Last Chance for First
by Tom Hazuka
by Tom Hazuka
LAST CHANCE FOR FIRST by Tom Hazuka
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 5/1/08
Publisher: Brown Barn Books
Reviewed by: hoopsielv
Rating: 4 Stars
“If the final score of a game is the most important part of a story, it’s not much of a story. That score only matters insofar as
it affects characters- why they care what the score is, ” says Robby’s creative writing teacher. Robby is in his junior year of
high school and believe his future depends on that final score.
In Tom Hazuka’s novel LAST CHANCE FOR FIRST, it appears on the surface that Robby’s having the perfect high
school experience: he’s a good student with a great soccer career ahead of him. However, he’s got to remain headstrong
with some tough challenges. His soccer coach is overpowering and takes things too far at practice. One of his teammates
makes a wrong choice one night and his actions affect the team’s chance for the championship. His girlfriend has some
secrets that she needs to reveal, and his parents constantly compare him to his older brother, who can do no wrong.
Robby has to step up and play the hardest game he’s ever played before: just making it through this year. He learns what
he really cares about and that the final score isn’t what truly matters.
This was a good first novel by Tom Hazuka. He creates realistic scenes that can happen in any high school. I look forward
to his future books.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 5/1/08
Publisher: Brown Barn Books
Reviewed by: hoopsielv
Rating: 4 Stars
“If the final score of a game is the most important part of a story, it’s not much of a story. That score only matters insofar as
it affects characters- why they care what the score is, ” says Robby’s creative writing teacher. Robby is in his junior year of
high school and believe his future depends on that final score.
In Tom Hazuka’s novel LAST CHANCE FOR FIRST, it appears on the surface that Robby’s having the perfect high
school experience: he’s a good student with a great soccer career ahead of him. However, he’s got to remain headstrong
with some tough challenges. His soccer coach is overpowering and takes things too far at practice. One of his teammates
makes a wrong choice one night and his actions affect the team’s chance for the championship. His girlfriend has some
secrets that she needs to reveal, and his parents constantly compare him to his older brother, who can do no wrong.
Robby has to step up and play the hardest game he’s ever played before: just making it through this year. He learns what
he really cares about and that the final score isn’t what truly matters.
This was a good first novel by Tom Hazuka. He creates realistic scenes that can happen in any high school. I look forward
to his future books.