Drew Brees. (Superstars!). Adam Boehler & Sabrina Crewe. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2013. 32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-7629-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-7616-1 (RLB). Subject Headings: Brees, Drew, 1979- -Juvenile literature. Quarterbacks (Football)-United States-Biography-Juvenile literature. New Orleans Saints (Football team)-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-6 / Ages 8-11. Review by Dave Jenkinson. ** /4

excerpt:

$100 Million Man

In July 2012, Drew Brees set a record of a different kind. He signed a five-year, $100 million dollar contract with the New Orleans Saints. After receiving $40 million in 2012, Drew is guaranteed another $60 million over the life of the contract. That sum is the largest ever guaranteed to a player in the history of the NFL.

To this point, the subjects of Crabtree's "Superstars!" series have been largely drawn from the singing and acting segments of the American entertainment world. Now, Drew Brees, the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, joins basketball star Steve Nash in representing the superstars of the US professional sports world. Like most biographies for the young, Drew Brees is laudatory in tone and employs a largely chronological approach. The relatively brief text, which is most generously illustrated with colour photos, makes good use of quotes from sources such as Brees' teammates and his wife, Brittany, as well as numerous excepts from Brees' autobiography, Coming Back Stronger.

      Apart from the record-setting contract cited in the excerpt, Brees' superstar status derives from his leading the Saints to their first (and only} Super Bowl win in 2010, his setting an NFL season record both for passing yards and most completions, and for breaking a half century old record for the highest number of consecutive games in which a quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass, The latter portion of the text deals with Brees' charitable endeavors, especially those in the New Orleans area.

      The book concludes with a one-page "Timeline" that begins with Brees' birth on January 15, 1979, and ends with his October 7, 2012, record-breaking consecutive game touchdown pass. Nineteen terms are defined in the one-page "Glossary" that follows while a "Find Out More" page lists two books, four websites and Brees' Twitter address. The book's final page contains an "Index" and brief biographical information on the co-authors.

      Purchasing biographies for school and public libraries is always a challenge as many of today's superstars often resemble super novas that burn very brightly for a brief period of time before fading from view. After signing his huge contract, Brees had a losing season in 2012, and the New Orleans Saints didn't even make the playoffs. Evidently, football, in the form of the NFL, is the most popular spectator sport in the United States, but it certainly trails hockey in Canada.

Recommended with reservations.

Dave Jenkinson, CM's editor, lives in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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