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My earliest memory is of an afternoon in June. I was four years old, and I was in the backyard with my dad. He’d just bought me a purple and gold mini football, my first football. He’d marked off an area of our backyard with a white chalk line. “Here’s how it works, Mick. You try to run there,” he said, pointing behind the line, “and I try to stop you.” He shoved the mini football into the crook of my arm, led me to the far end of the yard, went back to the middle, got down on his knees, and yelled: “Go!”
I took off running toward the end zone. Our backyard is narrow, his arms are long, and even on his knees he could move fast enough to catch a four-year-old. Time after time I ran, trying to get by him. But he never let me have anything for nothing, not even then. Over and over he’d stretch out one of his arms and tackle me. Sometimes the tears would well up. “There’s no crying in football,” he’d say, which I guess is a joke from some Tom Hanks movie, and he’d send me back to try again.
And then I did it. I zigged when he was expecting a zag, and I was by him. I crossed the chalk line at the end of the yard, my heart pounding. I remember squealing for joy as I turned around. He was lying on the ground, arms reaching toward me, a huge smile on his face. “Touchdown Mick Johnson!” he yelled. “Your first touchdown!”
All those years, I believed that every kid in the neighborhood was jealous of me. And why not? I’d spent time at the houses of the boys on my block—Philip and Cory and Marcus. I’d seen their dads sprawled out on the sofa. Mostly they’d ignore me, but if they asked me something, it was always about school. I’d answer, and then they’d go back to their newspaper. These fathers drove delivery trucks or taught high school or worked in office buildings in downtown Seattle. They wore glasses, had close-cropped hair, and either had bellies or were starting to get them. Everything about them seemed puny.
My dad was bigger and stronger than any of them. His voice was deeper, his smile wider, his laugh louder. Like me, he has red hair, only his was long and reached his shoulders. He wore muscle T-shirts that showed his tattoos—on one shoulder a dragon, on the other a snake. He kept a keg of beer in the den, and whenever he filled his beer stein, he’d let me sip the foam off the top. The way he looked, the way he acted—those things alone put him a million miles above every other kid’s father. But there was one last thing that absolutely sealed the deal—my dad was a star.
Our den proved it. It was down in the basement, across from my mom’s laundry room, and it was filled with scrapbooks and plaques and medals. Two walls were covered with framed newspaper articles. It was the headlines of those articles that told his story. I used to go downstairs into the den, pick up one of the game balls that he kept in a metal bin in the corner, and walk around and read them, feeling the laces and the leather of the football as I read. Mike Johnson Sets High School Yardage Record . . . Mike Johnson Leads Huskies over USC . . . Mike Johnson Named to AllPac Ten First Team . . . Mike Johnson Selected in Third Round.
Sometimes my dad would come in while I was staring at the walls. He’d tell me about a touchdown run he’d made in a rainstorm against Cal or the swing pass in the Sun Bowl that he’d broken for sixty-five yards. When he finished with one of his stories, he’d point to the two bare walls. “Those are yours, Mick,” he’d say. “You’re going to fill them up with your own headlines.”
My mom had been a top gymnast at the University of Washington the same years my dad was on the football team. She runs around Green Lake every morning, and she used to do the Seattle-to-Portland bicycle race, so she knows all about competition. But every time she heard my dad talk about me making the headlines, she’d put her hands on my shoulders and look at me with her dark eyes. “You don’t have to fill any walls with anything,” she’d say. “You just be you.” Then she’d point her finger at my dad. “And you stop with all that ‘bare walls’ stuff.”
My dad would laugh. “A little pressure is good for a boy. Keeps him on his toes.”
Anonymous
Posted September 2, 2008
'Gym Candy' is a great book, especially for teens, and more so if the teen is in sports. This book is about a struggle to be the best. Mick Johnson, son of an NFL star, is a fantastic football player. His dad wants him to be in the NFL so bad. But when he struggles to be the best, who wouldn't do anything to overcome that obstacle. I recommend this book to anyone, because it is a great book.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 4, 2012
This book is very good i recomend this book to all ages 9 & up
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 17, 2012
Not a bad book to read if you are in or ever have played a sport
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book shows knowingness of the ability of how to write an intersting book. I first thought when I read this it would be good at most, but it blew away my expectations with its ability to picture the image in my head. I could see them on the weight bench with everyone standing around, going up and down with their 180's. One was draggor but I cant reacall the other ones name... Overall an amazing read and I would definately reconmend it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 1, 2012
Totally i read it in a book crazy right
MERMAID
Anonymous
Posted December 30, 2011
It is awesome
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Ravens27
Posted December 14, 2011
Book title and author: Gym Candy
Title of review: Gym Candy Review
Number of stars (1 to 5): 3
Introduction
When is the last time you read a book? This book is the longest book I have ever read! At 387 pages! The subject of football got my attention! It is a really good book!
Description and summary of main points
This book is about a football player, Mike,that is pressured into using steroids to get bigger so he can be a starting running back! He ends up getting the spot because the starting running back got caught smoking drugs!
Evaluation
I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next! I liked it when the team was down by a touchdown and they had the ball and he was running up the middle and got in the open field. I thought they were going to score. Then a guy came out of no where and got him. Then they lost!
Conclusion
If you like football books you will love this book!
Your final review
I gave this book 3 stars because this book shows you that you don¿t have to take steroids to have a starting spot on any sport!
By: Dyllan Wirth
Anonymous
Posted December 13, 2011
Read this now
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 9, 2011
:(
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Gym Candy
The book I'm reading is Gym Candy. I think the book Gym Candy is a great book for sports players. It tells how a running back needs to get bigger and stronger and how he does it. He works out then his trainer tells him about some stuff that would help him. The book Gym Candy is a very good book and I think a lot of people would like it.
2344258
Posted September 25, 2011
This book is beast :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.calogero
Posted August 1, 2011
Personally im an airhead when it comes to sports i have trouble relating to football terms they use... I really like this book has a plot & lesson to learn and its addciting from page one... I read this book beacuse i want to learn about football as a disbled person i feel clueless but i seriously want to know...
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.8337853
Posted July 28, 2011
Ive read many books and this is by far in my top 5. It us a amazing story line that teaches you a valuable lesson about life and has an ending that will blow your mind!!! A must read for all book lovers!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 13, 2011
This is a great story about a kid named Mick Johnson. He plays football and is great at it. His dad was a college football legend and when he got to the NFL he made mistakes. Mick also makes a huge mistake. Taking Steroids.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KK7L1
Posted June 13, 2011
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING, I REALLY LIKED IT. IT REALLY TAUGHT ME A LESSON OF BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. STERIODS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO BE BETTER AT FOOTBALL BUT IT CAN BE VERY HARMFUL. THIS BOOK WILL AND BE A BOOK THAT WILL BE HARD TO PUT DOWN, I LOVED IT, AND YOU WILL TOO...AND JESSE LOVED IT TOO.
SINCERLY MAYURA, AND JESSE
Anonymous
Posted May 12, 2011
The story is about a young boy named Mike Johnson who is in the ninth grade starting high school football and has a struggle to be the best. He wants to get bigger so he starts using protein shakes then when his father takes him to a new place to work out called popyes that's were young Mike Johnson finds out that protein shakes don't work. Mike's trainer said he needs to start using "gym candy" (steriods). Then Mike finds out the side effects on the pills. The setting is in a town called longshore in present day time.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 12, 2011
I've read a good book with the title of Gym Candy in an amazing football story about this boy named Mick Chambers and his dad wanting him to be a big shot.
The author of the book is Carl Dueker. He wrote this book to tell a life changing story. The characters of this story are Mick Johnson an his father who had the chance to go pro but went down the wrong path him an his father have a lot in common him an his father are running backs an Mick doesn't perform to the best of his abilities Mick's dad wants him to go pro but the way Mick's been playing he's not going to go. This book takes place in long shore at a public High school .Mick doesn't seem to get how good he is an hasn't been playing so good but he finds a way to keep his head up.
I felt that as a football player you will have your up and down times and Mick had those times. He found a way to appreciate the things he has and runs with it .This book is good for football players an can make you have an up lifting spirit.
8341624
Posted April 8, 2011
im only 12 years oold but i think gym candy is my favorite book ever
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 18, 2011
The book I read and am writing a review on is Gym Candy by Carl Dueker. This book was a great book, filled with action packed scenes on and off the field!
This story was about a boy, Mick Johnson, whose dad had a shot to be an NFL (National Football League) superstar and blew it by going down the wrong path. Mick is a high school football player and plays the same position as his dad used to play, running back. Mick wasn't performing the way he wanted to and decided to get on the "juice" (steroids). Mick's best friend, Drew, starts to get suspicious. Will he get caught?
One of the ways I can relate to Mick and Drew is because I played football. Even though I did not play quarter back or running back I played wide receiver. I liked this book because it was jammed full of a lot of interesting things.
I would definitely not recommend this book to everyone. The people that I would recommend this book is to people that enjoy watching, playing, and reading about sports. This book kept you wanting to keep reading and not put it down. It is full of excitement and really gets you into the game!
whoward111
Posted March 2, 2011
3-1-11
Gym Candy, a spontaneous and intriguing book by: Carl Deuker; who is an award winning author to six young adult books. He was also excelled in teaching for twenty years. This action book leaves you reaching for the next page as your eyes constantly roll back and forth from line to line; with an extravagant image being painted in your mind the entire read. Mick Johnson is the main focus point in this story. He is a starring running back athlete on the Shilshole High school football team, and dreams to become the best athlete on the team, if not the best on the high school field, the best on the national football fields. He was influenced by his father's plays. His father was his inspiration and had him throwing a football before he could even speak, literally. Mick has a true passion. His personal gym trainer may have influenced him into doing what he never imagined to ever do. He was sure other football players had done it too, and he was also sure that if he caught, he'd lose his opportunity on the Shilshole field, maybe even lose the chance of becoming the NFL star like his father did. He wants to beat out any competition on the team, and is willing to do the unthinkable to achieve it; but will he go too far? This book was a very intense read and had me thrilled to find out which road Mick takes. I didn't think too much about football before I read this book, being a girl, I never actually played on the field like Mick has; but the way that Deuker writes his detailed story of Gym Candy made me feel as if I was running on the field, throwing the passes and making every touchdown, and every crash to the ground. My favorite line within the book isn't the most straight forward line, but it definitely implies what the climax of the story will be about. "Look, Mick, he said, "you're going to find out from somebody in the gym, so you might as well find out from me. Those supplements you're taking? They might get you a little bigger, but just a little. If you're after serious results, there's other stuff that produces better results much faster, stuff that a lot of guys in the gym us." "What other stuff?" "You know what I'm talking about- gym candy." (p.145) That phrase caught my attention and dragged me through the rest of the book. The way its written is almost as if Deuker wants you to experience everything Mick was encountering, and feel all the emotions rushing through his body when he was on the field, or when he was approached by his personal trainer. I recommend this book to anyone who wants an action book that isn't dull in any part of the story. The dialogue is very entertaining and never leaves you confused, only anxious. Mick grows throughout the story and learns to make his own decisions for himself, as he learns about who he is and what he really wants. The story line of his life from when he was younger to when he's making a touchdown on the high school field is very realistic, and flows perfectly. The majority of the setting is placed on the field, gym, or at Mick's house. When the setting is being described your mind goes to work creating an image that sticks. Deuker exemplifies the field, with nothing, but green grass, adrenaline and power as Mick cuts through open holes, and shoves offenders off of his side so he can burst through the end zone and score a touchdown for his team. The way he describes Mick's feeling makes you feel it within yourself; especially when he enters the end zone when the stadium lights and
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Overview
Mick Johnson is determined not to make the same mistakes his father, a failed football hero, made. But after being tackled just short of the end zone in a big game, Mick begins using “gym candy,” or steroids. His performances become record-breaking, but the side effects are terrible: Mick suffers ’roid rage, depression, and body acne. Gym Candy’s subject matter is just as hard-hitting as its football scenes. You’ll find yourself unable to look away as Mick goes down a road that even he knows is the wrong one to travel.