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Gym Candy

by Carl Deuker (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 2,199 ratings · 436 reviews

�Look, Mick,” he said, �you’re going to find out from somebody in the gym, so you might as well find out from me. Those supplements you’re taking? They might get you a little bigger, but just a little. If you’re after serious results, there’s other stuff that produces better results much faster, stuff that a lot of guys in the gym use.” �What other stuff?” �You know what I...more

Hardcover, 313 pages

Published September 3rd 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

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Dec 04, 2008 Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sports lovers ( preferably Football lovers)

Recommended to Anderson by: No one i found it one day just looking around

Nick Anderson

Mrs. Baltz

Pre-AP English 10

5 December 2008

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

All his life Mick Johnson has lived and breathed football. He has dreams of one day being like his dad and being the superstar. His dad has been workin with him since he was four, taking him to all the best camps, teaching him the best moves, and teaching him the most important thing; there is no crying in football.

Mick starts his career playing pop warner football when he is little. He goes through his early life...more

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Apr 20, 2009 Dale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As you can tell I basically only read sports books. Mainly by Carl Deuker.
This book is the best book I have ever read. Mick Johnson started kindergarden late so he is a year older than everyone. His dad was a great running back in college but then screws everything up in the NFL. Mick's dad tells him that he didnt play in the NFL because of some ankle injury. Mick decides to look on the internet to see if his dad is telling the truth. Mick finds out he wasn't. There is a gym called Popeye's and...more

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May 02, 2013 Caitlin rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is a kid named Mick he was born with football in his blood. He was tall, has brown hair, and is one of those kids that was considered to be a jock. Mick lived in Colorado. He was always waiting for the next season and the next touchdown that he was going to make. The only thing that he didn't have was the strength and all of his coaches told him that. He kept working really hard and his coaches gave him the chance to play at the last game, and of they won his team would be named the champ...more There is a kid named Mick he was born with football in his blood. He was tall, has brown hair, and is one of those kids that was considered to be a jock. Mick lived in Colorado. He was always waiting for the next season and the next touchdown that he was going to make. The only thing that he didn't have was the strength and all of his coaches told him that. He kept working really hard and his coaches gave him the chance to play at the last game, and of they won his team would be named the champions. At the last quarter they were down by a couple of points and if Mick made the goal they would win, but if he didn't get the goal his team would go home with nothing. Mick gets the ball and runs to the goal but all of the sudden, the defense guy comes racing after him, Mick just needed to get further, but he could feel himself falling. Their team lost the game and Mick was so disappointed.
The next season came by and Mick's dad told him that his work now owned this new gym, so he could go there and workout and get stronger. So the next day Mick shows up there and he meets his trainer Peter. Peter talked about what Mick would be doing and what days he would be there. Mick wasn't sure that he liked Peter so he didn't show up until a week later. Peter said that they should go next door and talk, so they went to the other store and they got to know each other. Mick told Peter how the last game ended, and he told him that he thought the guys on the other team were on steroids. Weeks had gone by and Mick was trying to get stronger, but he wasn't. Peter told him about these pills that you could take to get stronger, but they were steroids. Mick gets stronger while he was taking the pills, but they were making his body do weird things. So mick asked of there were anything else that wouldn't make his body do that and Peter told him that there were these shots that you would take, Mick didn't know if he should take them but then he decided if it would help him with football, he would do it. The team was at the final game and Mick kept scoring touchdowns and their team was up. The last seconds of the game the other team didn't score so that meant that Mick and his team won. But at the last quarter Mick had to take the steroids so he would be ready and his best friend asked him what he was doing. Well his friend found the steroids and mick shot himself, then he had to go to rehab. I thought that the book was very good and it told a life lesson that people should know. I would recomend this book to a kid that likes football, or a person that likes a story that you can learn something from. The conflict in they book was that Mick was taking steroids to get better at football. And at the end Micks friend, had him go to rehab. That was the resolution of the conflict.(less)

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May 22, 2011 Bubi D rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. Im not really a "reader," but I read this book in 5 days. I sort of can relate to the main character Mick Johnson, he was raised around football his whole life;the only differnce is that he tried steroids to try to get better.You can really tell that Mick wants the best for himself and make his father proud. His dad was in the NFL, but he was released from his team for bad behavior.He had a horrible attitude and just felt like he was the life of the team. He kept that informat...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Nick rated it 5 of 5 stars

The rank that I gave this book, from out of 1 to 5, was a 5. I thought that this book was really interesting. The book was fast paced and it seamed really short but it was a really good book to read. My final reason why I rated this book at a was that I like football and it was about football and I like that a lot.

The best part in the book was when he was playing football with his teammates. I liked that part because it shows him as what he wanted to be viewed by, as a good football player. Th...more

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May 20, 2013 Brayden Soper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gym Candy
By: Carl Deuker
Review by: Brayden Soper

Do you know what it’s like to be on steroids, all of that drama and depression? You thought steroids were great, you were wrong.
The book Gym Candy by Carl Deuker is part of the realistic fiction genre about the sport of football. This book portrays a high school student whose whole life is football. With the starting spot for the team running back on the line, Mick Johnson needs to bulk up over the summer, but how can he do that with the crowded...more

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May 15, 2013 Brett Owens added it

I think that the authors purpose in Gym Candy was to entertain. The author states this directly. It starts out about a kid who grew up and loved the game of football and when he came up short on a play in a big game he wanted to be bigger, faster, and stronger. When he was in the Gym working out his trainer brought up using steroids to do these things but a lot faster in much shorter time. He started using them and saw results but the steroids made him angry and he did stuff to people. When his...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Jacob Cronister rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think Gym Candy is a very good book. I say this not only because it's about football, but that it is a very interesting book and it keeps you interested a lot. This book was wrote in third person point of view.

The protagonist is Mick Johnson. He is a sophomore in high school, but when he was a freshmen he started on the varsity team as a running back. The biggest game of the season was in his freshmen year, Mick had the ball in the final seconds of the game but was stopped short of the goal l...more I think Gym Candy is a very good book. I say this not only because it's about football, but that it is a very interesting book and it keeps you interested a lot. This book was wrote in third person point of view.

The protagonist is Mick Johnson. He is a sophomore in high school, but when he was a freshmen he started on the varsity team as a running back. The biggest game of the season was in his freshmen year, Mick had the ball in the final seconds of the game but was stopped short of the goal line. Mick was really upset with himself, so he hired a personal trainer to get him bigger. He lifted weights a lot and took a lot of protein shakes but that wasn't getting him any stronger, so he gets a membership at a local gym called Popeyes. At the gym, he was offered steroids so he can get bigger. The following season which was his sophomore year, Mick was starting to get out worked by a freshmen. He then started to take the steroids and that eventually led to Mick being the best player in the state. That was what everyone expected from him, because his dad was a NFL football player. Mick's mentality was to not let anybody down because he was very competitive. His friends start to wonder why he is getting so big so fast, and his secret was that he was taking multiple kinds of steroids. The steroids were getting to Mick, but his friends finally found out about it. They finally take Mick to the beach to tell him to stop taking them and they also said they had to tell the football coach. Then the unexpected happened, Mick pulled a gun on himself and kept threatening to shoot himself and he did. However, he didn't kill himself, the bullet barely grazed his skull and was in the hospital. When Mick was able to talk, he talked to the police officer and finally gave out his secret. The officer wanted to know who was supplying him with these steroids so he had to spill the beans. He told the officer that it was his trainer at the gym so his trainer had to go to jail and Mick had to go to rehab.

I recommend this book to people that are athletes that should know right from wrong, and want to read a very interesting book. I really like this book and it was worth the time i spent. (less)

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Feb 07, 2013 7niko rated it 5 of 5 stars

The book Gym Candy is about a pretty decent football player named Mick. He gets a chance to tryout for the Shilshole High varsity football team(running back). Although he feels he's better than another running back David Kane he's not sure of himself that he will be able to beat out David Kane. Then once when he was at Popeye's Gym his trainer Peter offered him to use steroids. Mick was thinking of whether he should choose the steroids to become a great football player but cheat or to play the r...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

**SPOILERS**

The young adult sports genre -- a collection full of cheesy and simple language, shallow characters, and the oh-so-predictable "game-winning touchdown" climax. But when reading "Gym Candy" by Carl Deuker, I realized that I have never been so surprised by a teen sports book, and its eerie breaking of all of the rules mentioned above. "Gym Candy" is about ambition and triumph, but is also enveloped in downfall and self-obsession, and the struggles of teen life. Instead of a happy good-...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Matt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Coming from a guy who honestly does not like reading at all I can say this was actually a really good book, and for the first time I found myself not glancing at the page number every other word thinking about how much I hated reading. But for the first time I found myself actually not being able to put the book down and was filled with suspense throughout the whole story. Coming from someone who enjoys sports this book really hooked my interest. But in all honesty I’m sure anyone would like it....more
Coming from a guy who honestly does not like reading at all I can say this was actually a really good book, and for the first time I found myself not glancing at the page number every other word thinking about how much I hated reading. But for the first time I found myself actually not being able to put the book down and was filled with suspense throughout the whole story. Coming from someone who enjoys sports this book really hooked my interest. But in all honesty I’m sure anyone would like it. The book I read was Gym Candy by Carl Deuker.
This is a story about football player named Mick Johnson who is the main character. Mick from early on had a passion for football since his dad was an NFL football player himself. So from day one Mick was always all about football. The story really picks up on his 8th grade year where he starts getting recognized by his high school coaches who from early on loved his athleticism. Most of the story takes place during his time at the high school level. All throughout the book Mick works his hardest in everything he did to beat out his teammates for his position at running back as well run over his opponents. Throughout this book you notice how far he was willing to go to be the best he could be while still living that same high school life style much like today.
Some other important characters in this story are Drew and both Micks’ mom and dad. Drew is Mick’s best friend. Those to both have a strong passion for the sport of football as well as those typical guy interests like hanging out and video games. Mick’s dad is a former NFL football player who is always pushing Mick to be the best he can be. His mom is a typical mom who’s always worried about her kid getting hurt playing football. She is also very religious.
Overall I found this book easy to read. It was a quick read and for someone who knows what it’s like to play football it’s very easy to relate too. Example when they talk about running a certain kind of play I can recognize what I looks like in my head from knowing what something means from being in football. Or when in the book it said, “Before every game, you worry that some guy on the other team is going to manhandle you, humiliate you, or show you up.” That’s just one of the many examples in this book that I could relate back into my own life. In a lot of ways this helped keep my interest and keep a good understanding.
Some of the things said during the story may be confusing to someone who doesn’t know much about football but I think the reader would still like it. That’s about the only negative side to this book I can think of. Some of the things I really liked were I found a lot of things easy to relate to since I’m around the same age as Mick. Also I could relate to my own life some of the things he was saying or feeling that you can only truly understand if you’ve played football before. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about sports.
This book is filled with action, football, and the typical high school life of a teenager. I would suggest it to anyone who is an athlete, enjoys sports books, or likes a good read. Football players would especially like this book but I would say it’s good for just about anyone. I can say by far this is my favorite book I’ve ever read and I would strongly suggest reading this book.

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Nov 26, 2012 Kyle Jonsson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker is about runningback Mick Johnson and how he uses drugs to gain an advantage on the field. Mick can't get in the endzone in a big game and that makes him want to get faster and stronger. Mick goes to a gym where they offer him steroids, and he eventually starts taking different kinds. Mick eventually goes to rehab due to many problems he has after using the steroids. I gave this book 5 stars because I enjoyed the plot very much. It was very interesting to me how using st...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Max rated it 5 of 5 stars

Max D’Amora
G Block

I would recommend the book “Gym Candy “ by Carl Deuker to a friend because it keeps you on the edge of your seat, and this book really surprises you and keeps you thinking. Mick ,the main character is very talented in football but chooses the wrong path and decides to take steroids, right when you think he is going to stop, it gets worse.

One reason why I would recommend this book is because Mick is very dedicated to football and puts all of his time and effort to get stronger...more Max D’Amora
G Block

I would recommend the book “Gym Candy “ by Carl Deuker to a friend because it keeps you on the edge of your seat, and this book really surprises you and keeps you thinking. Mick ,the main character is very talented in football but chooses the wrong path and decides to take steroids, right when you think he is going to stop, it gets worse.

One reason why I would recommend this book is because Mick is very dedicated to football and puts all of his time and effort to get stronger but he decides to take steroids. He gets this idea from his trainer Pete. You never would think that Mick would take steroids because at one time his father made bad choices and took steroids. This cost him his chance to play in the NFL.Through out the story, Mick takes steroids and you just want him to stop because you know he is ruining his body. He is so talented in Football and he could have a great career but he his ruining it because of the drugs and he doesn’t realize how much they are effecting him and how they will as he gets older.
I think a lot of this happens in real life. A lot of athletes take drugs and end up ruining their careers. I love the book because I like sports and I think any kid would enjoy reading it. It will also make you think before ever doing steroids.

On Page (61), Mick says ‘I end up practicing every single day just like my Dad wanted’. This sentence explains how hard he was working to become a great football player and do something great.But Mick was feeling a lot of peer pressure from Dragger and Clark. He wants to be the best and become stronger and that’s why he does the steroids. He can’t do anything great if he is cheating and taking drugs. On page (41,) Mick says ‘I am ready for injections’. Just when you think he has had enough and realizes how bad they are, he does the injections. He does not realize how this is going to ruin his life. I think the book would be great for all athletes to read. On page (30),His father asks Mick ‘ You think I’m a Failure, don’t you? I would think that after he found out about his Dad and why he didnt make the NFl, he would do drugs. (less)

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Nov 21, 2012 Andrew Caparell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Have you ever wanted something so bad you would do anything to get it? In the story Gym Candy by Carl Deuker the main character Mick Johnson would give anything to be the starting running back on the varsity football team. When I read the blurb on the back I immediately connected to the character and could have stepped into his shoes. I am on the varsity football team at my high school. Although I did not grow up living and breathing football like Mick, I would love to be the star of my team.

Mi...more Have you ever wanted something so bad you would do anything to get it? In the story Gym Candy by Carl Deuker the main character Mick Johnson would give anything to be the starting running back on the varsity football team. When I read the blurb on the back I immediately connected to the character and could have stepped into his shoes. I am on the varsity football team at my high school. Although I did not grow up living and breathing football like Mick, I would love to be the star of my team.

Mick was introduced to football at the age of four. His father had played professionally with the Chargers and was a star athlete at Washington University. Football was always part of the family and Mick grew up loving it. He began playing Pee Wee, followed by Pop Warner and finally High school football. He had natural talent and ability and was able to excel with very little effort up until he made the varsity team as a freshman in High School. All of a sudden he was not the biggest and best player anymore. He became determined to earn the starting spot. Yet no matter how hard he worked he was unable to take the starting position. Mick was discouraged, but determined to continue to work harder to get bigger and better. At his most vulnerable point, while working out at a gym in his neighborhood he was approached by a trainer named Peter. Peter offered to help with a combination of weight training and supplements that he would sell to Mick. Mick declined at first but after repeatedly getting discouraged at practice, being placed on the bench, and failing to get in the end zone when he did get the chance to play eventually decided he would try the supplements, and that it was worth the risks involved.

As Mick increasingly took the supplements his social life declined dramatically and he developed mood swings and temper outbursts. Regardless of these side effects his habit escalated into an addiction in which he upgraded into injecting steroids called "a Stack." On the field he was living his dream, off the field his life was spiraling out of control. I can't believe he put his life in danger for a football season! When his best friend Drew finds out and confronts him about his steroid use, Mick actually pulls a gun on him and threatens to kill him if he tells anyone. At one point the emotional roller coaster almost ends when Mick fails an attempted suicide. He is forced to go to rehab and will have his case dismissed by doing so. He learns to nurture his love of football the correct way by not cheating and taking steroids.

I thought this book was eye-opening and very good. I would recommend it to teens and aspiring athletes. I would love to be the star of the football team too but not at the cost of my life. Achieving a dream should not jeopardize your life or integrity.
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Nov 19, 2012 Robert T rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would recommend the book Gym Candy by Carl Deuker to a friend because it was a great book and had a very valuable message. Also because of these three reasons, it had a lot of action, and tight football games. It taught people that you shouldn’t use steroids you should just work out hard. Lastly it was really good because you never knew what was going to happen in the next scene it always surprised you.
It had a lot of action, and tight football games. “And then I was down. I looked at the bal...more I would recommend the book Gym Candy by Carl Deuker to a friend because it was a great book and had a very valuable message. Also because of these three reasons, it had a lot of action, and tight football games. It taught people that you shouldn’t use steroids you should just work out hard. Lastly it was really good because you never knew what was going to happen in the next scene it always surprised you.
It had a lot of action, and tight football games. “And then I was down. I looked at the ball, looked at my hands stretched out as far as I could reach. I was twelve inches short.” (79) Number 50 foothills best linebacker was out there. He dodged his blocker and went 1 on 1 with Mick the running back, and Mick tried to go through him. He was tackled 12 inches short of the goal line that would have sent them to the playoffs. This incident made Mick start to think about using steroids. People would not enjoy this book if they do not enjoy football. I love football, and most of the book is about it so I really liked the book.
The book taught people about how they shouldn’t use steroids and you should just work out really hard. “I don’t know if I can stand feeling myself become slower, weaker and smaller.” (312) Mick doesn’t know if he should quit using steroids because there helping him so much especially to maintain the starting RB job over Dave Kane. He also knows it is flat out cheating, and if he ever got caught using them he wouldn’t ever get chosen to play professional football ever. He has a really tough decision. Some people would not recommend this book because of the use of steroids. Steroids are getting used by all ages so this book exposes it and maybe gives readers a negative prospective about steroid use. Also steroids are what make the story interesting.
It was a really good book because you never knew what was going to happen in the next scene, and it always surprised you. “As of now, you will remain suspended.”(88) Mick just got a new football coach and he already cut the starting RB and QB for having bad attitudes and drinking. This gives Mick and his friend Drew the starting job. This was really unexpected that the coach would do that but Mick was psyched. Some people wouldn’t recommend this book because it does not use strong vocabulary. My vocabulary is already good enough so I didn’t really mind it in this book, and the plot is great so I wasn’t really focused on it. The book Gym Candy was really good and I would recommend it to anybody that is looking to read a very good book.
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Nov 13, 2012 Joe added it

Shelves: project-books

Gym Candy, by Carl Deuker, is about a boy named Mick Johnson who's whole goal in life is to be the best player at football. He will use any means to get to that point, even if it means to do something illegal.
There were three things that I liked this book. The first reason is how real it is. This could happen to any ambitious kid who just wants to get better at the sport he/she is in. The second reason is at how Deuker made the games sound like you were actually there. The last is that the way...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Josh R rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just finished reading Gym Candy, by Carl Deucker. My overall thoughts on the book are that it was a really good read. I really felt like I could relate to this story in many ways and kept me interested throughout the whole book, even though it was a bit childish. I enjoyed this book because I love football to death. There’s so much more that goes into being a great football player that meets the eye of an average person. I’ve always loved the game but this story helped me get a better understa...more I just finished reading Gym Candy, by Carl Deucker. My overall thoughts on the book are that it was a really good read. I really felt like I could relate to this story in many ways and kept me interested throughout the whole book, even though it was a bit childish. I enjoyed this book because I love football to death. There’s so much more that goes into being a great football player that meets the eye of an average person. I’ve always loved the game but this story helped me get a better understanding on what those lessons were and how to avoid taking a dark path that ended with being known as a cheater, having a season full of regret and showing how someone can become addicted to and dependent on the aids of a drug and how difficult it is to give up those benefits.

Mick Johnson is the main character in this story. He’s the son of a former football star and has big shoes to fill. Mick had the speed and agility, but lacked the strength as seen in this quote, “I wasn’t giving up, but I couldn’t keep doing the same things. I’d worked as hard as anybody in the room, but I haven’t seen the results I’ve been wanting (136).” A short period after this Mick results to taking steroids to gain his edge. Once Mick gets the taste of what steroids can do for him, he doesn’t stop. This puts him in under his head and the rest of Micks accomplishments on the football field are filled with the underlying regret of being a cheater. The worst part about this is mick knows it’s true. Deep down Mick second guesses taking the steroids and eventually stops for the beginning of the season. But at the midway point Mick starts to lose his edge to a freshman. This fear of losing his starting spot to a freshman sends mick spiraling into a deep roid depression and his only way out is taking more steroids. Up to this point in the book no one knows about the steroids except Peter, Micks personal trainer, but that was about to change. Mick’s best friend, Drew, discovers what he’s doing. When he threatens to tell, Mick shoots himself in the head. He doesn’t die, but he does end up in rehab, realizing that he’s addicted to being the best, even if he isn’t addicted to the steroids themselves. This shows how much of an effect steroids can have on someone’s mind and well-being. Steroids gave Mick the high he wanted, but mick overlooked the consequences because he was too consumed by the glory they gave him. It wasn't until he almost died, that made him realize that it was all wrong.

This book is split into 5 sections and an epilog with chapter’s in-between for each section. It’s split up like this because each section holds an important part to the story or a fast forward in time. For example the first section is when Mick played pop-warner football (basically little league football) and how he grew as a young kid to love the game of football and strive to be the best. But the second section is when Mick starts high school. Throughout the rest of the book there is no more jumping in time and only focuses on how Mick handles steroids, and how they play a big part in his day to day decisions.

The only downfall to this story was that it seemed a little to childish to me. Which makes me think that this is a book written more towards young adults rather than high school students. I would recommend this book to any young footballer around the ages of 10-13. Overall a really good book to read.
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Oct 29, 2012 7robbie added it

In my opinion, Gym Candy is the best book i have ever read. I could really relate to the book because I used to play football, so I understand the pain and challenges that he goes through during the season. For example, Mick Johnson, the main character, tries to knock off all of the players above him on the depth chart. That is that what I always tried to do during the season. This book is about a high school kid named Mick Johnson. His dad was a star football player at Washington and his dad ex...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Jordan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book by Carl Deuker name Gym Candy really inspired me to keep doing what I’m doing now playing football and just griding it out. I gave this book 4 stats because it had a great story line to go with the book and it was fast paced the book didn't feel as long as it really was. I’m not that big of a reader but Carl Deuker really keeps my attention throughout the whole book and he hocked me in by the begging of the book until the end of the book. The reason i didn't give it a full 5 stars is...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Ari Brooks added it

Gym candy was an unbelievable book. The message is that kids in high school or just kids in general should never do drugs. Even if you think that no one is going to find out someone always does. This is sort of like what happens with Mich Johnson. Mick has always been the biggest on all of his teams. His dad Mike Johnson was a star at Syracuse and a third round draft choice. Mick was about to start kindergarden when his dad held him back. He still got to play football with the kids younger than...more Gym candy was an unbelievable book. The message is that kids in high school or just kids in general should never do drugs. Even if you think that no one is going to find out someone always does. This is sort of like what happens with Mich Johnson. Mick has always been the biggest on all of his teams. His dad Mike Johnson was a star at Syracuse and a third round draft choice. Mick was about to start kindergarden when his dad held him back. He still got to play football with the kids younger than him so he was always the biggest and the best. One day in eighth grade he got a new teammate named drew. Drew was a big, strong, and fast quarterback. Mick and drew were both invited to play spring football and they both made varsity. When Mick lets his whole school down when he is dropped by foothills star line backer at the one yard line to win the game he makes a bad decision. Mick decides he needs to get bigger fast. Over the summer Mick starts taking steroids. At first its just a couple times a week but then Mick starts to get serious. His personal trainer got him into the steroids and now Mick is also taking stacks which is a series of needle that you inject in yourself to get bigger. But when Mick's trainer tells him about this new drug that comes out Mick cant help it. Since the beginning of the season to the end he is getting big and becoming a school legend. When Mick's best friend Drew finds out that the whole season is fake and that he is taking steroids he confronts Mick. He goes to his house and asks him if he wants to take a walk. On the walk he says Mick i know your taking steroids i saw use inject yourself. Mick goes ballistic and pulls a gun out of his and thinks about shooting Drew but then he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Believe it or not Mick missed. He pulled the trigger but the gun made his arm jolt and he moved his arm up and shot the top of his head. Mick was told he had to take a drug rehab course and then he could play football again.(less)

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Sep 26, 2012 Griffin Benge added it

Mick grew up loving the sport of football for his dad once played in the nfl. Micks farther was one who liked his son to succed by trying his hardst and doing it the right way. Mick soon found out that the right way was the slow way and thats when he got into pills and thats when Mick saw the light flash befor his life losing the sport he always loved.
the charecters use the pharse Gym candy when they are out meaning d-bol, a drug used to make youu stronger faster. they use it because it fits i...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Jack Friedland rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book that I chose for July was called ‘Gym Candy.’ Its about a boy named Mick being is pushed by his father, a former NFL player and college superstar, to be the absolute best football player possible. Mick would practice with his father everyday since he was 4 years old and when he gets to high school, he makes the varsity team. He waits on the bench for his time to play and when it finally comes against the rival Foothill team, Mick gets overpowered by an opposing linebacker on the one yar...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Jeff rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gym Candy Review
The book Gym Candy by Carl Deuker is a wonderful book and keeps you reading until the last words. The book is about a high school football player, Mick, who struggles to be strong enough to play and compete on the varsity level with stronger athletes. After his fist season he turns to weights and eventually steroids. The story takes it twists after that as he deals with the physical and emotional struggle that comes along with his success on the field. The story doesn’t only app...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Trae Wells rated it 5 of 5 stars

The book Gym Candy was about a teen whos name was mick. Micks father played football and made it pro and he pushed mick to be just like him. Mick all through his younger years dominated in football. Now he his a freshman on varsity and he is competing against Drager who is older than mick. Drager doesnt like the idea of that and he bullied mick to show that he was stronger than mick. Mick was so tired of not getting stronger and being weak he went to a gym called popeyes.At popeyes there was a t...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Matt skudre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker
Matt Skudre.
Gym candy is a very good book about football. The main character is Mick Johnson who’s dad was a amazing college running back. But he could never make it in the pros because of a couple injuries. Mick is the star running back on his football team he is fast strong and allusive he wants to be like his dad but he wants to be a pro and make it in the NFL.

Mick really wants to be a stronger player after he got stopped at the one yard line if he got a td he would’ve...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Connor M rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mick Johnson, a running back on Shilshole High's football team had his eyes set on the NFL and that meant he had to get bigger, faster, stronger. After not seeing results with protein supplements, he turned to steroids. Mick began breaking records on the football field. Off the field, he was at an all time low. His friendships grew apart, and his conscience was always at war with itself. Carl Deuker did a wonderful job of conveying the constant turmoil within Mick. The highs, the lows. The extre...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Jmanrulez23 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The novel "Gym Candy" is a very inspirational tale about a young football player who is trying to live up to his fathers career and be as good as he once was. Mick Johnson has played football all of his life and is all that he ever wants to do sports wise. Mick was a star at the middle school level and thought he was all that. Then the big important part came, High School. He, as a freshman, was asked by the coach to play with the Varsity football team. Then he was the 6th string and ended up wo...more The novel "Gym Candy" is a very inspirational tale about a young football player who is trying to live up to his fathers career and be as good as he once was. Mick Johnson has played football all of his life and is all that he ever wants to do sports wise. Mick was a star at the middle school level and thought he was all that. Then the big important part came, High School. He, as a freshman, was asked by the coach to play with the Varsity football team. Then he was the 6th string and ended up working his way all the way up to 2nd string. The first string was injured so Mick started the final playoff game and on the last play was stopped short and lost the game for them. So during the off season he trained at a private gym instead of with the team like everyone else. Then the first sting RB leaves schools so Mick is the main man now and trains even harder. He wants to be strong as possible so that if next year the same situation comes along, he wont be stopped short. So he begins to get really into protein shakes and it is starting to help but he isn't getting the results that he is looking for. Then his trainer, Peter, introduces him to these testosterone enhancing pills that he begins to get addicted too. But he eventually stops because the side effects are terrible. Then Peter shows him these steroid shots that he uses himself and Mick begins to use these instead. Mick now is using illegal steroids before each game and he tries to hide it from everyone. Then one day Mick's best friend Drew thinks there is something suspicious going on with him so then he thinks that Mick is hiding something. Then they win the final game of the year on the same scenario as last year except this time Mick scores the final Touchdown for the win. Then he gets home and notices his shot isn't in his bag anymore, and receives a call from Drew. Then they go to meet one another because they need to talk, and right before Mick leaves he grabs his revolver and they settle some controversy. (less)

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Oct 19, 2011 Jake Lehmann rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book, Gym Candy, was another one of my favorite books. Carl Deuker is just an amazing sports book author. Mick is the son of a college star, Mike Johnson. Mike is trying to create his son into the athlete he was only with a much better attitude. Mick starts to have competition in high school for the starting running back spot. Mick is smart, fast, and has very well stamina. The only thing he doesn't have is strength. Mick's dad signs him up for a gym membership and the trainer there influen...more

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May 26, 2011 Jordan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gym Candy is a book about Mick Johnson who is a die hard football player, who is determined to make it to the NFL like his dad was. The 14 year old 8th grader had always been the best football player in the city, for his age. His whole life he had been told by his superstar dad that he was the best, that no one could beat him. Mick's dad had told him about his high school, college, and NFL career, often bragging about all of his amazing highlights. He was Mick's idol, until he found out everythi...more

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May 15, 2011 Natalie Prideaux rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was awesome! I would recomend this book to people who enjoy sports or have grown up around football. This book is about a boy named Mick who is the son of a man who was really good at football. He wanted mick to be too. Micks earliest memory was football. Mick's father's company bought a gym called "Popeyes" and Mick starts going there, trying to get ahead of the rest of the kids, and gets a private coach named Peter. Peter starts giving steroids to Mick which help him on the field bu...more

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Quotes from Gym Candy

“Games are lost and won in your mind as much as they are on the field.” — 7 people liked it

“I heard Coach Downs never started freshman," he told us. "Well that's not how it is with me. I play the best players, period. If you're a junior with three letters on your jacket, and you shave twice a day, and some smooth-faced freshman whips your ass in practice, then your collecting splinters while he's playing. Understood?
Coach Carlson” — 2 people liked it

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