WRONG-WAY NEELEN

Mr. Keating, author of Runner-Up (1961, p. 619, J-219) and other outstanding sport stories for teen age boys, writes with equal ease about the thrilling action of a football game and the off-the-grid action in a high school senior's days. Monty Neelen not much with the girls, was best kicker for Westfield's varsity team. In what he thinks is his last game (his family plans to move to Denver, but plans are changed), Monty suddenly finds himself with the ball, and runs the wrong way, making points for the wrong team. His friends, especially Les Werner, fellow ball player, tease him for a while, and dob him ""Wrong Way"". The author's handling of Monty's struggles and shortcomings, and his slow triumph, is highly realistic. ""Wrong Way"" becomes captain of the baseball team and gets into a college, but never captures the pretty girls, who are too busy following Les Werner and Monty's younger brother. A satisfying, solid book.