GYM CANDY

CARL DEUKER

• He mostly writes sports books.
• He is an award winning author of six young adult novels.
• He has been a teacher for 20 years.
• He lives in Seattle with his wife and daughter.

SUMMARY

• My book is about a kid named Mick who plays football.
• He is the running back for his school.
• He takes steroids because he wants to be the best.
• He tries to kill himself because he regrets taking the steroids.
• He doesn't die.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• "A little pressure is good for a boy. It keeps him on his toes" (page 6)
• Mick's father always pressures him because he wants him to be the best.
• "I ended up practicing every single day, just like my dad wanted, but I wasn't doing it because I thought I had a chance to start. I was doing it because I didn't know how else to play." (page 61)
• Mick practiced everyday because he knew it was for his own good.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• "As game time neared, a sense of power filled me. It started in the back of my head and spread like a wildfire until I felt as if I was going to explode." (page 69)
• Mick knew he had to give it his all when the game was about to end.
• "Why had I failed? Why had I come up a foot short? You don't have the talent, a voice whispered -my voice" (page 82)
• Mick knew he had to get stronger to get that extra yard.

LESSON LEARNED

• I learned that if you want to be the best you can be, don't take steroids.
• You have to work for it.
• You don't want to be a cheater.

REVIEW

• I would give Gym Candy a 10.
• It's the best book I ever read.
• If you like football, I recommend reading this book.