Pop

Gordon Korman's books appeal to a wide range of kids and adults and can pull in even reluctant readers. Share Pop in your home or classroom; sports fans in particular won't be able to put it down.

When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up a friendship with a man named Charlie, the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out that Charlie is Charlie Popovich, or "the King of Pop," as he'd been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker.

Charlie turns out to be a prankster, and his actions get Marcus in trouble. He's also the father of the quarterback at Marcus's new school—who leads the team in icing out the new kid.

The story of a good kid's struggle to land on his feet in a new town after his parents split up combines with compelling sports action and even some romance in Gordon Korman's Pop.

What happens when your only friend in town is also your biggest problem?

• Football Rivalry: Marcus is the new kid with a golden arm. Troy is the star quarterback—and Charlie’s son—who wants him gone.
• Family Secrets: Charlie is a legend, but he’s also erratic and forgetful. His family is hiding the truth, but the cracks are starting to show.
• New Kid in Town: After a cross-country move following his parents’ divorce, Marcus has to prove himself on and off the field in a town that worships its football team.
• The Price of Glory: A powerful, thought-provoking look at the long-term consequences of a high-impact sport and the true meaning of toughness.