  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 07/01/2009 Gr 4-8 –In this sequel to Football Genius (HarperCollins, 2007), Troy White, 12, continues to put to good use his uncanny ability to predict an opposing team’s next move. He is employed by his beloved Atlanta Falcons to send in plays during games, thus helping the team to build a winning streak and prolonging the career of his idol, the aging and injury-riddled linebacker, Seth Halloway. Seth is dating Troy’s mom (also a Falcons employee) and coaching Troy’s youth league football team. While Troy is technically doing nothing against the rules, the Falcons want to keep his contribution to the team’s success a secret. When he is outed by a sportswriter who has a grudge against Seth, the Falcons’ season, Troy’s upcoming youth league championship game, and his mom’s job are all placed in jeopardy. Troy is able to demonstrate to the NFL Commissioner that he can predict plays without cheating and tricks a corrupt doctor into admitting, on tape, that he lied about Seth’s steroid use. The Falcons’ season is saved, Seth coaches Troy’s team to the championship, and Troy is approached by an agent who promises millions for his play-predicting abilities. The unexpected appearance of Troy’s biological father in the final chapter sets up the next book in the series. While the novel’s premise is somewhat outlandish, the characters are engaging and the game action is exciting. Short cliff-hanger chapters make this a good bet for reluctant readers.–Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT - Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/15/2009 Green sends the 12-year-old savant introduced in Football Genius (2007) into the national spotlight in this second sequel. Proud of his unfailing ability to predict football plays, Troy naively grants a solo interview to an unscrupulous reporter and finds himself—along with his NFL linebacker friend, Seth—publicly accused of cheating. Not only are the play-off hopes of their pro team (the Atlanta Falcons) and Troy’s own Duluth Tigers threatened but so are the careers of Seth and Troy’s mother, who works in the Falcons’ PR department. Readers will enthusiastically cheer Troy on as he heroically rises to every occasion, both on and off the field. - Copyright 2009 Booklist. Loading...
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