Even though Nate Brodie loves football (and like many of Lupica’s character, he is that one-in-a-million player who both loves and knows the game), Million Dollar Throw is different from Mike Lupica’s other books.   Nate has won a once-in-lifetime opportunity to throw a football through a target during halftime of a Patriot’s game.  If he makes it, he will win a million dollars.  The pressure of making that throw is not all that weighs on Nate.  His dad lost his job and now his parents are juggling three and four part time jobs to make ends meet.  If something doesn’t change, they will lose their house.  Even worse, his best friend Abby is losing her sight to a rare eye disease.  Nate would give anything to help his friend see again well enough to paint her pictures.

The ever increasing real-world problems give this book a more somber mood than other Lupica books, but it also has many of the trademarks that my students enjoy from Lupica’s books.  Obviously, Nate is the ultimate kid athlete.  Abby is is best friend, who is both encouraging, pretty (with just a hint of a possible romantic interest) and witty.  Abby definitely has the best lines.  Nate faces obstacles both on and off the field, but he always gets up when he’s knocked down on his way to achieving greatness.