POP by Gordon Korman

Truman Nominee 2011-2012

What would you do if a middle-aged man decided to play football with you in the park?  Had Marcus ever heard of "Stranger Danger?" 

Mark has just moved to town.  He is a football player, and he is looking to improve his game so that he could make the team.  He sets his own practice field up in Three Alarm Park.  Before long he has attracked the attention of Charlie Popovich.  There is something about Charlie that isn't quite right.  But Charlie begins showing Marcus the "in's and out's" of playing the game.

What Marcus has discovered is that Charlie is sometimes living in the past, reliving his good ole football days, and his days as a prankster.  Suddenly Marcus is pulled into his activities, and finds himself in trouble.  Can he really "tell" on a man who is well loved by the town?

For information on Gordon Korman and his other books,

Check out his website @

http://www.gordonkorman.com/



Sports Camp by Rich Wallace

With it being summer, some kids are thinking about going to camp.  There are camps for scouts, church, and sports.  At Camp Olympia, boys participate in a variety of sports--basket ball, softball, water polo, and even swimming, track, and even karaoke.  In this small world of camp Riley worries about the same things everyone worries about, fitting in.  Riley already has a few strikes against him, being the youngest, and smallest at camp.  Even if you don't get the chance, escape with Riley as he explores the life at camp and learns to compete with the best of them.