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    Game Changer
    Game Changer
    Game Changer
    Ebook227 pages1 hour

    Game Changer

    By Tommy Greenwald

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    A mysterious football accident sends a high school reeling in this award-winning multimedia-format novel from Tommy Greenwald
     
    Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma, fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery—and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this the inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or did something more sinister happen on the field that day?
     
    Told in an innovative multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, interview transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy’s inner thoughts, Game Changer explores the joyous thrills and terrifying risks of America’s most popular sport.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherABRAMS
    Release dateSep 11, 2018
    ISBN9781683353928
    Author

    Tommy Greenwald

    Tommy Greenwald--according to his wife, Cathy--has the maturity level of a thirteen-year-old, which makes him uniquely qualified to write this book. He has had the best time ever writing the Charlie Joe Jackson series, and is looking forward to his next challenge, which may involve dogs, or chocolate, or both. He is also the author of Jack Strong Takes a Stand and Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! (And Lives to Tell About It). To read annoyingly outdated information about Tommy, please visit tommygreenwald.com. @tommygreenwald

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    Reviews for Game Changer

    4/5

    23 ratings5 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I love that it talks about hope and it really inspires me in a way to wanna help people I love it!!!!
    • 4/5
      Teddy is in a coma from what appears to have been an accident during a preseason high school football practice. As an incoming freshman, Teddy along with his fellow freshman teammates participate in a game called the Rookie Rumble that is coached by the seniors on the football team. At the end of the game, Teddy passes out and is taken to the hospital. Teddy's entire family converges on the hospital, including his estranged mother, to speak to him and give him positive words of encouragement. In the meantime, online conversations and a therapist transcript with a player named Ethan hint at something more that may have happened during the Rookie Rumble.Game Changer is told through online conversations, transcripts, and Teddy's thoughts. This format actually enhances the story because it precipitates opportunities for the reader to make inferences about what may have happened to Teddy. The characters are developed as their thoughts are outlined during these conversations. Real issues of violence in football as well as hazing are addressed in this book. My only complaint is that the ending seems a little to pat to be believable, but overall, Game Changer is a very well written book that deals with timely topics surrounding youth football.
    • 3/5
      When the story begins, thirteen year old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma from a football injury or at least that's what you think initially. Then rumours start and you start to believe that maybe it was something besides a normal football practice that ended up getting him hurt. There are various characters who all weigh in with comments and thoughts and conversations; his parents, the coach, the coaches daughter, Teddy's best friend Ethan, the varsity captain Will, another varsity player, Alec, Nurse Ricky, Teddy's sister and the doctor.It was interesting to have the story pieced together bit by bit from the messages and the articles etc. I wanted there to be more to the story though. I enjoyed it but I was left wanting a little bit more. I did like the ending very much because I like that we don't know WHAT he is going to say. He wakes up and says, "I remember" and the story stops right there. We don't know if he's going to keep quiet about the whole thing or tell all. Since the title of the book is Game Changer... I'm thinking that he's going to tell what happened to him.
    • 5/5
      This realistic fiction novel is going to be checked out constantly! Get it when you see it on the shelf!The structure of the novel is different. There are no paragraphs, little character development. It’s all what one kid is hearing while in coma or text messages or comments on something like a Facebook page. The novel begins and ends with a newspaper article. It may take some time to keep the characters straight because you have to look at who is posting the text or message.The novel begins with an article about the Walthorne Football team and the expectations the town has for them to possibly go to state. The novel then has a hospital admittance report for Edward Youngblood (goes by Teddy) who is 13 years old and has been admitted with a head trauma and is comatose in critical condition. Teddy is a freshman and is on his way to be an amazing football player. In a scrimmage, something happens and he collapses. The novel proceeds with giving different information as people reveal it in their texts or conversations with Teddy at the hospital. My favorite characters are his sister, Janey and Nurse Ricky.You won’t be able to put the novel down. You won’t be too surprised to learn what happened as the novel unfolds. I really think that this novel will be well liked by the majority of our students. Read it!
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this quick, easy to read, multi-media influenced YA sports. Sports are very hard to write about, or at least I've read very few fiction books that it address it well, but Greenwald does a nice job in this book. Usually the narrative of sports falls apart when the writer tries to detail play-to-play action. Greenwald, through the mediums he chose, is largely able to avoid that, and I think it pays off. What the book lacks in football-specific action, it makes up for with more than enough debate from both sides of the is-it-safe-to-play-football debate. It is hard to walk away from the book thinking that the book slants somewhat to the anti side, and the only argument presented on the other side are along the standard refrains of "it's a great game", "it helps bond communities together and helps turn boys into men". Not very convincing. In the end, a good book I would recommend to 9th grade students (maybe 10th graders with a high sense of innocence) .

    Book preview

    Game Changer - Tommy Greenwald

    information.

    PART ONE

    FRIDAY, AUGUST 26

    5:43 PM

    HOSPITAL ADMITTANCE REPORT

    EDWARD YOUNGBLOOD

    13-YEAR-OLD MALE, HEAD TRAUMA.

    POSSIBLE INTRACRANIAL BLEED.

    NO EXTERNAL INJURIES.

    COMATOSE, NEEDS TOTAL RESPIRATORY CARE.

    CONDITION: CRITICAL

    INSIDE

    Light in the darkness

    Circles without shape

    Colors I can’t see

    Memories I can’t feel

    Voices but no words

    Thoughts but no meaning

    Come on, Eden, let’s do this

    Don’t be soft

    Can you hit somebody?

    Show me you can hit somebody

    Eden

    Eden, come on

    Come on

    Eden

    I’m

    I didn’t

    Don’t be a girl

    This wasn’t

    I’m falling

    I’m falling

    I’m

    I’m

    Is it raining?

    6:51 PM

    Group Text from Will

    16 People

    guys

    just checking in to make sure

    everyone has the latest info

    incoming freshman ted youngblood is in the hospital from that hit he took at camp today

    it’s pretty bad, not sure how bad yet but i heard he’s still unconscious

    it sucks

    even though these things happen in football sometimes it totally sucks

    i want to make sure everyone is doing okay

    everyone on the team needs to keep their heads in the game

    be strong and stick together

    we’re a team and we’ll always be a team

    never forget that guys!

    if i hear anything else i’ll update on this thread

    otherwise see everyone at practice monday 8am sharp

    DR. SPARKS

    Mr. and Mrs. Youngblood

    I want you to know your son is in the best hands

    He’s getting the finest care

    The very best care

    The most important thing for him is rest

    So his brain can heal

    And he needs to know you’re there

    It’s important to talk to him

    He can hear you, I promise

    He is listening

    Not in the traditional sense, of course

    And we can’t expect any sort of response just yet

    But he can hear every word you say

    It’s very important to keep talking to him

    One person at a time is best

    Multiple voices can be too much

    We don’t want to overwhelm him

    But he needs to be stimulated

    Stay positive and strong

    Try not to sound upset or scared

    Talk about anything you want, but stay upbeat

    He will get through this as long as you’re right there with him

    Remember

    Every word counts.

    MOM

    Honey

    Teddy

    Can you feel my hand?

    Squeeze my hand if you can feel it

    Squeeze it, honey

    Okay, maybe later

    I

    Am I too close?

    I’m going to sit

    I’ll sit here, okay?

    I stopped by the house and picked up a bunch of your things

    Some posters and your favorite pj’s and other stuff

    But I forgot your pillow

    I’m so mad I forgot your pillow

    I texted Dad

    He just left to pick up Janey, so I asked him to get it

    I’m going to wash the pillowcase

    Get it nice and soft just the way you like it

    I know how much you love that pillow

    I would get it myself, but I don’t want to leave you right now

    I want to stay right here

    I’m going to stay right here

    I love you so much

    I’m here

    I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart

    I’m never going anywhere again

    I’m back

    I’m here

    I’m back for good.

    DAD

    Hey

    Hey, bud

    How’s my guy?

    How’s my man?

    You look great, Teddy

    You look really good

    You really do

    I’m not just saying that

    You look strong

    Okay, so

    Uh

    I know you saw Mom

    She hasn’t been

    You know

    It’s been a while, kiddo

    But she loves you very much

    More than anything in this world

    She only wants to see you get better

    We all need to be a family right now

    Hey, look what I found

    I guess I had it in the office

    One of your first game balls

    Oh man, remember?

    The sixth-grade championship a few years back?

    That was some game

    You made that goal line tackle and the whole team jumped on you

    Crowd going nuts

    That’s what it’s all about

    Remember they used to call you the game changer?

    Because you were always the one who made the difference

    Man was I proud

    Oh yeah

    I brought your speakers

    You can blast your music as loud as you want

    So

    Oh man

    You’ll be just fine, Teddy

    I know you will

    You’re such a tough kid

    So strong and tough

    You look really great, though, you really do

    Oh shoot

    I got Mom’s text about the pillow, but I forgot to bring it

    I better go get it

    Okay, kiddo

    Somebody wants to say hi

    Go ahead, honey

    Don’t be afraid

    Go ahead.

    JANEY

    Hey, Teddy

    Um

    Hi

    Are you

    Are you doing okay?

    Ugh

    That was stupid

    So

    Yeah, no

    They said

    They said just talk to you like I guess I would talk to you any other day, right?

    Okay, so

    I can’t believe Dad forgot your pillow. Of course that turned into a whole thing, what else is new? But anyway, Dad is going back to the house to get it. It’s weird to see Mom and Dad together. Like, it’s the same, but different. Your hair is super dirty by the way. You’re lucky you can’t see it. I mean, obviously you’re not, but you are. What a mess, somebody should totally wash it for you, it’s like really greasy, and like, you would be so mad if you saw your hair right now, you would be like, so mad if you could see yourself. You know how you stare at yourself in the mirror all the time and I yell at you because I need the bathroom

    Maybe Dad can get the nurse to wash it

    I didn’t know they had men nurses

    Or I guess I knew they did, but I don’t think I’ve ever met one before

    Do you want me to check your texts? Or Dad can I guess

    Alec texted me, he said he’s coming

    He got a text from Camille, she is going to come see you too, with her dad

    I guess a lot of people already heard about what happened, like the whole town has heard already, and everybody feels horrible, all the kids in your grade and stuff, they’re all kind of freaking out, especially the boys on the football team, I’m sure you know that already

    Alec sounded so scared

    Oh wait, I forgot Mom said I shouldn’t talk about that stuff

    Uh

    Yeah, so, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?

    Night, Teddy

    Please come home

    Wash that hair though, okay?

    9:09 PM

    Text from Alec

    ethan

    ethan are you there

    dude what’s going on

    pls text me back

    people want to know how u r doing

    just mking sure you’re okay

    let me know if you want to talk about it

    seriously ethan text me back okay??

    Friday at 9:22 pm

    Camille I don’t know if everyone heard but Teddy Youngblood was hurt today at football preseason camp. He is in the hospital and I’m not sure how serious it is but I think it’s pretty serious because my dad has been on the phone with different people for hours and it seems like it’s bad. I have been crying all night I feel like I have no more tears left. As soon as I have more information from my dad I will let everyone know and if anybody knows anything else they should share it too. I’m so scared.

    37

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    NURSE RICKY

    Hello there, Mr. Edward Youngblood

    I like that name by the way

    I really do

    Anyway

    I’m Nurse Ricky

    But you can call me just Ricky

    I’ll be looking after you during your stay here with us

    My job is to make your visit as comfortable as possible

    So if there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to holler

    Sound good?

    Your family is here and they love you very much

    That’s a good-looking family you got there by the way

    Not too shabby

    But it’s almost bedtime

    Time to dream

    Forget your troubles, come on get happy

    We’re gonna wipe all your cares away

    You know that song?

    Of course not

    It’s way before your time

    It’s way before my time

    You just get your rest, okay?

    So your kid sister was giving me a hard time about not washing your hair

    Feisty little thing, isn’t she?

    Gotta keep on her good side, yes I do

    So let’s do this

    Here, let me lift you up just a little

    Fix this mop up once and for all

    There we go

    There we are

    That feels better, right?

    That’s the way uh-huh uh-huh

    I like it uh-huh uh-huh

    That’s the way I like it

    You know that song?

    You don’t know that one either?

    We need to educate you in the ways of music

    Yup, there we go

    This oughta make

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