Feature Book of the Week #3 Unstoppable by Tim Green

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Feature Book of the Week
Unstoppable
by 
Tim Green

Inspired by interviews with real-life cancer survivors and insider sports experience, this unforgettable New York Times bestseller shows a brave boy who learns what it truly means to be unstoppable. As National Ambassador for Young People's Literature emeritus Jon Scieszka said, Unstoppable is "absolutely heroic, and something every guy should read."

If anyone understands the phrase "tough luck," it's Harrison. As a foster kid in a cruel home, he knows his dream of one day playing in the NFL is a longshot.

Then Harrison is brought into a new home with kind, loving parents—his new dad is even a football coach. Harrison's big build and his incredible determination quickly make him a star running back on the junior high school team. On the field, he's practically unstoppable. But Harrison's good luck can't last forever. When a routine sports injury leads to a devastating diagnosis, it will take every ounce of Harrison's determination not to give up for good.

A Guest Post From Author Tim Green


            As the author of many sports-based novels for early teen readers, my football stories are populated with NFL players, some real, some fictional. Part of the fun with these characters is that they have the mythical proportions of superheroes. We know NFL players are super strong, super fast, and super tough.


            Every NFL player has his own story about how tough he is. Mine was when I separated my collar bone from my sternum in a game against the 49ers. The doctors told me I wouldn’t be able to keep playing. The bone literally bulged out of my chest creating a pup tent of skin. I begged for a Novocain shot to numb the pain so I could play. Even though those kind of shots were given rather freely, they refused to give me one because the injection would have to be too close to my heart and lungs and they were worried I might actually die from such a shot.


            Well, I played anyway, without the shot. Every step I took sent shivers of pain through my chest. Getting hit in a football game was a fireworks display of agony.


            I thought I was pretty tough, doing this. But then, seven years ago, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. What I saw her go through, the mental, emotional, and physical pain in her fight to overcome that disease let me know that I wasn’t the toughest person in our house. She was. I was so impressed by her amazing determination and toughness that I wanted to write a story about it, about a cancer survivor.


            Through some friends I then met a man named Jeff Keith. In real life, when Jeff was a young athlete, he battled cancer and won, but the disease took his leg. Jeff had been an amazing athlete and almost everyone knew that his sports career was over. Not Jeff. He fought back and with the help of a prosthetic leg became a division one lacrosse player at Boston College. My book, Unstoppable, is based on Jeff’s amazing, heartwarming, gut-wrenching, and ultimately inspiring true story. I think will bring tears to every reader’s eyes. Not just tears for what he lost, but tears of joy for what he found.


            I hope you enjoy reading Unstoppable as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope most of all that you take a page out of Jeff Keith’s playbook and become unstoppable yourself, in everything you do.

About the Author

After studying writing at Syracuse University where he was an All American football player, Tim was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons where he was a top defensive player for eight years.
While Tim played in the NFL, he also studied law and began his writing career. By the time he retired from football in 1994, Tim had already published his first book and become a lawyer. In addition to those two jobs, he began working as a television broadcaster for FOX NFL Sunday and other shows, including Battlebots, Good Morning America, Court TV, A Current Affair, and most recently, Find My Family.
After writing more than a dozen books for adults, Tim began writing a series of novels for young readers set in a world of sports taken from his own experiences as an athlete and a coach. In the meantime, Tim has visited over 800 schools and spoken to more than 400,000 students across the United States about the importance of education and character, in addition to the joys and benefits of reading!
Tim serves on the board of the Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse, NY, as well as the National Writing Project. He lives with his wife, Illyssa, their five kids, and two dogs in Upstate New York. When Tim isn’t writing, he enjoys boating, fishing, hunting, reading, and spending time with his family and friends.
- See more at: http://timgreenbooks.com/meet-tim/about/#sthash.QYeFC0qp.dpuf
After studying writing at Syracuse University where he was an All American football player, Tim was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons where he was a top defensive player for eight years. - See more at: http://timgreenbooks.com/meet-tim/about/#sthash.QYeFC0qp.dpuf
 After studying writing at Syracuse University where he was an all American football player, Tim was drafted in the first round of the NFL by the Atlanta Falcons where he was a top defensive player for eight years.

While Tim played in the NFL, her studied law and began his writing career. By the time he retired from his football career in 1994, Tim had already published his first book and became a lawyer. In addition to those jobs, he also began working as a  broadcast journalist for Fox NFL  Sunday, and other shows including Battlebots, Good Morning America, Court TV, A Current Affair, and most recently, Find My Family.

After writing more than a dozen books for adults, Tim began writing a series of books for young adult readers set in the world of sports taken from his own experiences as an athlete, and coach.  In the meantime, Tim has visited over 800 schools and spoken to over 400,000 students across the United States about the importance of  education and character, in addition to the joys and benefits of reading! 

 Tim Green's  bio obtained from his website.

12 Delicious Comments:

Malik said...

This will be I a book I will have to have. I read the summary, and it was awesome! That is so cool how you were injured and still continued your dream. I've never known someone that would do that. You are a brave man for that. And, I love the Falcons. Go Atlanta! Malik, 7th grader from Lift for Life Academy

Micheal said...

I like your book because it is about football and football is my favorite sport. Also, it is about someone who believed in himself enough to keep trying. It also reminds me of when I play football. Micheal, 8th grader from Lift for Life Academy

Jordan said...

Tim Green, I love your work. Ever book you've made has caught my attention. I'm glad that Unstoppable is in the Book Battle. Your sport-themed books are amazing, and that's why you're my favorite author. Good luck with your future books. Jordan, 7th grader from Lift for Life Academy

Tylea said...

I like the idea of the book, Unstoppable. It sounds really interesting; it reminds me of a movie called The Blindside. It gives the message of never giving up on your dreams, and that after a storm a blessing is coming. It's a book of hope, and the background of this character wouldn't even seem like he could become a football star, but for him it happened. I love books with strong messages that set out an example. This book screams life. Tylea, 8th grader from Lift for Life Academy

Jermaine said...

It looks like I'm going to really enjoy this book. I love reading books with cancer survivors. I recommend this book to people with cancer, so they know they can do anything if they put their mind to it, and they know they can make it. Your book really touches me and inspires not only kids, but adults all over the world. Jermaine, 8th grader at Lift for Life Academy

Shamarr said...

This book reminds me of the NFL. Pressure, future decisions and being brave. It sounds like Dwayne Wade's biography. This book had me by the cover. If I was Harrison, I would make the same choices. I think I will love this book. Shamarr, 7th grader from Lift for Life Academy

Armira said...

This is a book I would read. It's about football, inspired by true events. I like how he used different real things that happened to him and others. His wife had cancer and so does the character in the book. He also writes about his injury in the NFL and another person who got an injury that for most people his career would be over, but he did another sport. Which to me is unstoppable. Armira, 7th grader Lift for Life Academy

Renee said...

This book sounds very interesting. Although, I found it unfair, and I disagreed with John Scieszka when he said, "Unstoppable is heroic, and something every guy should read." I felt that girls are able to do football, as well as boys. I became very interested in the author's journey. Not only his injury, but having to face his wife's battle with cancer. Renee, 7th grader from Lift for Life Academy

Shannon Steimel said...

This book is a great example of how you should never judge a book by its genre. It sounds like this book is so much more than sports fiction. With all of the negative examples in the news recently with NFL football players, Green's example is much needed! He is such a positive role model, not only for his sports career, but the way he has pursued law and writing as well after retiring from the NFL. Ms. Shannon Parker, Library Media Specialist, Lift for Life Academy

Shamarr said...

I think this would be the perfect book for me and anyone who lies football. This book reminds me when my coach broke his hand but still strived to play basketball. Harrison's braveness is also something I like. If I was Harrison, I would've done everything he did including the decisions he made. I think I will love this book. Shamarr, 7th grader from Lift for Life Academy

Unknown said...

This is a book that brings tears to your eyes as you watch Harrison's incredible journey unfold. His challenges will make any reader desperately root for him to succeed.


- Mr. Stephens, Lift for Life Academy

Brittany Woods Book Battle Team said...

This book was not a fan favorite for our team. We were mostly just sad that all of this horrible stuff kept happening to poor Harrison! We thought it was similar to One For the Murphys because of the foster care plot line, but Harrison definitely got dealt a worse hand than Carly. We liked Coach's character because he seemed to truly care about Harrison in a "tough love" kind of way.

 
Design by Use Your Imagination Designs All images from the Keeper Of Time kit by Studio Gypsy