Great story for kids. Like Tim Green's writing and willok for more by him.

Read this for Hudson's Lit Circles group at school. It was pretty straightforward and the multiple narrative lines helped me explain subplots, but I found the main character inherently problematic on several levels. We were able to have good conversations about whether Troy being an underdog in many senses of the word gave him a free pass to lie to his mother, and others, continually, without any kind of redemption. Author gets credit for trying to go beyond stock characters for the female characters here, though he couldn't resist pointing out Tate (the female kicker)'s physical weakness multiple times in the book. The mother, unfortunately, is only redeemed by her self-sacrifice for her son and her relationship with the star football player. But the kids in the critique group really enjoyed the jargon and realistic depictions of a professional football game, and I agreed that these were the strongest parts of the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Football Genius. It took a few chapters to establish the pace and then it really took off. It is an excellent independent read choice for someone who is interested in (or crazy about) football.

Troy White is a sixth grade boy who plays second string quarterback on his football team. The coach’s son is the starting quarterback even though Troy has greater talent. Troy has an amazing ability to read the patterns in a football game and know which plays will happen next. This talent comes to the forefront when his mother is hired by the PR department for the Atlanta Falcons NFL team.

Troy’s attempts to be heard by the coaches, his mom, and one middle linebacker in particular are filled with humor, compassion and excitement. Even when Troy finally succeeds in getting one of the players to listen to him, he must still break through his mother’s stubornness, a malicious coach’s motives and the unreachable ear of the team’s owner.

Troy gets his chance to be special, to fulfill the part of his destiny that is right now. Troy’s story strikes a chord with anyone who has ever had a dream for his future, or has searched for the essence of what makes him different and special within this big world.

I think, however, the book may have limited appeal to readers who are not interested in football or do not really understand how the game is played. (For example: I have read all the Harry Potter books, but find Quidditch, as a sport, boring and would often skim the pages and pages describing the game itself.) I am a HUGE football fan and was enthralled with the descriptions of plays on the field. I could see the games playing in my head while I was reading about them. Green also uses the names of several actual NFL players, but since the book was written in 2007, they are outdated now. As a MN Vikings fan I chuckled at the descriptions of Randy Moss’s behavior as an Oakland Raider. Also, Michael Vick is quarterbacking the Falcons (pre-dog fighting scandal). If you don’t know who Brian Urlacher, Tiki Barber and Drew Bledsoe are then the name dropping is probably going to bore you. If you DO know your football players from the early 2000′s, then it’s kind of a kick to read about them in passing during the story.

Tim Green was a defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons from 1986-1993. His expertise in the arena of professional football is clearly evident in the details of the games and the structure of a pro football team. It is not simply his football expertise that is showcased in this novel. His ability to tell Troy’s story in an exciting and meaningful way.

This is a fun, easy, uplifting read that rises to an even higher level if you are a football fan, like me.

This has been a very popular book (and series) in my library, particularly with young guys who are into sports, and for good reason. It's a story of empowered youth overcoming the odds and the prejudices of adults to prove they are capable and worthy of respect. And, unlike many similar books, the adults aren't all doofuses--even the "bad guy"--but are portrayed as layered, complex, and realistic; they're just uniformly flawed in their very normal perspective that kids aren't as capable as adults. So it's up to the kids to prove them wrong. The kids are equally three-dimensional--even the hero is far from perfect--and relationships, both peer and parental, are complex. There are numerous obstacles, a mix of successes and failures, and suspense aplenty. Oh, and it's all about football. It's a winning formula.

My rating might have been higher except it very much is a formula book that manipulates emotions and contains no surprises; nothing wrong with that because it's very appealing, but it's not great literature. More importantly, I was left feeling uneasy about a subtle sexist misogyny I sensed. Even though Troy's single mom and best friend are very strong female characters that are rightfully respected by everyone they encounter, there's still an underlying sense that they are still not quite equal to the men. And though Troy knows he's being disrespectful and immoral, there's ultimately an endorsement of the way he lies to his mom and breaks her rules to achieve his victory, as though she just doesn't "get it" enough to understand the importance of Troy's football gifts. She loves him, but she's still an obstacle to overcome, and though the connection was never made I felt part of the reason she was an obstacle was due to her inherent female nature.

Great middle school book! A future Disney Channel movie for sure. A great underdog story with a well earned happy ending! Loved it.

Gr 5-8-This novel has much to recommend it. Troy White is a typical 12-year-old in many ways, dividing his time between school, organized sports, and friends. He has one special talent, though: when he watches football on television, he subconsciously computes team statistics, players, and other variables, and he can call the plays before they happen. What could be a nice parlor trick takes on new significance when his single mother gets a job with the Atlanta Falcons' public relations department. Suddenly, Troy is in a position to help the struggling team win, if he can only make the grownups around him listen. It's an uphill battle at first, but eventually running back Seth Halloway witnesses Troy's uncanny ability and puts his own job on the line to help convince the coach and the team's owner. Drawing heavily on his own eight years as a linebacker for the Falcons, Green gives armchair quarterbacks a rare and realistic glimpse at the pain, sweat, and politicking of professional football. He includes enough cameo appearances from real players (Mike Vick, John Abraham, and Demarrio Williams, among others) to make fact and fiction meld seamlessly. Fictional characters are fairly two-dimensional, especially the scheming assistant coach who wants nothing more than to see the team lose so that he can step in as head coach. Nonetheless, the fast action and plot twists will keep fans of the game glued to the story. A first purchase for libraries looking to bolster their sports fiction.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Sounds so exciting! Tim Green is coming to our school! Got to read it for B.O.B.

i really couldn't get into this (way to much football for my taste) but I can see how others would enjoy.

i really couldn't get into this (way to much football for my taste) but I can see how others would enjoy.

Troy and his friends, Nathan and Tate, LOVE football. Troy, however, has a special gift. He can watch a game and predict the next plays. When his mom gets a job with the home team, the Atlanta Falcons, Troy is sure he can help them have a great season. The only problem is he has to convince them to listen to him. Troy is a sensitive, persistent character who just wants to do the right thing. Action-packed play-by-plays make this an exciting read for football fans. Readers will enjoy imagining themselves in Troy's shoes.

Middle school