Pop

Gordon Korman’s acclaimed and timely YA novel explores the dangerous side of high school contact sports.

When Marcus moves to town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul and spends his time practicing for the upcoming football tryouts. He strikes up an unlikely friendship with Charlie, a charismatic prankster — and the best football player Marcus has ever seen. Marcus can't believe it when he finds out that Charlie is actually Charlie Popovich, a.k.a. "the King of Pop," as he was known during his NFL career. But soon it becomes painfully obvious to Marcus that all those hits during Charlie's glory days have taken their toll on the retired linebacker.

Once school starts, Marcus meets the team's starting quarterback, Troy Popovich. Right from the beginning, Marcus and Troy disagree — about football, about Tory's girlfriend, Alyssa, and most of all, about what's good for Charlie. Marcus bets that he knows what's best for the King of Pop. And he's willing to risk everything to help his friend.

With wit and sensitivity, Gordon Korman tackles truths about high school sports, while delivering a poignant story about an unlikely friendship.