It's what he does well and football-crazy boys especially will love it. And that's where the pigskin hits the artificial turf in the case of this book - consequences.ĭeuker has a way of writing football action that never gets old. As his heroes are Woodward and Bernstein of Watergate fame, Mitch wants to go to press, but going to press has consequences. What they learn is disturbing - but more disturbing still is that they are not getting all of the story. Suspicions aroused, Mitch and Kimi start to do some digging into Angel's past.

When Mitch and his cameraman sidekick Kimi Yon ask for an interview and pictures, both Coach and Angel refuse. Mitch has noticed this highly-talented player named Angel Marichal who is used infrequently but when necessary by the ambitious Coach McNulty.

He got the name 'Mitch' from initially being called 'Michelin Man' due to his weight (no doubt, he grew 'tired' of it, too). Together these elements keep you reading as you try, along with the protagonist, to figure out what's going on.įor this book, Deuker forgoes choosing a player for his protagonist and instead employs Dan 'Mitch' True, the Lincoln High School sports reporter. Like RUNNER, it contains elements of mystery. Like GYM CANDY, it is centered around high school sports. PAYBACK TIME follows the familiar Deuker formula. He's good at what he does, and what he does is chiefly sports, often with a secondary plot that goes beyond sports. If you know a kid like this and you don't know about Carl Deuker, you should familiarize yourself with Deuker's growing work. Many of these boys are into sports, too - some merely as fans, and others as actual players. A lot of boys are reluctant readers, tough nuts to crack for parents and teachers who want their kids to read more.

Payback Time by Carl Deuker