I have many students that enjoy sports books, however, there is very little difference between any of Tim Green's books. They are so alike that students get the stories and characters confused with one another.

Final Season, by Tim Green, is a departure from what I typically read, but as a middle school teacher I’m always on the hunt for good books for my students--all of my students. Final Season is definitely a novel that will interest my students looking for sports books. But it is so much more than sports.

Tim Green, a former NFL player, wrote the novel that is not quite autobiographical and not quite a memoir. Truthfully, I don't know how to classify it, but that doesn’t really matter. It is a novel based on real life, but with changes made. Ben, a 6th grader, is used to being coached by his father and two all-star football player brothers. In fact, they refer to themselves as the Four Brothers. When Ben’s father is diagnosed with ALS, the entire family’s lives change, including Ben’s mom’s feelings about football--which could have very well caused Coach Redd’s ALS. So Ben faces his father’s declining health, his mother’s insistence that this be Ben’s last year of football, and Ben’s own feelings and indecision about football all while attempting to lead his team to the championship.

Final season is an exciting and often emotional read. It is perfect for fans of Mike Lupica and suitable for students as young as 5th through 8th grade. For me, I got bogged down in the football jargon during the chapters with the games, but I was able to make my way through and not miss any important parts. While this was a departure for me, I’m glad I took it.

In Final Season, Tim Green basically recounts his final year of coaching his own son through a heavily influenced fictional story. Living with ALS, Tim Green is an inspiration to millions. This book is special because it is so real.

Benjamin Redd is the next in line to be a star quarterback after his two older brothers who are now serving as assistant coaches under their head coach father. Everything seems set for a huge season, but the family and team's world is rocked when Ben's dad is diagnosed with ALS. While Ben's dad feels he needs to hide the real reason he shakes and his speech has become consistently slurred, it becomes increasingly obvious to everyone that something is seriously wrong. Ben's dad is determined to fight through ALS for his family and his team, wanting to teach them some final lessons as they try for the season championship. The only question left is: Will Ben's dad live long enough to see the end of the season?

Because this book is based on true events, I found myself near tears at times. I have read a bunch of Tim Green Books- they're all good- but this might be his greatest accomplishment. I highly recommend everyone find it and read it!

After you get past the fact that this book is about some extremely privileged people (5 Xboxes, two jet skis, live on a huge lake, no worries about money for restaurants or anything else), it becomes a good story. Luckily, the characters are strong and upstanding people who want to do the right thing. Readers will gain some background knowledge into ALS. LOTS of football plays for those who love to read about that; a strong female character rounds out the story nicely. This story could have been about bullying, could have been about sexism, could have been about the dangers of contact sports, could have been about family relationships, could have been about facing terminal illness, could have been about a young man with his first girlfriend. Instead, it was about all of these things.

I've read several books by this author and have always enjoyed everything I've read, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I must say it didn't disappoint. This book was easy to read and fast paced and kept me wanting to read more. Even though this is a "kids" book I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book.

Benjamin Redd is an athlete through and through just like the rest of his family. His brothers were all-star college players, his sister excels at lacrosse, and his father a former NFL player. Ben plays several sports, but football is his first love- the game that he knows will carry him through high school and college when the time comes. His whole world is rocked though when his father is diagnosed with ALS- a condition the doctors are attributing to his head-crushing football career. Ben's mom immediately insists that Ben quit playing football while his father insists that Ben isn't at high risk at his young age and quarterback position. Ben is torn between the two sides, but more than anything he is devastated that his father is deteriorating quickly and doesn't understand why everyone else seems to be downplaying his condition.

Tim Green pulls from his own experience with ALS and his family to write Final Season. Final Season didn't feel as polished to me as many of Green's other books. It seems to be driven by Green's emotions as he puts what is largely autobiographical onto paper. Though I think it is lacking something, it is well worth putting in my middle-grade library. It fits well into the conversation about the risks included in football and about concussions and introduces readers to ALS and how it can impact the body.

Ben and his friends are coached by Ben’s dad and his older brothers. As they focus on trying to get to the championship, Ben’s dad is diagnosed with ALS. To make matters worse, a girl, Thea, joins the team. Ben’s dad tells the team not to judge even if people are different and that they should be kind, tolerant. As time passes, they realize Thea really knows football thanks to her older brothers. As Ben’s dad gets worse, can they make it to the championship? Great football book by Tim Green, a former football player who was also diagnosed with ALS.