Sunday, March 01, 2009

Deuker, Carl. Gym candy

Deuker, Carl. Gym candy. Hougthon Mifflin, 2007 [978-0-618-77713-6 // 0-618-77713-x]
Mick loves football.. it is his whole life. His dad was a football hero. He and a friend get a chance to play varsity but he does not have the power to threaten the first string player's position. To get stronger he works out harder and starts drinking protein drinks and taking supplements. When Mick joins a private gym and has a trainer he resists taking the steroids that are being offered at first. Eventually he sees them as the only way to get the power and endurance to get where he wants in football. He decides to only take some in the summer to bulk up but against his own better judgment, he steps them up a notch. This 313 page book tells the story of a boy trying to look better in his father's eyes and his own eyes and what he will do to get better. It is the story of how sports can drive his whole life, at the loss of friends, and girl interests. The side effects of steroids are described in the story and lead to the dramatic end to this book. While the "gym candy" was the center piece of the book, I did not feel the author got too preachy. It is hard to tread that line as an author. This is an important book to have in your sports collection along with the others by Deuker.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is one book that I have given to several reluctant readers and everyone came back asking for another like it. Do you have any suggestions???

Tina
Ponca City, OK

6:32 PM  
Blogger Frederick Muller said...

All of Deuker's sports books are VERY popular in my middle school library.

6:38 PM  

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