From Booklist
Mack McGinn, who comes from a line of outstanding athletes, feels overshadowed by his older brother, Rory, who is a star soccer player. Particularly upsetting is the way Mack's dad dotes on Rory. Adding to Mack's troubles is his social-climbing parents' decision to move to an upscale neighborhood; the move is made worse by the dictum that Mack must stop seeing his best friend from the old neighborhood. Things turn out well in the end, however, with Mack saving the life of a little girl and his parents recognizing (after the neighbor's boy is revealed to be dangerously deranged) that expensive neighborhoods are not always what they are cracked up to be. Paratore effectively captures Mack's jealousy toward his older brother and the sense of insecurity that these feelings breed. Despite the somewhat clichéd ending (Mack's dog, in the Lassie tradition, alerts Mack to the girl's peril), readers will find much about middle school and family life that rings true here. Morning, Todd
Product Description
Mack McGinn comes from a long line of winners: Gramp, the football hero; Dad, the (almost) Olympic soccer star; and Mack's older brother, Rory, who has enough trophies to start his own hall of fame. After Mack joins Rory at Danville Middle School, his own jock stock is starting to rise. Mack is running faster, getting stronger, and taking tips from his best friend Digger's dad, who might be the greatest soccer coach in the whole state.
And if Mack can just steer clear of creepy Pope Banker next door, convince his mom that Digger's a good kid, keep his concentration on the track, and manage not to strangle Rory before Danville Day, he might make his family prouder than any eleven-year-old athlete ever dreamed possible.