• Age: 10 to 13
• Grade: 4 to 8
• Reading age: 7 to 10

Growing up above his parents' Chinese family restaurant in Sexsmith, Alberta, Warren Chen has always dreamed of being a football star. At 90 pounds and five feet tall, he's not exactly built like a linebacker, but even short kids from tiny towns have big dreams. At first the coach is reluctant to even let him try out, but soon he sees Warren's strengths -- he is small, slippery, and no one can catch him. Warren is named the team's new running back.

In their first game of the season, the Sexsmith Shamrocks face their biggest rivals, Grande Prairie. In a breathtaking dash along the sideline, Warren reaches the end zone to score the game-winning touchdown -- almost. But Warren celebrates anyway, and the referee buys it. Sexsmith's losing streak is broken, and Warren has proven himself worthy to be on the team, a genuine football star! But he knows it's not quite the truth, and sooner or later, someone will find out. Warren has to decide whether to come clean and cost his school the victory, or continue living the smalltown football dream.

Steven Sandor is a veteran and somewhat grumpy sports and music journalist. He spent seven years working with the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. The former editor-in-chief of Edmonton's Vue Weekly, Steve is now a senior editor with 24 Hours in Toronto. His work has appeared in magazines and newspapers in Canada, the US, the UK, Hungary and the Czech Republic. He enjoys writing about sports that have goals—hockey and soccer. Steve enjoys spending as much time as he can with his wife and son, and making strange electronic music. He supports Arsenal. For more on Steve please visit www.stevensandor.com or read his blog at www.blog.canoe.ca/thefull90.

Steven Sandor's profile page

"This is a well-written story about how sports can inform so many other areas of life, as Warren makes new friends, meets girls, and finds new common ground as he teaches his father about the game. Recommended for football fans, or anyone who wishes they knew more about the sport."

Rated G, good, even great at times, generally useful!

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"Sandor's experiences as a sportswriter and broadcaster are evident, creating an authentic basis for the story line. He effectively weaves strong life lessons about winning, losing, and fair play into Warren's story in a manner that is subtle and highly engaging."

Booklist (U.S.)

"In a well-written and compelling story, Sandor quietly explores ideas on how important pro sports are to our world and how the win-at-all-costs attitude can have a negative effect on children."

GigCity.ca news magazine

"the characters that readers encounter in Replay are refreshingly individual, and the story proceeds in a natural manner. . . the book shows the reader glimpses of many aspects of Warren's life: his relationship with his parents and sister, his work in the family restaurant, and his attitude in class and towards homework, all of which help readers to identify with Warren and follow his actions from a closer distance. Important themes in the book include teamwork, integrity, trying your best, responsibility, and (familial) love, which are all integrated into the story in such a way that the reader never feels preached at, or squirmy with embarrassment." Highly Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials