Making the Team — Stephanie Perry Moore

The Alec London Series is a series written for boys, 8 -- 12 years old. Alec London is introduced in Stephanie Perry Moore's previously released series, The Morgan Love Series. In this new series, readers get a glimpse of Alec's life up close and personal. The series provides moral lessons that will aid in character development teaching boys how to effectively deal with the various issues they face at this stage of life. The series will also help boys develop their English and math skills as they read through the stories and complete the entertaining and educational exercises provided at the end of each chapter and in the back of the book.

Alec London is a fourth grader whose world is spinning out of control. On the first day of fourth grade, Alec gets picked on by his classmate, Tyrod, because his dad is the schools new assistant principal. Alec, refusing to become the "principal's pet," attempts to fix things by lashing out at Tyrod. As a result he is sent to the principal's office where he receives a lecture on anger from his dad.

Alec finds himself struggling even more when his mom decides to move to L.A. to pursue an acting job, leaving her family behind. Alec is angry and sad and he feels betrayed by his mom for leaving him for a job. Alec's grandma moves in with them after his mother leaves to help keep the family going until she comes back. Alec is not happy with his mom's move or his grandma's move.

In an attempt to help lift Alec's spirit and encourage him to use his anger for something good, Alec's dad suggests that he try out for the school football team. When Alec makes the team, beating out his brother Antoine for a starting position, there is trouble. Antoine becomes jealous because Alec is not only doing better than him in school but now in football too. Dad steps in and makes the boys work things out. In the midst of trying to adjust to having his dad at school with him, Alec, out of frustration says he wishes his grandma was not there and then later she has a heart attack, Alec feels guilty. Through football, lessons from his father and the story of Joseph, Alec learns that God allows things to happen in people's lives to help them grow. He also learns how to trust and depend on God to work things out.