryan worries that a bad grade could prompt his parents to make him quit the team. He'll need Lucas's help to craft a decent report. For Lucas, deciding who to write about is a cinch: Gramps is his hero, a man as passionate about the Wolves' success as his grandson is. Lucas is bemused when Gramps doesn't seem excited to be the focus of his school report. He isn't a confrontational person, but he makes it clear he'd rather Lucas choose another subject. Gramps's son—Lucas's father—died when Lucas was a baby, so Gramps has been like a father to him, and Lucas doesn't want to write about anyone else. He knows so little about Gramps's young adult years, and the curiosity spurs Lucas to do a little research on his own. What he finds shocks him to the core.
"Sometimes not giving up has consequences."
—Julia Winston, The Turnover, P. 110
Gramps's college basketball career in the early 1960s was hardly the stuff of legend, but Lucas is puzzled when at first he can't find any online information about him at all. When he discovers the secret Gramps has kept hidden for more than half a century, Lucas no longer feels sure he ever truly knew his grandfather. How could his coach, who preaches ethics and responsibility to the Wolves, have strayed so far out of bounds, and then lied about it all these years? As the Wolves buzzsaw through their league schedule, piling up wins thanks to Lucas and Ryan's sparkling team play, the truth about Gramps throws a wrench in the works. Always the best of friends, Lucas and Gramps now start avoiding each other. On the court Lucas tries to curb his anger, but when the games are over he can barely bring himself to be civil to Gramps. Can their relationship be saved? They may need a miracle to find their way back to each other.
"The key to real happiness in this world is appreciating what you have, and knowing what you want. Everything else is just noise."
—Gramps, The Turnover, P. 14
Like a basketball team in flawless sync, Mike Lupica writes with easy rhythm, and The Turnover offers food for thought for any reader, sportsman or otherwise. What Gramps did sixty years ago is serious; Lucas has good reason to waver in his certainty that the man is a paragon of virtue. But how long should mistakes be held against a person if they have changed their ways and moved on? Should we be defined by our worst moments? If we preclude any possibility that individuals grow and improve as people, then all of us are only ever one mistake away from ruin, and who wants to live like that? It takes courage and self-discipline to forgive an egregious offense, but you'll be a stronger person for it. No teammate or coach is perfect, but you can resolve not to let that keep you from finding your potential together.
"You can't live your life fixed on what you never had...You start doing that, it will eat away at your heart."
—Gramps, P. 14
Besides the obvious, Gramps has a legitimate reason for hesitating to talk about the past. "You know what's another sign of knowing you're really old?" he says to Lucas. "Talking about old times more and more. I see it with my friends. I sometimes get the idea that they think the best things that will ever happen to them have already happened." Valuing the past is good—without it, what reference point do we have for who we are and who we're becoming?—but if you fall into the trap of believing your halcyon days are behind you, what is left to look forward to? It's crucial to live in the moment, so you don't miss out on new memories that could turn out to be the best you ever had. Lucas's mother points this out while cautioning him not to squander the Wolves' championship potential because he's mad at Gramps. "You only get so many seasons in your life," she says. "Not all of them are going to be special. This one still has a chance to be." In sports and life, a person is allotted only so many seasons. Embrace the special ones with wonder and joy, because later on you'll wish you'd made the most of them. You won't ever regret swallowing your pride so you can experience life to the full.
Much of this book is worth three stars: the themes are rock solid, the characters are superb, and Mike Lupica's writing pulled me rapidly through the story. However, I can only rate The Turnover two and a half stars. The logistics of how Gramps's scandal gets exposed on a large scale are difficult to believe, the dialogue isn't always realistic, and various other narrative elements are below what Mike Lupica is capable of. For kids who love basketball and appreciate deeper concepts, though, The Turnover isn't a bad selection. The right kind of reluctant reader will love it.
May 6, 2022
I read this with my 9 year old daughter. It was cute and surprisingly had great lessons about right and wrong, navigating problems in family relationships, giving second chances and forgiveness. I didn’t expect that at all. The basketball scenes were well written and we were cheering for the home team on the edge of our seats as if we were actually there. Overall, I would recommend this to read with the kids.
January 7, 2024
Lucas Winston is in middle school and a superb basketball player. His team is called the Claremont Wolves and last season they won the championship. Lucas’ grandfather, called Gramps, coached the team last season, and will do so again this season. Lucas and his teammates are growing in confidence, for they know their skill levels and Gramps knows basketball. Lucas’ father died when he was young, so his Gramps has been his father equivalent. They both love basketball and talk about it and watch it all the time.
One odd thing that Lucas notices is that Gramps never talks about his life as a boy or a young man. All he will say is that he played basketball for a college that doesn’t exist anymore. Whenever Lucas mentions anything that is even a veiled reference to Gramps’ past, the subject is changed, dismissed or joked into another subject.
The team starts strong, but Lucas’ curiosity is aroused, and he goes into the attic and starts exploring family artifacts. He finds a picture of two men and then a letter that his father wrote to his father (Gramps). It hints at a dark past and when Lucas finds out the deep secret of Gramps’ past, he is so angry that he refuses to speak to Gramps again. The quality of his action on the basketball court suffers, although they still manage to win. It is a dark time, but both Gramps and Lucas take steps to set all in order so they are once again best friends, and the Wolves once again match their namesake on the basketball court.
While this is a book about the love of basketball and the attempt to win a championship, it is more about making mistakes early in life and eventually having to face them no matter how hard you try to bury them. It is also about learning about the mistakes others have made and eventually letting the good overpower the bad. While it is rarely easy, it is also not a rare thing in life. Lucas is initially devastated to learn the dark secret in Gramps’ life, but the two of them take their own path to once again intersect and be a team again.
Like the best books of adolescent sports fiction, this one is about the cocoon that life wraps around the goals we hope to achieve. All older adults have things they are not proud of and regret, some greater than others. In this case, it is a great one and Lucas and Gramps must first work through it separately so that they can once again work together. That process is very well worked through, so it is a great life lesson.
One odd thing that Lucas notices is that Gramps never talks about his life as a boy or a young man. All he will say is that he played basketball for a college that doesn’t exist anymore. Whenever Lucas mentions anything that is even a veiled reference to Gramps’ past, the subject is changed, dismissed or joked into another subject.
The team starts strong, but Lucas’ curiosity is aroused, and he goes into the attic and starts exploring family artifacts. He finds a picture of two men and then a letter that his father wrote to his father (Gramps). It hints at a dark past and when Lucas finds out the deep secret of Gramps’ past, he is so angry that he refuses to speak to Gramps again. The quality of his action on the basketball court suffers, although they still manage to win. It is a dark time, but both Gramps and Lucas take steps to set all in order so they are once again best friends, and the Wolves once again match their namesake on the basketball court.
While this is a book about the love of basketball and the attempt to win a championship, it is more about making mistakes early in life and eventually having to face them no matter how hard you try to bury them. It is also about learning about the mistakes others have made and eventually letting the good overpower the bad. While it is rarely easy, it is also not a rare thing in life. Lucas is initially devastated to learn the dark secret in Gramps’ life, but the two of them take their own path to once again intersect and be a team again.
Like the best books of adolescent sports fiction, this one is about the cocoon that life wraps around the goals we hope to achieve. All older adults have things they are not proud of and regret, some greater than others. In this case, it is a great one and Lucas and Gramps must first work through it separately so that they can once again work together. That process is very well worked through, so it is a great life lesson.
November 5, 2023
This fast-paced story will no doubt appeal to young basketball fans, and I enjoyed reliving my own childhood basketball days through tightly written sports scenes. The additional layer of familial conflict (Lucas idolizes his grandpa, then finds out his grandpa has been hiding a big lie for years) gave the novel some much-needed layers.
My problem with this book is the same as my problem with every animated movie released in the last five years. It's good to show kids that adults can make major mistakes and need to make repairs. But Luca's grandpa doesn't ever really HAVE to make repairs in any meaningful way. He apologizes and gives Lucas space--he does a lot of things right. But all his apologies are a little too "I'm sorry I did that, BUT I'm a totally different person now so does it really matter?" Remember Ben Kenobi telling Luke Skywalker that teeechnically his father died, because the man known as Anakin was basically gone forever, so teeeeechnically he hadn't lied . . . Similar vibes here.
Gramps is a loving person and a good role model. It's clear why Lucas and his teammates respect him and want him as a coach. Also, major props for another great parent--Lucas's mom isn't just a Good Mom, she's a human being with an entire personality that shines through in their scenes. She sets healthy boundaries while always treating Lucas with respect and empathy and making space for his own personal choices. They laugh together, and she has her own feelings about situations. Always love to see that in a middle grade! Now I'd like some stories where adults make a Big Bad Choice and instead of it all being resolved with a single apology (after which all the kids have to prove their undying devotion and forgiveness), the adults have to do some work to earn back trust.
My problem with this book is the same as my problem with every animated movie released in the last five years. It's good to show kids that adults can make major mistakes and need to make repairs. But Luca's grandpa doesn't ever really HAVE to make repairs in any meaningful way. He apologizes and gives Lucas space--he does a lot of things right. But all his apologies are a little too "I'm sorry I did that, BUT I'm a totally different person now so does it really matter?" Remember Ben Kenobi telling Luke Skywalker that teeechnically his father died, because the man known as Anakin was basically gone forever, so teeeeechnically he hadn't lied . . . Similar vibes here.
Gramps is a loving person and a good role model. It's clear why Lucas and his teammates respect him and want him as a coach. Also, major props for another great parent--Lucas's mom isn't just a Good Mom, she's a human being with an entire personality that shines through in their scenes. She sets healthy boundaries while always treating Lucas with respect and empathy and making space for his own personal choices. They laugh together, and she has her own feelings about situations. Always love to see that in a middle grade! Now I'd like some stories where adults make a Big Bad Choice and instead of it all being resolved with a single apology (after which all the kids have to prove their undying devotion and forgiveness), the adults have to do some work to earn back trust.
May 29, 2025
🏀Quick read. Kids who like sports will like the descriptions of the various plays as well as the game play-by-play.
🏀Clear themes about making mistakes, how others’ choices impact us, and forgiveness make this a little different from other Lupica titles.
🏀Sweet scenes between family members will bring a tear to your eye.
😇The writing on this MG novel skewed more towards 6th grade than 8th grade, IMO.
😇The biggest negative about this book is that the main character Lucas was way too perfect. Other than losing his temper and snapping at his grandpa, he is literally perfect. He loves to practice nonstop, even the boring stuff. He loves to read and write and works really hard on his schoolwork. He’s a great friend and son. He’s an unselfish, team player who would rather pass than score despite being one of the best players on the team. He isn’t afraid to deliver a speech (that he wrote himself) in front of adults at a board meeting. It got to be a little over the top.
⚠️Trigger warning for loss of parent.
📚2025-2026 Battle of the Books title
🏀Clear themes about making mistakes, how others’ choices impact us, and forgiveness make this a little different from other Lupica titles.
🏀Sweet scenes between family members will bring a tear to your eye.
😇The writing on this MG novel skewed more towards 6th grade than 8th grade, IMO.
😇The biggest negative about this book is that the main character Lucas was way too perfect. Other than losing his temper and snapping at his grandpa, he is literally perfect. He loves to practice nonstop, even the boring stuff. He loves to read and write and works really hard on his schoolwork. He’s a great friend and son. He’s an unselfish, team player who would rather pass than score despite being one of the best players on the team. He isn’t afraid to deliver a speech (that he wrote himself) in front of adults at a board meeting. It got to be a little over the top.
⚠️Trigger warning for loss of parent.
📚2025-2026 Battle of the Books title
August 6, 2020
Link to my book talk: https://youtu.be/D-d2nrQOZuc
I am a huge basketball fan and that's what drawn me to read this book. I love this book because of the surprises that occur in this book. Although it is a little slow in the beginning, throughout the book, there are more problems and events. Lucas is a twelve-year-old boy who is still learning about who he is and who his Gramps is. His relationship with his Gramps is strong, but when Lucas finds an important picture and letter, he is starting to believe that he does not know everything about his beloved Grandpa as he thinks he does. I love that Lucas loves basketball and that never quits. This is an amazing book for all MG readers!
I am a huge basketball fan and that's what drawn me to read this book. I love this book because of the surprises that occur in this book. Although it is a little slow in the beginning, throughout the book, there are more problems and events. Lucas is a twelve-year-old boy who is still learning about who he is and who his Gramps is. His relationship with his Gramps is strong, but when Lucas finds an important picture and letter, he is starting to believe that he does not know everything about his beloved Grandpa as he thinks he does. I love that Lucas loves basketball and that never quits. This is an amazing book for all MG readers!
November 15, 2020
This is a great story about what can happen when a secret is revealed.
In this case, Lucas learns that his grandfather's vagueness about his earlier life was really to hide a bad decision he made in college.
Told with plenty of basketball play, the story shows Lucas coming to grips with the fact you may not know all about a person's past but it shouldn't negate your relationship completely.
With the underlying sports component, this is a great book for upper elementary and middle school.
In this case, Lucas learns that his grandfather's vagueness about his earlier life was really to hide a bad decision he made in college.
Told with plenty of basketball play, the story shows Lucas coming to grips with the fact you may not know all about a person's past but it shouldn't negate your relationship completely.
With the underlying sports component, this is a great book for upper elementary and middle school.
January 22, 2023
I thought it was a very mystery type book but I wish it was more about basketball. Overall this was a really well written book but this had more of a personnel spin to it. I highly recommend this book for kids who are interested in sports mystery.
June 28, 2020
Another fine work by Mike Lupica. It belongs on the bookshelf at home, in class, and in the school library. I would be glad to add a hard copy of this to my collection.
September 22, 2020
For me it’s a 2 star. Beginning is slow. Just felt stiff and too goody two shoes but for my elementary students that will be okay. For my sports readers maybe a good fit for a basketball fan.
October 9, 2020
Another solid outing from the steady hand of Mike Lupica. If you're looking to settle in with a middle school sports book, Lupica is always there.
April 15, 2021
This reads as a basketball morality tale.
October 28, 2021
This book was fun. i enjoyed reading how lucas grew as a character and how he and his grandfather's relationship evolved. It was a fun book to read and I liked the plot.
February 14, 2022
Nice story of redemption, family, and forgiveness.
July 22, 2022
This book was deeper than I first thought, but really lost me with some of the basketball plays. I think it would be good for basketball players.
October 27, 2022
good book ig
March 3, 2024
This book was so good I loved the story itself and the characters are divine!!!
March 4, 2024
I love a good basketball story. I especially loved the grandfather/grandson relationship and the lessons taught about keeping secrets
September 21, 2024
I’m on the hunt for some decent sports fiction for kids - this had positive messages but didn’t really keep me hooked.
July 12, 2025
Lots of basketball action and a good message. Middle schoolers will like this one.
October 9, 2024
I've really enjoyed Mike Lupica's works, but this isn't my favorite. The story follows Lucas as he learns a scandalous truth about his grandfather, who he idolizes. There's also a subplot with trying to write a paper which his friend is struggling with and plenty of gameplay.
Lucas is a bit too much of a perfect kid - he doesn't really read like a child, more like a role model for kids, which that character is fine, just not as engaging. The gameplay in the book is okay, but I've seen better from this author. The story is also written for a slightly younger audience, maybe 4th-6th grade, which is why I'm okay with some of those elements - I think the writing is correctly done for that age range & it isn't supposed to resonate as strongly with an adult.
Lucas is a bit too much of a perfect kid - he doesn't really read like a child, more like a role model for kids, which that character is fine, just not as engaging. The gameplay in the book is okay, but I've seen better from this author. The story is also written for a slightly younger audience, maybe 4th-6th grade, which is why I'm okay with some of those elements - I think the writing is correctly done for that age range & it isn't supposed to resonate as strongly with an adult.
February 3, 2020
Many thanks to EdelweissPlus and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title to review. All opinions are my own.
I'm not a huge sports book fan, but my kids at school LOVE THEM. And Lupica is basically a staple in this area, so when I saw that he had a new book coming out I knew that my kids would love it, no matter what. Whether or not it would be something of substance for them remained to be determined, so I was glad to get my hands on this early. Never fear those in charge of building collections: this is a book that is worth the pre-order. And you'll probably need more than one copy. The sports aspects (the plays, the references, the games) all work and are done in a way that make you feel like you're there in the gym. BUT, beyond that, the story is about doing what is right and how you can overcome your mistakes. How you have to decide what it means to be a good person, even if it isn't what others want you to do. And how sometimes being a good teammate is more than just giving in to their ideas.
Lucas loves his grandfather. His gramps has helped coach him in basketball for as long as he can remember, and since his dad died when he was a baby, he knows that his grandfather is really more like a father to him. So when he gets the chance to write a paper for his 7th grade English class about someone he looks up to, he knows he wants to do it on Gramps. The only problem? Gramps says no. Doesn't want to talk about his past. But Lucas isn't giving up. Of course, once you know something about someone, you can't un-know it. And now things might have to change, even though the Wolverines, are in the midst of a championship season with Gramps as the coach. Lucas isn't sure what he wants, but he knows that he can't go back to before he knew the truth. And the truth is that his grandfather lied.
Highly recommend. Great addition to your sports collections. Appropriate for grades 5-8.
I'm not a huge sports book fan, but my kids at school LOVE THEM. And Lupica is basically a staple in this area, so when I saw that he had a new book coming out I knew that my kids would love it, no matter what. Whether or not it would be something of substance for them remained to be determined, so I was glad to get my hands on this early. Never fear those in charge of building collections: this is a book that is worth the pre-order. And you'll probably need more than one copy. The sports aspects (the plays, the references, the games) all work and are done in a way that make you feel like you're there in the gym. BUT, beyond that, the story is about doing what is right and how you can overcome your mistakes. How you have to decide what it means to be a good person, even if it isn't what others want you to do. And how sometimes being a good teammate is more than just giving in to their ideas.
Lucas loves his grandfather. His gramps has helped coach him in basketball for as long as he can remember, and since his dad died when he was a baby, he knows that his grandfather is really more like a father to him. So when he gets the chance to write a paper for his 7th grade English class about someone he looks up to, he knows he wants to do it on Gramps. The only problem? Gramps says no. Doesn't want to talk about his past. But Lucas isn't giving up. Of course, once you know something about someone, you can't un-know it. And now things might have to change, even though the Wolverines, are in the midst of a championship season with Gramps as the coach. Lucas isn't sure what he wants, but he knows that he can't go back to before he knew the truth. And the truth is that his grandfather lied.
Highly recommend. Great addition to your sports collections. Appropriate for grades 5-8.
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