Football Genius
by: Tim Green

Summary: Troy, a sixth-grader with an unusual gift for predicting football plays before they occur, attempts to use his ability to help his favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons, but he must first prove himself to the coach and players.

Author Web Site:  http://www.timgreenbooks.com

Teacher’s Guide:   LA Young Reader’s Choice Study Guides

Related Links:  Atlanta,  Georgia

50 Fun Things to Do in Atlanta
http://www.atlanta.net/50fun

Atlanta Falcons Web Site
http://www.atlantafalcons.com

Related Links:  Mathematics and Football

NCTM Illuminations:  Mathematics and Football Unit
http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L213
The activities in this unit  focus on connections between mathematics and football by using the Super Bowl.  Students apply math to  problems associated with “The Big Game.”  The activities involve number sense, geometry, measurement, statistics, estimations, and problem solving.

Read Aloud Recommendation: Students who are sports fans will love the subject matter  and the cinematic descriptions of games.  Others will just enjoy the fast-moving plot.  This is a great selection for a read-aloud.  I think that it would be especially fun to use in a mathematics class as part of a unit that focuses on connections between mathematics and football.

Sequel Available:

Football Champ: A Football Genius Novel