Payback Time

Payback Time by Carl Deuker (2010) is an intriguing young adolescent fiction novel that combines sports, mystery, and untold secrets. Mitch, a high school senior determined to make it as a big time reporter, stumbles upon a new football player, Angel. It is Mitch’s responsibility to cover all sporting events and write up reports for the school newspaper. He begins to notice a strange pattern, Angel is a phenomenal player but he continues to sit the bench. This mystery racks Mitch’s brain, and he and his photographer, Kimi, dig to find the truth. However, the truth only makes matters worse, putting Angel’s life in danger and inevitably Mitch’s life as well.