Believe: The Victorious Story of Eric LeGrand Young Readers' Edition

by Eric LeGrand, Mike Yorkey

Overview

Believe is the profoundly moving story of Eric LeGrand, the former defensive tackle for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights football team, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was left paralyzed by a crushing on-field tackle during a heated game with Army. A remarkable true account of a courageous young athlete whose unshakable faith, spirit, positive outlook, and rousing motto, “BELIEVE!” would serve as inspiration to legions of fans—and as motivation in his own quest to walk again—Eric’s story has received national attention, heavily covered by ESPN and Sports Illustrated. It will lift the hearts of every reader, not least of all those who were affected by quarterback Tim Tebow’s bestselling memoir, Through My Eyes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062225849
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/25/2012
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	763,763
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Eric LeGrand is a student at Rutgers University and a former defensive lineman and special teams player for the Scarlet Knights. Eric is an honorary member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he has received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award during ESPN's annual ESPY awards show.

Mike Yorkey is a veteran writer with more than seventy books under his belt, including the Playing with Purpose and Every Man's Battle series.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 6 Up—LeGrand relates events that might be considered tragic, but his story is inspirational. From his days as a restless kid who dreamed of playing in the big leagues, through to his high school days, he was a notable all-around athlete. The Rutgers University football coach courted him when he was just a high school freshman. His athleticism attracted the attention of scouts from major division schools throughout the country, and he received 50 to 100 recruitment letters every day. Only his grades fumbled, but the young man was determined. With the support of a tutor, he pulled his grades and SAT scores out of the dumps. With the endorsement of Rutgers coach Greg Shiano, he pursued his goal and became a part of the team. And then during a pivotal play in his junior year, the dream ended. LeGrand dove for a tackle, his helmet collided with the collarbone of another player, and his spinal cord absorbed the full impact. He broke his neck and crushed two vertebrae. Despite how broken his body was, his spirit hardly wavered. He describes two years of a changed life, daily intensive rehab therapy, and his new goal: walking. Football fans will welcome the detailed descriptions of LeGrand's time on the field. With faith and perseverance, he continues to push himself beyond overwhelming odds.—Alison Follos, formerly at North Country School, Lake Placid, NY

School Library Journal