Undercover Tailback by Matt Christopher Page A

in midair.
    Then he took off down the field. He was knocked offside by the tailback Lee Wasser, the only Piranha within range.
    The Kudzu offense took over with seconds left and let the clock run out. When the final whistle blew, the score stood Kudzus
     21-Piranhas 7.
    There was so much cheering and excitement in the locker room, Parker thought he’d never be able to get dressed and leave.
     Every time he turned around, someone would pour soda popall over him — as if it were the Super Bowl or something!
    But finally he managed to shower and escape along with Mitch, Cris, and Huey.
    “That was some game,” said Joni, catching up with them. “But what happened during the half? Did you try the envelope? Did
     it —”
    She was interrupted by the arrival of Melissa.
    “Parker, what’s wrong?” asked the shivering fifth grader. “Aren’t you freezing? You didn’t even play the second half! Did
     you break something?”
    “Oh, boy.” Cris laughed. “Here come’s a good one. Go ahead Parker, tell her how it was.”
    “Yeah,” added Huey. “I can’t wait to hear the Parker Nolan version.”
    “What are you guys talking about?” asked Joni.
    “Hold your horses, everyone,” said Parker. “There is only one story, and that’s the one I’m going to tell. You see, I did
     break something.”
    “You did?” they all asked at the same time.
    “Yep,” he admitted. “I broke something real bad. I broke my … my pattern.”
    “Your running pattern? Or your storytelling pattern?” asked Joni.
    “You can be sure it wasn’t my running pattern,” he said.
    “What, no more lies?” cried Melissa.
    “I don’t know what else I can say.” Parker smiled. “Except I’m freezing. Let’s go get some hot chocolate. I’ll treat.”
    “You heard him,” shouted Huey.
    “I’m a witness,” agreed Cris.
    “Hey, Melissa, do you have any money?” asked Parker in a loud whisper. “I’m broke.”
    Melissa looked over at Joni, who burst out laughing.
    Parker was standing behind his sister. In his hand, he was waving a five-dollar bill.

How many of these Matt Christopher sports classics have you read?
    Baseball Pals
    The Basket Counts
    Catch That Pass!
    Catcher with a Glass Arm
    Challenge at Second Base
    The Counterfeit Tackle
    The Diamond Champs
    Dirt Bike Racer
    Dirt Bike Runaway
    Face-Off
    Football Fugitive
    The Fox Steals Home
    The Great Quarterback Switch
    Hard Drive to Short
    The Hockey Machine
    Ice Magic
    Johnny Long Legs
    The Kid Who Only Hit Homers
    Little Lefty
    Lone Shot for Paul
    Long Stretch at First Base
    Look Who’s Playing First Base
    Miracle at the Plate
    No Arm in Left Field
    Red-Hot Hightops
    Return of the Home Run Kid
    Run, Billy, Run
    Shortstop from Tokyo
    Skateboard Tough
    Soccer Halfback
    The Submarine Pitch
    Supercharged Infield
    Tackle Without a Team
    Tight End
    Too Hot to Handle
    Touchdown for Tommy
    Tough to Tackle
    Undercover Tailback
    Wingman on Ice
    The Year Mom Won the Pennant
    All available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company
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    send a self-addressed, stamped business–size envelope to:
    Matt Christopher Fan Club
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    Boston, MA 02108

Undercover Tailback
    Parker Nolan is a notorious liar, so why should his teammates believe him when he claims he saw someone photographing football
     plays from the coach’s playbook? When Parker decides to investigate further, he’s forced to draw some unsavory conclusions
     about the identity of the thief — and about his own past actions. But with his reputation, can he convince his teammates of
     his findings in time to salvage the season?
    Matt Christopher is the writer young readers turn to when they’re looking for fast-paced, action-packed sports novels. A resident of South
     Carolina, he is the author of many books, among them
The Kid Who Only Hit Homers
. For a listing of all his titles and information on joining