Kid Owner by Tim Green

A 12-year-old inherits the Dallas Cowboys, leading to a unique set of challenges and opportunities for character growth.

Kid Owner, by Tim Green.  Harper, 2015, 325 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-15, especially boys

Talk about fantasy football! In Chapter One Ryan Zinna discovers his dad has just died–and Ryan didn’t even knew he had a dad.  But on top of that, the old man left him an NFL team.  Apparently his mother was married briefly in her pre-Ryan past but never said anything about it.  Of course, the inheritance is not that simple: there’s a wife #2 as well as a half-brother who also owns a share in the team, and apparently it was Dad’s idea to let the boys battle it out and the best son win.

Once past the far-fetchedness of it all, this is an entertaining look at the inner works of pro sports by someone who knows all about it.  The writing is a little awkward at times and the characterization uncertain—some figures, like Coach Hubbard, seem more like caricatures at first, but gain dimension as the story goes on.  Like all Tim Green’s novels for kids, this one scores for good sportsmanship, great football, and no bad language.  Ryan displays some realistic weaknesses but surprising character growth at the end.

Also by this author: Unstoppable

Overall Rating: 3.75 (out of 4)

• Worldview/moral value: 4
• Artistic value: 3.5