Game Change

Reviewed by: Noelle Gallant - Saco Middle School, Saco, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 9, 2018

Review

I've read some of Monninger's adult fiction before and love his New England influence, and many YA readers from Maine will find appeal in his familiar New Hampshire setting.

This YA novel considers several predictable motifs related to high school football : the big championship game, the injured star quarterback, the underdog back-up player, the troubled home life, and the trouble with the girlfriend to name a few. While the plot was predictable, Monninger crafts characters who are fully fleshed out and he uses language to evoke emotion in descriptions of the characters and the setting. I found this book would be a great recommendation for students who are looking for a sports-themed book but who might be ready for a more literary choice than what Lupica and other noted YA sports authors have to offer. Monninger's work elevates the football genre.

Overall Book Score: very good