Books for young adults by Carl Deuker
Available Now!
Audio version also available.
Laz has a major league arm, but how can he get a major league team to look at him?
Booklist--Starred Review of Golden Arm
Deuker's realistic novel pits poverty, friendship, teamwork, self-reliance, and supportive adults against wealth, privilege, overambition, and overbearing helicopter parents. Even readers who don't like baseball will be riveted to this human-interest, underdog story. J.B. Perry
GOLDEN ARM
Nominations and commendations
Bluegrass Award (Kentucky)
Sequoyah Book Award (Oklahoma)
Black-Eyed Susan Award (Maryland)
Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
Amazon Best Book April 2020
Junior Library Guild Selection
*****
"Deuker antes up the complexity of a formulaic plot by painting his characters in shades of gray. Richie Fang is stubbornly annoying, and he seems to beg for the role of victim; Hunter is becoming aware that he can't be a star QB without an equally talented receiver; Mr. Gates is discovering that there are aspects of his son's future he can't secure or control. Fans who count on Deuker to put a provocative spin on an already satisfying story won't be disappointed." Elizabeth Bush, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
Many thanks. This is a much better "book talk" than I could ever have done.
Carl Deuker describes in three minutes where the ideas for Gym Candy came from.
