I loved Payback Time. It's surprisingly more than a sports book. It's also a mystery with the character Mitch doing great detective work. The football scenes will still leave guys interested, but I think the mystery will leave all readers entertained. Anyone who enjoys writing will also enjoy this book because Mitch is a newspaper reporter who spends the book trying to do his best to write a good newspaper story - even if it puts him in danger. This includes going into rough neighborhoods, getting beat up, nearly getting killed, and getting himself in hot water with his teachers. Some could argue that it wraps up a little too neatly in the end and that it isn't a perfect book, but to me it's miles ahead of most young adult sports or mystery fiction. I definitely recommend it.

High school budding journalist transitions from Fat Boy Mitch to young adult. Deals with mysterious football player. The truth unravels and Mitch makes adult choices with other people's best interests at heart. He didn't want to tear Angel's world to pieces because of a gang. He forgoes career and college opportunity because he thought it would be unethical.

Very good book. I loved how an over-weight high school news reporter gets moved from head writer to sports reporter. He falls in love with a girl and tries to loose weight all when they are trying to figure out about a mysterious new boy that is good at football but has to hide it. I really recommend to read this book.