Pop
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Football player Marcus isn't happy about moving to a new town, but at least the high school has an undefeated team. Too bad the team is a closed club, led by quarterback Troy Popovich, who takes a special dislike to Marcus when his old girlfriend shows Marcus some love. The best part of Marcus' football life comes in the park, where he is befriended by Charlie, a quirky older guy who teaches Marcus how to take a hit and love the pop that comes with intense contact. Yet it's clear something's not quite right about Charlie, who, as it turns out, is Troy's father. Korman juggles several stories here as Marcus finally figures out that Charlie suffers from early onset Alzheimer's, brought on by the physical traumas of a pro career. There's some solid action on the field, but mostly there are Marcus' schemes to help Charlie, which sometimes go to ridiculous lengths. However, this story has heart. And as it shows the confusion and frustrations for both patient and family that come with Alzheimer's, it breaks some hearts, too.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2009 Booklist

Shortly after moving to a new town, Marcus encounters Charlie, a strange, middle-aged man who turns out to be an incredible football player. Marcus, hoping to be a varsity quarterback at his new school, begins meeting Charlie regularly. Charlie is a challenging and rewarding opponent, but there are mysteries about him that plague Marcus ("It was annoying, but waiting to see if Charlie was going to show up soon became Marcus's personal reality TV show"). Most puzzling: "For some reason, he thought he was a teenager, too." At school, Marcus loses the quarterback position to school hero Troy-Charlie's son. Troy is oddly guarded about his father, but Marcus eventually figures out Charlie's secret: the repeated blows the former NFL player received resulted in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Korman (The Juvie Three) skillfully weaves football terminology into the narrative without making it sound like a playbook, and Marcus's heartfelt loyalty to Charlie is believable, if the plotting is occasionally less so. Despite the athletic focus, this thought-provoking story is, at its core, about friendship and should have broad appeal. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Gr 9 Up-"Pop" is the imagined, internal sound of the perfect football tackle, as new-kid-in-town Marcus finds out the hard way from a hit by an ex-NFL linebacker. Middle-aged but possessing what at first seems to be a harmless, young-at-heart attitude, Charlie Popovich becomes Marcus's friend, mentor, and partner in crime for an elaborate (and hilarious) prank. Unfortunately, their relationship only increases the contentious atmosphere between Marcus and Charlie's son. Already vying for the school's starting quarterback position and the affection of the head cheerleader, Marcus finds that matters become even more complicated when he learns that Charlie's erratic behavior is caused by early-onset Alzheimer's. Korman offers a touching and realistic portrayal of an Alzheimer patient's episodes, the emotional roller coaster of the disease's effect on loved ones, and the naive yet endearing arrogance of a teen who wants to do what is best for his friend. Marcus must make some hard decisions, whether during the frenzied action of a football play or surrounded by family members whose hearts are about to break. Readers will stick by him in this absorbing story of both action and emotion.-Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

YA Sixteen-year-old Marcus is determined to make the football team. He meets Charlie, an older man with an 'enthusiasm for smashmouth football,' and soon discovers that his fun-loving but erratic practice partner is an NFL veteran with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Through their unique friendship, Korman realistically presents both the thrill of playing football and the sport's possible long-term health risks. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Football will be the way Marcus Jordan makes the transition to his new school, so he practices in the park, preparing for tryouts. There he meets the enigmatic Charlie, a middle-aged man who knows much about football and conveys what Marcus has been missing in his game: fearlessness. "I love the pop! Sometimes you actually hear it go pop!" As bad luck would have it, Charlie is the father of Troy, star of the team, who takes an instant dislike to Marcus. Soon it is clear that Charlie is not eccentric but suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's caused by all the hits he took as a player in the NFL, a fact his family works hard to conceal. Marcus's involvement with Charlie exposes the secret and reveals the family tensions it has created. This carefully structured story, despite the difficult issue at its core, engages readers primarily with complex characters (including secondary ones) and well-drawn relationships. The football scenes are riveting, but the poignant human drama more than holds its own. Banking his usual over-the-top humor, Korman goes straight to the heart. (Fiction. 12 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Football player Marcus isn't happy about moving to a new town, but at least the high school has an undefeated team. Too bad the team is a closed club, led by quarterback Troy Popovich, who takes a special dislike to Marcus when his old girlfriend shows Marcus some love. The best part of Marcus' football life comes in the park, where he is befriended by Charlie, a quirky older guy who teaches Marcus how to take a hit and love the "pop" that comes with intense contact. Yet it's clear something's not quite right about Charlie, who, as it turns out, is Troy's father. Korman juggles several stories here as Marcus finally figures out that Charlie suffers from early onset Alzheimer's, brought on by the physical traumas of a pro career. There's some solid action on the field, but mostly there are Marcus' schemes to help Charlie, which sometimes go to ridiculous lengths. However, this story has heart. And as it shows the confusion and frustrations for both patient and family that come with Alzheimer's, it breaks some hearts, too. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.

Shortly after moving to a new town, Marcus encounters Charlie, a strange, middle-aged man who turns out to be an incredible football player. Marcus, hoping to be a varsity quarterback at his new school, begins meeting Charlie regularly. Charlie is a challenging and rewarding opponent, but there are mysteries about him that plague Marcus ("It was annoying, but waiting to see if Charlie was going to show up soon became Marcus's personal reality TV show"). Most puzzling: "For some reason, he thought he was a teenager, too." At school, Marcus loses the quarterback position to school hero Troy—Charlie's son. Troy is oddly guarded about his father, but Marcus eventually figures out Charlie's secret: the repeated blows the former NFL player received resulted in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Korman (The Juvie Three) skillfully weaves football terminology into the narrative without making it sound like a playbook, and Marcus's heartfelt loyalty to Charlie is believable, if the plotting is occasionally less so. Despite the athletic focus, this thought-provoking story is, at its core, about friendship and should have broad appeal. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)

Gr 9 Up—"Pop" is the imagined, internal sound of the perfect football tackle, as new-kid-in-town Marcus finds out the hard way from a hit by an ex-NFL linebacker. Middle-aged but possessing what at first seems to be a harmless, young-at-heart attitude, Charlie Popovich becomes Marcus's friend, mentor, and partner in crime for an elaborate (and hilarious) prank. Unfortunately, their relationship only increases the contentious atmosphere between Marcus and Charlie's son. Already vying for the school's starting quarterback position and the affection of the head cheerleader, Marcus finds that matters become even more complicated when he learns that Charlie's erratic behavior is caused by early-onset Alzheimer's. Korman offers a touching and realistic portrayal of an Alzheimer patient's episodes, the emotional roller coaster of the disease's effect on loved ones, and the naive yet endearing arrogance of a teen who wants to do what is best for his friend. Marcus must make some hard decisions, whether during the frenzied action of a football play or surrounded by family members whose hearts are about to break. Readers will stick by him in this absorbing story of both action and emotion.—Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library