50. Juice by Eric Walters

Walters, Eric. Juice. Orca Books, 2005. ISBN 9781551433516.

Plot Summary
Moose is the star of the football team. When Coach Reeves retires he is replaced by Coach Barnes and his assistant, Tony. They arrive with a tough new training program and soon it become clear they will do anything to get the team to win. This includes mixing drinks that are laced with anabolic steroids. Moose and his teammates improve their performances but it comes at a cost. When Coach Reeves' secret is revealed, Moose and his teammates much decide what is wrong and what is right and how far they are willing to go to be the best.

Critical Evaluation
Juice is a story about the high school sports and steroid use. The book is written with a simple plot and straightforward approach which makes it an easy read especially for teen boys who are reluctant readers. They will be drawn in by the sports theme and competitive action. Moose is the popular player who all the other boys look up to. He is a character that can be found in any school in America which makes him easy to relate to. Juice is not the most complicated story as far as plot and character development so keep in mind that it would make a great addition to any collection trying to include books for the reluctant reader.

Reader's Annotation
After a new football coach arrives at their school, the football team struggles with using steroids to compete.

About the Author
Eric Walters was born in Toronto in 1957. In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people - the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives. Walter's novels have won more than 80 awards including eleven separate children's choice awards. He is the only three time winner of both the Ontario Library Association Silver Birch and Red Maple Awards - in which over 125,000 students participate and vote for the winners.

Genre/Subgenre
Contemporary Life/ Sports

Curriculum Ties
Health Education

Booktalking Ideas
1) How far would you go in order to win a game?
2) Is being part of team more important than doing the right thing?
3) If you knew a trusted adult was doing something illegal would you tell someone?

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+
Reluctant readers

Challenge Issues
Steroid use

Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Juice-Orca-Soundings-Eric-Walters/dp/1551433516
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.

Why Included in Titles Selected
Reluctant readers; books for teenage boys