Heather M. O'Connor

The fast-paced writing has enough soccer action to keep reluctant readers turning the pages, and the gambling intrigue, along with a side plot involving a new player on Jack’s team, adds to the increasing conflict… The tone, dialogue, and emotional stakes ring true. A solid pick for hi-lo sports fiction.

Booklist

Betting Game easily captivated my interest with its action and suspense and honest teen characters… The kind of read that will grip both sports fans and reluctant readers.

CanLit for LittleCanadians

Tight and authentic sports action combined with engaging characters make this title great for sports fans as well as readers who enjoy action and drama.

School Library Journal

A fast paced, entertaining read that will really appeal to all soccer players, both boys and girls, especially those struggling to sustain a reading habit.

Resource Links

O'Connor deals with topics that would be well worth discussing with almost any teen: the value of team-work; honesty; and ethics. I will certainly include Betting Game in our curriculum resource collection and would recommend it for other school libraries as well. **** /4 Highly Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

O’Connor will keep the game’s fans close with plenty of in-the-know soccer patter, but she will also draw other readers with the story of Jack’s slow absorption into a gambling… Hard-hitting…and as memorable as a prison tour for young men who think crime is a sport and a joke.