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Pop
Pop delivers suspense, humor, sports action, and a compelling look at the damage those "pop"s in football can cause Gordon Korman's books appeal to a wide range of kids and adults and can pull in even reluctant readers. Share Pop in your home or classroom; sports fans in particular won't be able to put it down. When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up a friendship with a man named Charlie, the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out that Charlie is Charlie Popovich, or "the King of Pop," as he'd been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker. Charlie turns out to be a prankster, and his actions get Marcus in trouble. He's also the father of the quarterback at Marcus's new school—who leads the team in icing out the new kid. The story of a good kid's struggle to land on his feet in a new town after his parents split up combines with compelling sports action and even some romance in Gordon Korman's Pop .
260 pages, Hardcover
First published February 29, 2000
424 people are currently reading
2146 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Korman
249 books4,409 followersGordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 633 reviews
December 16, 2025
3.5! Enjoyed this one a lot more than I was expecting to.
September 5, 2011
I read this book because I had to sign for my 12 year old to check this out of the middle school library and I could not find a review that gave me any idea why this would not be appropriate. I'm still not sure.
This is a good story, and boys will especially enjoy it. The story centers around Marcus, a high school junior who is new to town, and Charlie Popovitch, a former NFL player. Marcus was a standout quarterback at his old school, but is not received well at his new school, where the team has an outstanding quarterback, who happens to be the son of Charlie. The team is also in pursuit of a record 2nd consecutive undefeated season. Marcus takes to working out on his own in the town park, when he meets up with Charlie. He is not aware that Charlie is either the former NFLer OR the father of the team quarterback, and is confused by Charlie's behavior. Charlie sometimes acts more like a misguided teenager than a responsible adult, pulling pranks and walking out of stores without paying. Marcus soon discovers, through a Google search, that Charlie is among a number of NFL players suffering from early-onset Alzheimers, the result of multiple concussions. This is a fact his family works hard to deny and hide. The book is full of football, which will make it interesting to boys.
There may be reasons you would not want a 12 year old to read this book, although I think it woudl be fine for most 12 year olds. Read the rest of this only if you don't care that there are spoilers.
There is some very mild sexual content. The head cheerleader offers to manage the team equipment. There is a reference to making out in a closet, but nothing more. And Marcus has thoughts about tackling a a 'different kind of body contact'. But I think for many 12 years olds, this would go right past them, and if it didn't, chances are they've seen more on TV. There are also parties with alcohol. And Marcus does things that are not quite within the law more than once, but always for good reason. This could lead to some good discussions with kids about standing up for what you think is right, regardless of consequences; or of knowing when right is right and wrong is wrong. But to me, posibly the worst thing is the ending,
This is a good story, and boys will especially enjoy it. The story centers around Marcus, a high school junior who is new to town, and Charlie Popovitch, a former NFL player. Marcus was a standout quarterback at his old school, but is not received well at his new school, where the team has an outstanding quarterback, who happens to be the son of Charlie. The team is also in pursuit of a record 2nd consecutive undefeated season. Marcus takes to working out on his own in the town park, when he meets up with Charlie. He is not aware that Charlie is either the former NFLer OR the father of the team quarterback, and is confused by Charlie's behavior. Charlie sometimes acts more like a misguided teenager than a responsible adult, pulling pranks and walking out of stores without paying. Marcus soon discovers, through a Google search, that Charlie is among a number of NFL players suffering from early-onset Alzheimers, the result of multiple concussions. This is a fact his family works hard to deny and hide. The book is full of football, which will make it interesting to boys.
There may be reasons you would not want a 12 year old to read this book, although I think it woudl be fine for most 12 year olds. Read the rest of this only if you don't care that there are spoilers.
There is some very mild sexual content. The head cheerleader offers to manage the team equipment. There is a reference to making out in a closet, but nothing more. And Marcus has thoughts about tackling a a 'different kind of body contact'. But I think for many 12 years olds, this would go right past them, and if it didn't, chances are they've seen more on TV. There are also parties with alcohol. And Marcus does things that are not quite within the law more than once, but always for good reason. This could lead to some good discussions with kids about standing up for what you think is right, regardless of consequences; or of knowing when right is right and wrong is wrong. But to me, posibly the worst thing is the ending,
September 17, 2025
No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!!! That is NOT how the book was supposed to end! Why Gordan Korman? WHY!?
July 8, 2023
Gordon has a way with writing about difficult subjects, and "Pop" is no different.
There are SO many definitions of the word "POP", so picking this book off the library shelf, I had no idea what it would be about ----
Marcus and his mom have recently moved to a new town, at his old high school he had played quarterback, now he is hoping to become the starting quarterback at his new school. But there are many obstacles standing in his way. Mainly Troy Popovich the current starting quarterback.
When Marcus meets, then finds out that Charlie is the Charlie Popovich, "the King of Pop" the famous NFL linebacker, also the father of Troy - who has NO love for Marcus moving in on his ex-girlfriend and his father - Marcus can't believe his luck.
Charlie's family tries valiantly to cover up his illness, little by little Marcus becomes aware of what is happening to Charlie.
Gordon has written a very sympathetic view on the subject of CTE, the brain injury that many professional atheletes suffer from, caused by repeated concussions.
There are SO many definitions of the word "POP", so picking this book off the library shelf, I had no idea what it would be about ----
Marcus and his mom have recently moved to a new town, at his old high school he had played quarterback, now he is hoping to become the starting quarterback at his new school. But there are many obstacles standing in his way. Mainly Troy Popovich the current starting quarterback.
When Marcus meets, then finds out that Charlie is the Charlie Popovich, "the King of Pop" the famous NFL linebacker, also the father of Troy - who has NO love for Marcus moving in on his ex-girlfriend and his father - Marcus can't believe his luck.
Charlie's family tries valiantly to cover up his illness, little by little Marcus becomes aware of what is happening to Charlie.
Gordon has written a very sympathetic view on the subject of CTE, the brain injury that many professional atheletes suffer from, caused by repeated concussions.
July 28, 2009
Marcus Jordan isn't thrilled about moving from Kansas to Kennesaw, NY the summer before his junior year in high school when his parents divorce, but his mother has a good job as a photographer for the local newspaper; he got to keep the Vespa motorbike his father used to bribe Marcus to stay with him; and the high school football team in Marcus's new school had a perfect season last year (and Marcus is a pretty good quarterback). The town doesn't exactly welcome Marcus with open arms, and he spends his afternoons doing football passing drills alone in Three Alarm Park, until one day a 50-year-old man named Charlie comes along and starts practicing with him. Charlie is pretty unreliable, and before long, Marcus has had problems with the police twice for incidents that Charlie got him into and then disappeared. The football team can't be persuaded to include Marcus because they don't want to make any changes to their perfect team, and the star quarterback's on and off girlfriend, Alyssa, keeps hitting on Marcus, which doesn't earn him any friendship points with anyone else. Marcus keeps trying though. He gets much better at playing football because of his practices with Charlie, and gradually learns why Charlie is such an unreliable friend. This book is less funny than some of Korman's other books, and while it fits comfortably into a middle school collection, it may find some interest with younger high school readers as well.
March 3, 2016
The title of the book refers to a collision in football or the "pop". In this book, it also refers to one of main characters named Charlie Popovich who played football in the NFL and was nicknamed the "King of Pop". He liked being a player who made the "pop" happen. At the local park, Charlie (now middle-aged) befriends a young man named Marcus who is new to town and getting in shape for football season. The two become unlikely friends until Marcus makes a shocking discovery about Charlie. This is a more serious book from Gordon Korman. Excuse the pun, but this book "tackles" some very serious subject matter. The author does not shy away from tragedy in this book. The tragedy is unpredictable but very realistic, just like "real life".
October 8, 2013
25 March 2009 POP by by Gordon Korman, HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, August 2009, 272p., ISBN: 978-0-06-174228-6; Libr. ISBN: 978-0-06-174230-9
It's summer vacation and Vespa-riding teenager Marcus Jordan is the new kid in town, having just moved with his mom from Kansas to Upstate New York. The previous fall, back in Olathe, Marcus had been the record-setting star quarterback on the JV squad. He's planning to try out for the varsity team at his new high school in Kennesaw, a team that completed a perfect 11-0 championship season last year. In preparation, Marcus has found a deserted park in town -- home to a modern art statue that looks like "a titanic paper airplane had fallen from the sky" -- where he has been practicing by himself with a ball and an empty picture frame suspended on a rope as a target.
"Sucking in a lungful of moist, heavy air, Marcus pumped once and unleashed the longest pass of the day, a loose spiral that nevertheless seemed to have a lot of power behind it. It sailed high over the apex of the Paper Airplane before beginning its downward trajectory toward the hoop.
"Suddenly, for the first time in four days, Marcus spied another human being in the park. The figure was just a blur across his field of vision. It leaped into the air, picked off the pass, and kept on going.
"The receiver made a wide U-turn and, grinning triumphantly, jogged up to Marcus.
"Marcus smiled too. 'Nice catch, bro--'
"He was looking at a middle-aged man, probably around fifty years old. He was tall and built like a redwood. But the guy ran like a gazelle and had caught the ball with sure hands, tucking it in tight as he ran. He had definitely played this game before."
So begins the story of Marcus Jordan and Charlie Popovich. Charlie, it turns out, is a beloved hometown hero, having returned to Kennesaw to raise a family after completing a long career as a linebacker in the National Football League. Charlie is a man with the heart of a kid.
"This Charlie character might be weird, but his enthusiasm had sucked Marcus in.
"The ball plunged down, and Marcus gathered it into his arms.
"Something hit him. The impact was so jarring, so unexpected, that there was barely time to register what was happening. It was Charlie -- he'd rammed a rock-hard shoulder into Marcus's sternum and dropped him where he stood. The ball squirted loose, but Marcus wasn't even aware of it. He lay like a stone on the grass, ears roaring, trying to keep from throwing up his breakfast.
"Gasping, he scrambled to his feet, squaring off against his companion. 'What was that for?'
"'I love the pop! Sometimes you actually hear it go pop!'"
Charlie is now paying a steep price for all those years of putting hits on opposing players. He often seems to believe that he is still the old mischief making high school football star he'd been in the early Seventies. Literally.
Charlie's family is desperately trying to hide their knowledge of what is behind his peculiar behavior, and there is conflict with Charlie's own teens when they find out that Marcus has been hanging out in Three Alarm Park with their father.
I have often had good things to say about Gordon Korman's storytelling, but POP is really something else. It is pretty intense to have read the book within days of Natasha Richardson's untimely death from a brain injury suffered in a fall while skiing down a beginner slope. It has me recalling the current condition of my childhood hero Muhammad Ali. It makes me think of my younger brother whose life has been colored for the past twenty-five years by the long-term effects of a near-fatal skull fracture suffered in a crash when his friend fell asleep behind the wheel and wrapped the car around a tree. And I think about watching Steve Young suffer concussion after concussion during his reign as quarterback of our San Francisco 49ers, and wondering whether he'd someday suffer long-term effects from them.
I also think about the kids in our town who come flying down hilly roads on skateboards without helmets.
"The park wasn't as empty as it had been during the summer. There were a few young mothers pushing babies in strollers, and an elderly couple chatting on a bench in the shadow of the Paper Airplane. Remembrance -- what a name for the sculpture that marked his first meeting with a guy who couldn't remember at all.
"No, that wasn't quite right. Charlie did remember. He remembered what still made the most sense to him -- being young and wild and invincible, taking on the world with his best friend."
POP goes well beyond the story of Marcus and Charlie. There is also Marcus struggling to become a part of the David Nathan Aldrich High School football team and dealing with the hot shot quarterback who led last year's championship team; there is Marcus matching wits and locking lips with Alyssa Fontaine, the gorgeous head cheerleader who "designs zone blitzes in her sleep;" and there are the repeated references to Marcus's relationship with his own estranged father back in Kansas (a.k.a. Comrade Stalin).
But in the same way that teens will easily identify with Marcus Jordan and his struggles, I feel a deep emotional connection with Charlie, the good-hearted, at-risk, fifty-four year-old fellow Class of '73 graduate who -- in his mind -- is reliving his youthful glory and antics from all those years ago.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
Moderator, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
http://www.myspace.com/richiespicks
It's summer vacation and Vespa-riding teenager Marcus Jordan is the new kid in town, having just moved with his mom from Kansas to Upstate New York. The previous fall, back in Olathe, Marcus had been the record-setting star quarterback on the JV squad. He's planning to try out for the varsity team at his new high school in Kennesaw, a team that completed a perfect 11-0 championship season last year. In preparation, Marcus has found a deserted park in town -- home to a modern art statue that looks like "a titanic paper airplane had fallen from the sky" -- where he has been practicing by himself with a ball and an empty picture frame suspended on a rope as a target.
"Sucking in a lungful of moist, heavy air, Marcus pumped once and unleashed the longest pass of the day, a loose spiral that nevertheless seemed to have a lot of power behind it. It sailed high over the apex of the Paper Airplane before beginning its downward trajectory toward the hoop.
"Suddenly, for the first time in four days, Marcus spied another human being in the park. The figure was just a blur across his field of vision. It leaped into the air, picked off the pass, and kept on going.
"The receiver made a wide U-turn and, grinning triumphantly, jogged up to Marcus.
"Marcus smiled too. 'Nice catch, bro--'
"He was looking at a middle-aged man, probably around fifty years old. He was tall and built like a redwood. But the guy ran like a gazelle and had caught the ball with sure hands, tucking it in tight as he ran. He had definitely played this game before."
So begins the story of Marcus Jordan and Charlie Popovich. Charlie, it turns out, is a beloved hometown hero, having returned to Kennesaw to raise a family after completing a long career as a linebacker in the National Football League. Charlie is a man with the heart of a kid.
"This Charlie character might be weird, but his enthusiasm had sucked Marcus in.
"The ball plunged down, and Marcus gathered it into his arms.
"Something hit him. The impact was so jarring, so unexpected, that there was barely time to register what was happening. It was Charlie -- he'd rammed a rock-hard shoulder into Marcus's sternum and dropped him where he stood. The ball squirted loose, but Marcus wasn't even aware of it. He lay like a stone on the grass, ears roaring, trying to keep from throwing up his breakfast.
"Gasping, he scrambled to his feet, squaring off against his companion. 'What was that for?'
"'I love the pop! Sometimes you actually hear it go pop!'"
Charlie is now paying a steep price for all those years of putting hits on opposing players. He often seems to believe that he is still the old mischief making high school football star he'd been in the early Seventies. Literally.
Charlie's family is desperately trying to hide their knowledge of what is behind his peculiar behavior, and there is conflict with Charlie's own teens when they find out that Marcus has been hanging out in Three Alarm Park with their father.
I have often had good things to say about Gordon Korman's storytelling, but POP is really something else. It is pretty intense to have read the book within days of Natasha Richardson's untimely death from a brain injury suffered in a fall while skiing down a beginner slope. It has me recalling the current condition of my childhood hero Muhammad Ali. It makes me think of my younger brother whose life has been colored for the past twenty-five years by the long-term effects of a near-fatal skull fracture suffered in a crash when his friend fell asleep behind the wheel and wrapped the car around a tree. And I think about watching Steve Young suffer concussion after concussion during his reign as quarterback of our San Francisco 49ers, and wondering whether he'd someday suffer long-term effects from them.
I also think about the kids in our town who come flying down hilly roads on skateboards without helmets.
"The park wasn't as empty as it had been during the summer. There were a few young mothers pushing babies in strollers, and an elderly couple chatting on a bench in the shadow of the Paper Airplane. Remembrance -- what a name for the sculpture that marked his first meeting with a guy who couldn't remember at all.
"No, that wasn't quite right. Charlie did remember. He remembered what still made the most sense to him -- being young and wild and invincible, taking on the world with his best friend."
POP goes well beyond the story of Marcus and Charlie. There is also Marcus struggling to become a part of the David Nathan Aldrich High School football team and dealing with the hot shot quarterback who led last year's championship team; there is Marcus matching wits and locking lips with Alyssa Fontaine, the gorgeous head cheerleader who "designs zone blitzes in her sleep;" and there are the repeated references to Marcus's relationship with his own estranged father back in Kansas (a.k.a. Comrade Stalin).
But in the same way that teens will easily identify with Marcus Jordan and his struggles, I feel a deep emotional connection with Charlie, the good-hearted, at-risk, fifty-four year-old fellow Class of '73 graduate who -- in his mind -- is reliving his youthful glory and antics from all those years ago.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
Moderator, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
http://www.myspace.com/richiespicks
February 13, 2018
I enjoyed this book very much. I could relate to the main character Marcus. My favorite part of this book was when he made an amazing interception. When I was reading that part I felt like I was in the moment. That's what I enjoyed about this book.
May 1, 2024
I loved this book so much , if u like football romance u should like this one 😀
August 3, 2009
The football pre-season starts next Saturday. Do you want to know why I know this? It isn't because I personally LOVE the gridiron or even know why it is called "gridiron." No, it is because from August to February I live with a football junkie. I get to hear all about the draft, the fantasy league winners and losers, and our TV is taken over by pointless commentary after pointless commentary. Madden0whatever is played non-stop. As a not-particularly sporty person there are only two ways to deal with this situation. One is to protest, to complain, to throw up one's hands and move out. The other is to try and figure out what all the fuss is about. Oh, I still roll my eyes whenever I get treated to a 10 minute diatribe on why Adrian Peterson is the best running back EVAR, but I also watch games and ask questions about why something was called this way or that. Or, what that flag means, or why they got an extra point, etc. I feel like I'm getting to understand a little bit more about the game and its appeal. A little.
Unlike me, football is Marcus Jordan's life. He and his mom have just moved to a new town to escape his fascist dad and so his mom can take pictures of rocks. He starts practicing in a park and forms an eccentric and erratic friendship with a middle-aged guy named Charlie, who is extremely spry and who teaches Marcus more about football in just a few weeks than all of his years on a team. But, Marcus ends up covering for his new friend when he discovers Charlie's erratic behavior isn't just from a quirky personality.
Along the way Marcus barely squeaks onto the football team. He wants to be QB, but his new high school's team is undefeated and record breaking and so Marcus has to battle their unwillingness to mess with status quo and the QB who drove them to victory. Troy hates Marcus immediately, and it doesn't help that Troy's on and off again girlfriend is interested in Marcus, and Marcus is VERY interested in Alyssa too.
So immediately we've got a complicated plot, told in a straightforward manner, by a kid who just wants to Do The Right Thing. Marcus and all the characters are well developed, the story draws you in immediately, the plot never slows down and the conflicts are very real. My only complaint with this is that the "mystery" of Charlie goes on a little too long. I find it hard to believe Marcus wouldn't have started asking pertinent questions earlier in the story and figuring out answers earlier on too. At any rate this book has romance, fights, pranks, friendship, brain-injury awareness, kidnapping, and lots and lots of Football. It is the ultimate blitz of a book! Even for a wannabe fan like me.
Unlike me, football is Marcus Jordan's life. He and his mom have just moved to a new town to escape his fascist dad and so his mom can take pictures of rocks. He starts practicing in a park and forms an eccentric and erratic friendship with a middle-aged guy named Charlie, who is extremely spry and who teaches Marcus more about football in just a few weeks than all of his years on a team. But, Marcus ends up covering for his new friend when he discovers Charlie's erratic behavior isn't just from a quirky personality.
Along the way Marcus barely squeaks onto the football team. He wants to be QB, but his new high school's team is undefeated and record breaking and so Marcus has to battle their unwillingness to mess with status quo and the QB who drove them to victory. Troy hates Marcus immediately, and it doesn't help that Troy's on and off again girlfriend is interested in Marcus, and Marcus is VERY interested in Alyssa too.
So immediately we've got a complicated plot, told in a straightforward manner, by a kid who just wants to Do The Right Thing. Marcus and all the characters are well developed, the story draws you in immediately, the plot never slows down and the conflicts are very real. My only complaint with this is that the "mystery" of Charlie goes on a little too long. I find it hard to believe Marcus wouldn't have started asking pertinent questions earlier in the story and figuring out answers earlier on too. At any rate this book has romance, fights, pranks, friendship, brain-injury awareness, kidnapping, and lots and lots of Football. It is the ultimate blitz of a book! Even for a wannabe fan like me.
October 7, 2013
I think that the author, Korman Gordon is trying to show the hardships of Alzheimer’s disease while at the same time showing how full a life people can live even if they have it. POP takes place in a small town called Kennesaw, Kansas. Marcus, the protagonist who has recently moved to Kennesaw is the main point of view of the story. Marcus, who has recently moved to Kennesaw, dreams of being the quarterback of the local high school football team, the Raiders. When he goes to try out he is greeted with unfriendly faces and is pushed away until the coach orders that he be allowed to try out. Troy Popovich, the current quarterback dislikes Marcus for joining the team and threatening his job. When Marcus is practicing throwing at targets in a park, suddenly a stranger catches it. The man is in his fifties and very athletic looking. When Marcus finds out that the man, Charlie, has Alzheimer’s and thinks he is Marcus’s age, Marcus decides to still hang out with him anyway. Throughout the book Marcus helps Charlie with his problem and makes the last couple months of his life meaningful. I really liked this book because it was fun to read and surprising at the parts where Charlie’s secrets are exposed to the reader. By keeping parts of Charlie a secret from the reader, the author makes the book more interesting by creating suspense. This book relates to me because I play football which makes it easier to understand the story from Marcus’s point of view. This book had many strengths including the suspense of Charlie’s secrets, the well rounded characters, and the way the author makes you feel like you are Marcus at some times. I don’t believe that this book has any weaknesses. I would definitely recommend this book to a classmate because I really enjoyed it and I think my classmates would too.
October 7, 2013
Title / Author / Publication Date: Korman, Gordon. (2009). Pop [Recorded by Nick Podehl][CD]. Grand Haven, MI: Brilliance Audio.
Genre: Fiction
Format: Book on CD
Plot summary: Pop, narrated by Nick Podehl, tells the tale of a young mans encounter with a legendary football player Charlie Popovich. Marcus has just moved to a new town and his only activity during a friendless summer is going to football practices in anticipation of tryouts in fall. During his time working out alone around town Marcus meets Charlie and is struck by the fact that he doesn’t act much like an adult. Instead, Charlie walks out of stores without paying for things, pulls pranks, and generally seems irresponsible. Marcus begins to investigate and by googling Charlie’s symptoms realizes Charlie has Alzheimer’s, the result of multiple concussions many NFL players suffered on the field. As Marcus begins to settle into his new town, Marcus comes to realize that Charlie is not only a famous NFL player with Alzheimer’s but also the father of the star quarterback on the local high school football team, Troy. Troy and Marcus clash, on and off the field, about football, girlfriends, and most importantly, how to care for Charlie. While Charlie’s friends try to keep his condition a secret, Marcus wants to help Charlie and show others how they should be treating him, not a man to hide away, but a man to care for and love.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: Alzheimer's disease and light romantic entanglements.
Review citation: Cooper, Ilene. (2009). Pop. [Book Review]. Book List. 106(1), 105.
Fabicon, Joanna K. (2009). Pop. [Book Review]. School Library Journal. 55(11), 113).
Section source used to find the material: Monroe County Public Library, EBSCOhost: Senior High Core Collection (H.W. Wilson)
Recommended age: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Format: Book on CD
Plot summary: Pop, narrated by Nick Podehl, tells the tale of a young mans encounter with a legendary football player Charlie Popovich. Marcus has just moved to a new town and his only activity during a friendless summer is going to football practices in anticipation of tryouts in fall. During his time working out alone around town Marcus meets Charlie and is struck by the fact that he doesn’t act much like an adult. Instead, Charlie walks out of stores without paying for things, pulls pranks, and generally seems irresponsible. Marcus begins to investigate and by googling Charlie’s symptoms realizes Charlie has Alzheimer’s, the result of multiple concussions many NFL players suffered on the field. As Marcus begins to settle into his new town, Marcus comes to realize that Charlie is not only a famous NFL player with Alzheimer’s but also the father of the star quarterback on the local high school football team, Troy. Troy and Marcus clash, on and off the field, about football, girlfriends, and most importantly, how to care for Charlie. While Charlie’s friends try to keep his condition a secret, Marcus wants to help Charlie and show others how they should be treating him, not a man to hide away, but a man to care for and love.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: Alzheimer's disease and light romantic entanglements.
Review citation: Cooper, Ilene. (2009). Pop. [Book Review]. Book List. 106(1), 105.
Fabicon, Joanna K. (2009). Pop. [Book Review]. School Library Journal. 55(11), 113).
Section source used to find the material: Monroe County Public Library, EBSCOhost: Senior High Core Collection (H.W. Wilson)
Recommended age: 12 and up
March 11, 2021
I agree with other reviewers that the appeal of this is not just for football fans or reluctant readers. And indeed it does help me see what some of the appeal of football is.
It's far from what I consider a perfect book: for example, some of the supporting themes are almost as unsubtle as the main ones... but then again, it has multiple themes, which is a big point in its favor imo. Also in its favor, some of the minor characters are as interesting as the main ones, there's humor, wisdom, poignancy, adventure, and an exploration of what it means to do the right thing, and what it means to be a good man.
Korman keeps working at developing his craft; I think he's getting better and better. And I think that I like his books for teens even better than his juveniles. I will continue to read whatever he writes.
It's far from what I consider a perfect book: for example, some of the supporting themes are almost as unsubtle as the main ones... but then again, it has multiple themes, which is a big point in its favor imo. Also in its favor, some of the minor characters are as interesting as the main ones, there's humor, wisdom, poignancy, adventure, and an exploration of what it means to do the right thing, and what it means to be a good man.
Korman keeps working at developing his craft; I think he's getting better and better. And I think that I like his books for teens even better than his juveniles. I will continue to read whatever he writes.
March 23, 2023
Love, love, love this book. It completely opened my eyes to the dangers of concussions and high-impact sports, especially football. I still can't watch a football game without cringing at all the head-hitting, which is why I'm rating this book today, right after the Super Bowl reminded me how much I loved it. It tells a beautiful tale of a boy trying to fit in and make his name great in the football world, while also shedding light on the plight of players long past their prime, who have to live with the consequences of really "giving their all" back in the day. It was a really great book that serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the dangers of concussions, and I'd recommend it to anyone participating in high school sports or with a child doing the same.
February 10, 2010
3 1/2 to 4 stars. Good boy book, with lots of sports action and humor. A really sad but realistic ending, and a disease (Alzheimer's) that you don't get to read much about in YA lit.
September 7, 2017
This is a great book based around football.
November 16, 2023
I loved this book ! But the last chapter was very sad 😔
May 9, 2024
The young adult/sports fiction book "Pop" by Gordon Korman is about Marcus Jordan who is a high school student who moved from Olathe, Kansas to Kennesaw, New York right before his junior year. Marcus was a standout quarterback for his JV team back in Kansas so once he got to New York he quickly became involved in his new school's football team. While practicing by himself at a park in the middle of town, Marcus meets a middle-aged man named Charlie, who turns out to be a former NFL player but acts more like he is in high school. As Marcus and Charlie's friendship grows, Marcus learns more about Charlie's past and figures out that Charlie is suffering from something heartbreaking.
The book's two main characters are Marcus Jordan and Charlie Popovich. Marcus is a high school football player who is going through the difficulties of going to a new high school and being on a new football team. Charlie Popovich, nicknamed "Pop", is a really nice middle aged guy but he is a little different. He kinda becomes Charlie’s own mentor, and football coach, and father figure who guides Marcus through football drills while struggling with his own problems.
The plot is mainly about Marcus's efforts to join his new high school football team and make him the new starting varsity quarterback. With Charlie's help, Marcus gets a lot better and helps him move toward perfection. However, it brings along challenges also such as Marcus begins to notice Charlie is getting worse than normal and is starting to get more out of control.
In "Pop" there are multiple different themes such as friendship, friendship, loss, and the consequences of fame and athleticism. It also goes into how brain injuries happen in sports, mainly football. The book also talks about how relationships with friends, family members, and even strangers can change if you start having personal struggles and health issues.
Gordon Korman made the book very engaging and did well with making people want to keep on reading. Also, he adds a lot of really good descriptions to the point where it almost feels like you are there with them. Also, I really liked the friendship between Marcus and Charlie because not many kids would become friends with a middle-aged guy and help him out these days. The book also goes above and beyond the normal sports book which made it better with the emotional part of the book.
Some people might think that the book gets very slow at times and very boring and that it might even be too childish. Also, some people might think that Korman could have added more details to the less common characters. Additionally, the book's ending might feel abrupt for some, leaving certain questions unresolved and some might not like the way it ended.
However "Pop" is a very good read in my eyes. I like how it combines the excitement of football with a deeper exploration of relationships and personal struggles. It's a book that kids can relate to especially since there is a lot of stuff coming out about brain injuries from football. Also, it is good for young adults who are interested in sports, friendship, and stories about doing really well in sports.
This book is suitable for young adult readers, particularly those interested in sports or stories about overcoming challenges.
May 12, 2019
Marcus Jordan is a 17-year-old high school football player who moves to a new town right before a school year. As he practises alone in a park, he gets joined by a weird 54-year-old man called Charlie, built like a tank who tackles him like a boss, plays pranks like a teenager and calls him Mac. When he joins the high school team - who just came off of a perfect season the year before -, he wants to be QB but the actual QB, Troy Popovich, is reluctant to be replaced. Charlie's physical training helps Marcus out though and he finds other ways to become indispensable to the team.
As time goes on however, he finds out that Charlie is Charlie "Pop" Popvich, an ex-NFLer known for his rough play and many hits. At 54, Charlie has Alzheimer's. Mac is not a nickname for Marcus, it's the name of his high school best friend whom he thinks he's with. Charlie doesn't just act like a teenager, he actually thinks he's a teenager. So Marcus will have to decide what's more important to him: the game or his friend.
This was beautiful. I picked it up just to go with the "pop" goal of the popsugar challenge, and I sure am glad I did, it was for sure one of the most touching books I've read recently. Especially if you know someone with Alzheimer's or dementia - which I guess most people do these days -, it becomes even more relatable and recognizable. And the link between Alzheimer's and concussions/contact sports is becoming a very talked-about topic, this was very well done.
At first, I did feel a bit disconnected as I'm Canadian and I know/care much more about hockey than football, but after a while the story becomes more about the characters than what they do. The sport is always present but it becomes almost secondary to the people.
The only teeny thing that disappointed me was the character Alyssa, the cheerleader/love interest/added complication between Troy and Marcus. I felt her whole presence was a bit unnecessary. BUT, I recognize this is a YA novel and Alyssa fits in the genre. Also, it wasn't like she was overly present either. I'm just saying personally as an adult reader, I could have lived without her, even though I understand the point of her presence.
(I adopted a kitty yesterday and she walked across my keyboard a bunch of times while I was typing this, I'm not used to that anymore!)
As time goes on however, he finds out that Charlie is Charlie "Pop" Popvich, an ex-NFLer known for his rough play and many hits. At 54, Charlie has Alzheimer's. Mac is not a nickname for Marcus, it's the name of his high school best friend whom he thinks he's with. Charlie doesn't just act like a teenager, he actually thinks he's a teenager. So Marcus will have to decide what's more important to him: the game or his friend.
This was beautiful. I picked it up just to go with the "pop" goal of the popsugar challenge, and I sure am glad I did, it was for sure one of the most touching books I've read recently. Especially if you know someone with Alzheimer's or dementia - which I guess most people do these days -, it becomes even more relatable and recognizable. And the link between Alzheimer's and concussions/contact sports is becoming a very talked-about topic, this was very well done.
At first, I did feel a bit disconnected as I'm Canadian and I know/care much more about hockey than football, but after a while the story becomes more about the characters than what they do. The sport is always present but it becomes almost secondary to the people.
The only teeny thing that disappointed me was the character Alyssa, the cheerleader/love interest/added complication between Troy and Marcus. I felt her whole presence was a bit unnecessary. BUT, I recognize this is a YA novel and Alyssa fits in the genre. Also, it wasn't like she was overly present either. I'm just saying personally as an adult reader, I could have lived without her, even though I understand the point of her presence.
(I adopted a kitty yesterday and she walked across my keyboard a bunch of times while I was typing this, I'm not used to that anymore!)
December 2, 2019
Dieses Buch ist eine weitere Challenge-Überraschung. Und je mehr Challenges ein Buch mit und/oder über Football verlangen, desto mehr erfahre ich über diesen Sport (ohne bisher je mehr davon gesehen zu haben, als das, was in amerikanischen Serien gezeigt wird).
In diesem Buch ist der Football-Sport der Treiber und Auslöser. Denn im Mittelpunkt steht die Freundschaft zwischen Marcus und Charlie. Schon der Start mit diesem ungleichen Duo ist irgendwie niedlich, aber schon bald merkt auch der Leser -egal, ob jugendlich oder erwachsen-, dass etwas nicht stimmt.
Damit kommt man dem eigentlichen Thema auf den Grund. Charlies Krankheit ist sehr bewegend geschildert. Es ist ein Thema, das mir selbst bisher eher nebensächlich bewusst war. Nun habe ich jedoch ein genaues Bild im Kopf, wie gefährlich Kontaktsportarten sein können.
Korman schildert in seinem Buch eine tiefe Freundschaft über alle Barrieren hinweg. Er bewegt uns dazu, das Richtige zu tun, auch wenn wir dadurch vielleicht schlecht dastehen mögen. Was Marcus alles auf sich nimmt, um Charlie zu helfen - ich bin tief beeindruckt.
Man wird sich bewusst, dass man stets vor Entscheidungen gestellt wird. Je nachdem sind sie grundlegend verschieden, hängen aber zusammen. Charlies Sohn, Troy, muss sich entscheiden - Sport oder Gesundheit? Troys Schwester möchte irgendwie ihre Familie zusammenhalten und die Mutter muss irgendwann einsehen, dass sie die Situation völlig falsch eingeschätzt hat.
Ich bin wirklich tief in diese Geschichte eingetaucht. Man muss nicht sonderlich Ahnung von Football haben - die Aussage Kormans ist universal.
In diesem Buch ist der Football-Sport der Treiber und Auslöser. Denn im Mittelpunkt steht die Freundschaft zwischen Marcus und Charlie. Schon der Start mit diesem ungleichen Duo ist irgendwie niedlich, aber schon bald merkt auch der Leser -egal, ob jugendlich oder erwachsen-, dass etwas nicht stimmt.
Damit kommt man dem eigentlichen Thema auf den Grund. Charlies Krankheit ist sehr bewegend geschildert. Es ist ein Thema, das mir selbst bisher eher nebensächlich bewusst war. Nun habe ich jedoch ein genaues Bild im Kopf, wie gefährlich Kontaktsportarten sein können.
Korman schildert in seinem Buch eine tiefe Freundschaft über alle Barrieren hinweg. Er bewegt uns dazu, das Richtige zu tun, auch wenn wir dadurch vielleicht schlecht dastehen mögen. Was Marcus alles auf sich nimmt, um Charlie zu helfen - ich bin tief beeindruckt.
Man wird sich bewusst, dass man stets vor Entscheidungen gestellt wird. Je nachdem sind sie grundlegend verschieden, hängen aber zusammen. Charlies Sohn, Troy, muss sich entscheiden - Sport oder Gesundheit? Troys Schwester möchte irgendwie ihre Familie zusammenhalten und die Mutter muss irgendwann einsehen, dass sie die Situation völlig falsch eingeschätzt hat.
Ich bin wirklich tief in diese Geschichte eingetaucht. Man muss nicht sonderlich Ahnung von Football haben - die Aussage Kormans ist universal.
January 21, 2019
After moving to a new town Marcus Jordan has one goal which is to play for the varsity football team. Marcus decided to practice in the town's park and meets a new friend and NFL veteran Charlie Popovich. After trying out for football he found out that Charlie was also the starting QB's son,Troy, who also competed with him. As Charlie and Marcus practice everyday Marcus discovers that Charlie was diagnosed with Alzheimers because of his Nfl career. During one of the biggest games of the year Troy goes down with an injury a Marcus helps lead the team to victory. After that Troy decided to quit as Marcus and the Popovich family try dealing with Charlie's situation. I love this book because of how emotional it was and I love watching football so this book was very interesting.
October 13, 2019
I liked this book because it’s about football and I like football, this book talks about Marcus, who is the new kid in town, he loves football. Since football makes him feel like home, He decides to try to get a place in the local team, after they´ve just finished the ¨perfect season¨. He goes to the park to practice. He throws the ball, suddenly someone grabs the ball and runs, and he started to run after him, he jogs back to Marcus and he is old. He is the best football player he has ever seen. He can hit (hard) throw, and run. He loves pop too much. But there's something a little off about him. Charlie is actually a former NFL linebacker known as ¨ the king of pop¨. He will change Marcus´ by offering him a spot in the Bengals.
December 5, 2019
I really liked this book. I liked the part where the old man lit up the kid. I liked how they went back and forth with each other trying to hit each other harder. I didn't like the part where he sat the bench even though he was the better option. I liked when he end up getting a start because the starter got hurt. I like when he lead them to the playoffs. I liked it when he figured out the old man was a NFL star that he didn't want to talk about it. I like how he ended up leading them to the championship. I like how they upset the number 1 seed that beat them early on in the year. I liked how he didnt party before the game like some of the players did.
January 14, 2022
Not Korman’s best, sadly. The concept of an ex-pro football player struggling with CTE and befriending a teen who is new to town seemed to have promise. The story progressed in an interesting way until the teen kidnapped him because he decided he knew what was best for him over his family. What?! Korman clearly went around the bend. And, worse, the final message that it would better to die than to be in a memory center?!?! And what about the kid who will continue to play a sport that devastated his new friend? What is a young reader with parents or grandparents with dementia supposed to take from all this? In the end, I don’t think there is was much that was truly positive about how to have a healthy, helpful relationship with someone struggling with memory problems.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 26, 2020**Spoilers**
I really like this book. One of the main reasons I like it is because it draws the reader in to find out what happens the Marcus and Charlie. My favorite character is probably the main character Marcus. The author does a good job of giving details of Marcus' past and who he is as a person. My second favorite character would be Charlie. Charlie is a former NFL player. At the beginning of the book, the reader didn't know that. The book has kinda drawn me in to find out more about Charlie and why he is the way he is. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes sports or drama books. This book has a good balance between these two.
I really like this book. One of the main reasons I like it is because it draws the reader in to find out what happens the Marcus and Charlie. My favorite character is probably the main character Marcus. The author does a good job of giving details of Marcus' past and who he is as a person. My second favorite character would be Charlie. Charlie is a former NFL player. At the beginning of the book, the reader didn't know that. The book has kinda drawn me in to find out more about Charlie and why he is the way he is. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes sports or drama books. This book has a good balance between these two.
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March 25, 2022good
January 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this book because the story kept you wanting to know what happens next. Marcus while practicing football, meets an old man named Charlie, and starts a friendship with him. He also happens to be the best football player Marcus has ever seen. Marcus discovers, quite surprisingly, that Charlie is "the King of Pop", his nickname during his NFL career. But Charlie's family has a secret that they want to keep hidden. Marcus and Charlie's son disagree on a lot, and especially what is right for Charlie. Marcus thinks he knows, and his actions show he would do anything for Charlie. I gave this book five stars because the way the author told it in first person was truly amazing, because I believing that is a hard thing to do.
November 17, 2014
Summary: When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an older man. Charlie is a charismatic prankster, and the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out Charlie is actually Charlie Popovich, or "the king of pop," as he had been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker. But that's not all. There is a secret about Charlie that his family is desperate to hide.
When Marcus begins school, he meets the starting quarterback on the team: Troy Popovich. Right from the beginning, Marcus and Troy disagree, about football, about Troy's ex-girlfriend, Alyssa, but most of all, about what's good for Charlie. And he is willing to risk everything to help his friend.
I recommend this book because: it's perfect for any reader! There is a little bit of everything in it! Romance, action, betrayal, denial, (etc.) The main characters of the book are very well-developed, and all have there own, well-developed personalities and traits. I also recommend this book, because the plot continues strong throughout the book. It doesn't go off unto random stories or things like that.
Interview:
Me: So Marcus, tell me what is was like interacting with Mister Charlie Popovich, during your high school football career.
Marcus: It was rough at times, yet it was worth it. He always motivated me to do my best. He was also a bit crazy at times, that's for sure. He never gave up on me. That is what I respected most about him. He was honorable, loyal, gentle, respectful. He was quite the guy!
Me: Now, what was it like moving to a new town and a new school pretty much out of nowhere during the summer?
Marcus: I'll tell you what, man I was mad! My mom wasn't always the greatest at explaining things though. I was a bit uncomfortable to be honest with you. Who wouldn't be? A new town and a new high school is a lot to take in during the summer. But I got used to it. Especially after I met Charlie. He helped me with that.
Me: Now for my last question... What did you feel like you lost after Charlie past on?
Marcus: A friend. A coach. The man that never gave up on me. The man that became my friend when I thought there was no hope of such a thing. Thinking about him now as much as I am, I can't thank him enough. He never gave up on me, and once again, that is why he reaches my highest level of respect. My highest level of honor. Loyalty. Thank you Charlie.
When Marcus begins school, he meets the starting quarterback on the team: Troy Popovich. Right from the beginning, Marcus and Troy disagree, about football, about Troy's ex-girlfriend, Alyssa, but most of all, about what's good for Charlie. And he is willing to risk everything to help his friend.
I recommend this book because: it's perfect for any reader! There is a little bit of everything in it! Romance, action, betrayal, denial, (etc.) The main characters of the book are very well-developed, and all have there own, well-developed personalities and traits. I also recommend this book, because the plot continues strong throughout the book. It doesn't go off unto random stories or things like that.
Interview:
Me: So Marcus, tell me what is was like interacting with Mister Charlie Popovich, during your high school football career.
Marcus: It was rough at times, yet it was worth it. He always motivated me to do my best. He was also a bit crazy at times, that's for sure. He never gave up on me. That is what I respected most about him. He was honorable, loyal, gentle, respectful. He was quite the guy!
Me: Now, what was it like moving to a new town and a new school pretty much out of nowhere during the summer?
Marcus: I'll tell you what, man I was mad! My mom wasn't always the greatest at explaining things though. I was a bit uncomfortable to be honest with you. Who wouldn't be? A new town and a new high school is a lot to take in during the summer. But I got used to it. Especially after I met Charlie. He helped me with that.
Me: Now for my last question... What did you feel like you lost after Charlie past on?
Marcus: A friend. A coach. The man that never gave up on me. The man that became my friend when I thought there was no hope of such a thing. Thinking about him now as much as I am, I can't thank him enough. He never gave up on me, and once again, that is why he reaches my highest level of respect. My highest level of honor. Loyalty. Thank you Charlie.
December 3, 2009
"Pop" by Gordon Korman is the story of Marcus Jordan, a talented quarterback new to town, who, weeks before school begins, becomes fast friends with a famous 50-something retired NFL linebacker named Charlie Popovich. Nicknamed the "King of Pop" in his heyday, "Pop" being the word for his signature crushing, forceful, all-out body-blows, Charlie tackles Marcus as hard as he can, no pads, teaching the 16-year old how to take punishing hits and how to give them, too. “I love the Pop!” Charlie tells Marcus. “Sometimes you actually hear it go Pop!” After a few weeks of NFL-caliber training Marcus is an unmatched force of nature on the field.
Only, something about Charlie is off. Though he remains impressively athletic, the hulking linebacker seems to have the impulses and wandering mind of a child. He shows up to practice when it suits him, he pulls an elaborate prank on a local store owner (involving bugs, lots of them), and, when Marcus dislocates his shoulder one afternoon, Charlie dashes off, leaving Marcus on his own to "pop" his appendage back in place by smashing himself into a granite sculpture, causing a pain so sharp he blacks out. What's up with this dude?
That’s precisely what Charlie’s family doesn’t want Marcus, or anyone, to know. But, Marcus is determined to be honest about Charlie’s condition, to treat the man with respect, and he goes to extreme lengths to help this former football star experience one last moment of greatness.
Full of pranks, adventures, and wince-inducing injuries, Pop is a fast-paced read ideal for young football fans. There's some good on and off-field conflict between Marcus and Charlie’s son, Troy, also a star QB, and a real passion for the game written in throughout. And, considering the recent studies linking repeated head trauma experienced by pro-football players and early on-set dementia, Korman's book is timely. Gr 6 and up. (Jarrett, The Loft)
Only, something about Charlie is off. Though he remains impressively athletic, the hulking linebacker seems to have the impulses and wandering mind of a child. He shows up to practice when it suits him, he pulls an elaborate prank on a local store owner (involving bugs, lots of them), and, when Marcus dislocates his shoulder one afternoon, Charlie dashes off, leaving Marcus on his own to "pop" his appendage back in place by smashing himself into a granite sculpture, causing a pain so sharp he blacks out. What's up with this dude?
That’s precisely what Charlie’s family doesn’t want Marcus, or anyone, to know. But, Marcus is determined to be honest about Charlie’s condition, to treat the man with respect, and he goes to extreme lengths to help this former football star experience one last moment of greatness.
Full of pranks, adventures, and wince-inducing injuries, Pop is a fast-paced read ideal for young football fans. There's some good on and off-field conflict between Marcus and Charlie’s son, Troy, also a star QB, and a real passion for the game written in throughout. And, considering the recent studies linking repeated head trauma experienced by pro-football players and early on-set dementia, Korman's book is timely. Gr 6 and up. (Jarrett, The Loft)
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