FRANKLIN LIVING SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

With football season now on in full force, fans who are also literary-minded might enjoy a seasonal read that includes the gridiron sport in its storyline. Northwest-Shoals Community College library director Lori Skinner has these titles to recommend:

“Newton’s Football: The Science Behind America’s Game”

By Allen St. John and Ainissa Ramirez

If you have ever wondered what Vince Lombardi has in common with Isaac Newton, we have the book for you. “Newton’s Football: The Science Behind America’s Game” by Allen St. John and Ainissa Ramirez is a clever and accessible look at the science of football. Filled with funny and insightful stories told by some of the world’s sharpest minds, this will be great for fans of “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” by Michael Lewis.

“Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream”

and

“The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II”

By Buzz Bissinger

No list of great football reads would be complete without Buzz Bissinger’s “Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream.” This modern classic charts the 1988 Permian High School football season as the team makes an attempt to win a state football championship. Also by Bissinger, “The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II,” is a true story recounting the football game that occurred between the 4th and 29th Marine regiments in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and the aftermath of war. Of the 65 players, many were former All-Americans, captains from Wisconsin, Brown, Notre Dame and nearly 20 men who were either drafted or would play in the NFL.

“When the Men Were Gone”

By Marjorie Herrera Lewis

Marjorie Herrera Lewis’ “When the Men Were Gone” is a historical novel based on the true story of Tylene Wilson, a female football coach in 1940s Texas. When World War II calls the men of Brownwood, Texas, Tylene faces intense opposition to become a football coach in the hopes of keeping her students from choosing to join the Army and go to war. Considered one of the best books of 2019, this one is full of courage and perseverance.

“Football Genius”

By Tim Green

New York Times best-selling author and former NFL player Tim Green kicks off his series for younger football fans with “Football Genius,” in which 12-year-old Troy White has an amazing gift: He can predict football plays before they happen. When his mom gets a job working for the Atlanta Falcons, he and his friends devise a plan to get the attention of the star linebacker to show the Falcons how useful his skill would be for the team. Definitely grab this one for your young football fans to devour between practices and games. 

“It Had to Be You”

By Susan Elizabeth Phillips

If football isn’t really your thing, but a great romance novel is, be sure to check out the international bestseller “It Had to Be You,” by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. When gorgeous Phoebe Somerville inherits the Chicago Stars football team from her estranged father, sparks fly. While full of humor and flirty scenes, this one has in-depth storylines that examine deeper issues of trust.  

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Lori Skinner is the head librarian for Northwest Shoals Community College. She can be contacted at 256-331-6288 or lori.skinner@nwscc.edu. NW-SCC Libraries are open to the public and look forward to serving your library needs. The library now has an app, Librista, available on android and Apple devices.