Muckers - TLC Booktours

~ I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author to facilitate this review.  I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis (from Amazon): Former ESPN sportscaster Sandra Neil Wallace (wife to Knopf author Rich Wallace) makes her young adult novel debut with a historical fiction story that is equal parts Hoosiers and October Sky. Felix O'Sullivan's world is crumbling around him: the mine that employs most of town is on the brink of closing, threatening to shutter the entire town. And Felix, or Red, after his fire-colored hair, will be one of 24 students in the final graduating class of his local high school. But Red's got his own burdens to bear: his older brother, Bobby, died in the war, and he's been struggling to follow in his footsteps ever since. That means assuming Bobby's old position as quarterback, and leading the last-ever Muckers team to the championship. Maybe then his angry, broken-hearted father will acknowledge him, and they'll be able to put Bobby's death behind them. 

But the only way for the hardscrabble Muckers team to win State is to go undefeated, and tackle their biggest rival, Phoenix United, which would be something of a miracle. Luckily, miracles can happen all the time on the field. Fans of Friday Night Lights and Tim Tharp's Knights of the Hill Country will take to this enthralling story of a town rallying together to turn a tragedy into a triumph. 

My Review: 

One (or more) Sentence Summary: A small mining town football team beats all odds to win the state title; straight out of Hoosiers.  It has all the elements of the David vs. Goliath scenario, without over-blowing the adversity that the team goes through.  Add in elements of romance to keep the readers wondering and it has everything to like in a story.  Sandra Neil Wallace captivates her audience as the Muckers prevail in the end.

Setting:  A small mining town, which is just perfect for this book.  See the trailer above!

Fast read/slow read:  Muckers is a very quick read and builds drama as the story goes.

Cover:  So perfect for the book - loved it!

What Others Are Saying:  THE BULLETIN, November 2013:
"Wallace makes [her characters] live and breathe through careful attention to the quotidian details of local geography and universal motivators—guilt, friendship, spite, encouragement, anger, and talent."

Would I Read Other Books by the Author:  Absolutely!  My husband enjoyed it too!

Meet the Author: Sandra Neil Wallace was a news journalist and ESPN sports announcer for more than 15 years before leaving television to write novels. She lives with her husband, author Rich Wallace, and their shelter dog, Lucy, in New Hampshire. Her first novel, Little Joe, was released by Knopf in 2010.

Connect: You can connect with Sandra online, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Purchase it:  You can buy Muckers online at Amazon for $16.99 ($7.99 Kindle version)

TLC Book Tour:  Please check out the other reviews on Mucker's TLC Book Tour.  I am sure you will find some great blogs to follow too!

Monday, October 28th:  A Blighted One

Tuesday, October 29th:  Seaside Book Nook

Wednesday, October 30th:  Knowing the Difference

Monday, November 4th:  No More Grumpy Bookseller

Tuesday, November 5th:  Teena in Toronto

Thursday, November 7th:  Reading Lark

Monday, November 11th:  Fiction Addict

Tuesday, November 12th:  Sarah’s Book Shelves

Thursday, November 14th:  Sweet Southern Home

Friday, November 15th:  The Daily Mayo

Monday, November 18th:  Lavish Bookshelf

Wednesday, November 20th:  Books a la Mode

Monday, November 25th:  Patricia’s Wisdom