Pop - by Gordon Korman (Paperback)

About the Book

After moving to a new town, Marcus strikes up a friendship with Charlie Popovich, a former pro football player. As the two grow closer, Marcus learns that Charlie has early onset Alzheimer's disease as a result of suffering head injuries during his career.

Book Synopsis

Pop delivers suspense, humor, sports action, and a compelling look at the damage those "pop"s in football can cause

Gordon Korman's books appeal to a wide range of kids and adults and can pull in even reluctant readers. Share Pop in your home or classroom; sports fans in particular won't be able to put it down.

When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up a friendship with a man named Charlie, the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out that Charlie is Charlie Popovich, or "the King of Pop," as he'd been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker.

Charlie turns out to be a prankster, and his actions get Marcus in trouble. He's also the father of the quarterback at Marcus's new school--who leads the team in icing out the new kid.

The story of a good kid's struggle to land on his feet in a new town after his parents split up combines with compelling sports action and even some romance in Gordon Korman's Pop.

From the Back Cover

When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an older man. Charlie is a charismatic prankster--and the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out that Charlie is actually Charlie Popovich, or "the King of Pop," as he had been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker. But that's not all. There is a secret about Charlie that his own family is desperate to hide.

When Marcus begins school, he meets the starting quarterback on the team: Troy Popovich. Right from the beginning, Marcus and Troy disagree--about football, about Troy's ex-girlfriend, Alyssa, but most of all, about what's good for Charlie. Marcus is betting that he knows what's best for the King of Pop. And he is willing to risk everything to help his friend.

Review Quotes

"Funny, poignant and full of football action, POP hits you hard and doesn't let up." - Tim Green, author of the New York Times bestselling Football Genius and Football Champ
"A brisk, heartfelt and timely novel." - New York Times Book Review
"Korman goes straight to the heart." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Thought-provoking." - Publishers Weekly
"Fantastic...Perfectly captures the football experience." - Newsday
Praise for SUPERGIFTED: "Humorous, relatable, and full of heart, Korman's gift for understanding the middle school mind is on full display." - School Library Journal
Praise for MASTERMINDS: "This tense, fast-paced story will have readers racing toward the cliffhanger ending." - Kirkus Reviews
Praise for MASTERMINDS: "This unique and action-packed story is filled with twists and turns that readers will not see coming. A wonderful start to what promises to be a thrilling series." - School Library Journal
Praise for UNGIFTED: "Touching, without being overly sentimental, Ungifted is a gem for readers looking for a story where the underdog comes out on top." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Praise for UNGIFTED: "From its lovable-robot jacket art to its satisfying conclusion, this will please Korman's fans and win him new ones." - ALA Booklist
Praise for UNGIFTED: "Donovan has a goofy kindness that charms characters and readers alike ... The message is tolerance, and Korman expertly and humorously delivers it in an unpretentious and universally appealing tale." - School Library Journal
Praise for UNGIFTED: "Funny and insightful." - Publishers Weekly
Praise for MASTERMINDS: CRIMINAL DESTINY: "Packed with enough thrilling action and suspense to keep the pages turning...[a] highly entertaining series." - Booklist
Praise for MASTERMINDS: "A terrific page-turner. Full of unexpected twists and revelations. Buckle up." - James Patterson
Praise for MASTERMINDS: "Masterminds is a masterpiece-a mind-bending adventure in a shocking but all-too-possible present, a tale of friendship and ultimate sacrifice with characters who will reach inside you and not let go. It's that rare book that scares you to the core while you're laughing your head off. Warning: Reading this book while trying to do anything else is dangerous-it's that good. I can't wait to know what happens next." - Peter Lerangis, bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series
Praise for MASTERMINDS: "Masterminds takes readers on a wild ride with terrific humor, a surprising mystery, and characters you can't help but root for." - Brandon Mull, New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven series and the Five Kingdoms series
Praise for MASTERMINDS: "[A] compelling, twisty mystery . . . [with] a truly gratifying payoff" - Booklist (starred review)
Praise for MASTERMINDS: "This tense, fast-paced story will have readers racing toward the cliffhanger ending." - Publishers Weekly
Praise for SUPERGIFTED: "Managing a large cast of characters with ease, Korman creates a comedy of compounded errors leading to a public disaster and, strangely enough, a happy ending." - Booklist
Praise for SUPERGIFTED: "Another chortleworthy outing from Korman." - Kirkus Reviews
Praise for MASTERMINDS: PAYBACK: "Packed with surprising twists, high-speed chases, and plenty of near misses." - Kirkus Reviews
Praise for MASTERMINDS: PAYBACK: "Korman's action-packed caper series comes to a satisfying close...with a masterful balance of humor, thought-provoking questions, and adventure" - Booklist
Praise for MASTERMINDS: CRIMINAL DESTINY: "A thrilling and fun series perfect for middle grade adventure seekers" - School Library Journal
Praise for MASTERMINDS: CRIMINAL DESTINY: "Cat-and-mouse chase scenes deliver thrills...Volume 3 can't get here soon enough." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books