Books › The million dollar throw
The million dollar throw
First published 2009 · 272 pages
A high-stakes sports story wrapped around a tender core of friendship and family resilience.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like standing on the sidelines of a high-stakes game, your heart pounding not just for the score, but for the kid wearing the jersey. It moves at a brisk, engaging clip, perfectly balancing the adrenaline of football with the quiet, heavy realities of middle-school life. The mood is a compelling mix of tense anxiety and heartwarming loyalty, as the narrative explores the crushing weight of financial insecurity and the fear of letting people down. Yet, it never loses its hopeful, earnest tone. The prose is accessible and direct, making the emotional beats hit just as hard as the sports action. It is a deeply comforting read for anyone who loves an underdog story where the true victory lies in showing up for the people you love.
- Mood
- tense
- heartwarming
- uplifting
- Tone
- earnest
- hopeful
- sympathetic
- encouraging
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the weight of expectations · power of friendship · overcoming adversity · financial anxiety · coping with disability
- The writing
- Accessible, action-oriented, and emotionally direct, balancing play-by-play sports excitement with tender interpersonal moments.
- The arc
- Moves from mounting anxiety and self-doubt under pressure to a triumphant, heartwarming realization of what truly matters.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who love sports but also appreciate stories about deep friendships and real-world family struggles.
Content notes
- financial hardship
- impending blindness
- parental job loss
About the book
What would you do with a million dollars, if you were 13? Nate Brodie is nicknamed "Brady" not only for his arm, but also because he's the biggest Tom Brady fan. He's even saved up to buy an autographed football. And when he does, he wins the chance for something he's never dreamed of—to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars. Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his job and his family is losing their home. It's no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So all Nate feels is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him. Even worse, his best friend Abby is going blind, slowly losing her ability to do the one thing she loves most—paint. Yet Abby never complains, and she is Nate's inspiration. He knows she'll be there when he makes the throw of a lifetime. Mike Lupica's latest sports novel is also his most heartwarming.
Description from Open Library.
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