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Tough to Tackle
No one trusts a quitter... More than anything Boots Raymond wants to be a quarterback for the Apollos. But because of his size, the coach assigns him to a tackle position-and there's no arguing with the coach. Boots rebels and almost quits the team. It seems that nothing can change his mind, but his brother Tom intercepts and teaches Boots something valuable he learned from playing football and being a soldier.
139 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1971
31 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Matt Christopher
467 books141 followersMatt Christopher is the writer young readers turn to when they're looking for fast-paced, action-packed sports novels. He is the best-selling author of more than one hundred sports books for young readers.
Matt Christopher is America's bestselling sports writer for children, with more than 100 books and sales approaching six million copies. In 1992, Matt Christopher talked about being a children's book author.
"I became interested in writing when I was 14, a freshman in high school. I was selling magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman, and Liberty, and I would read the stories, particularly the adventure and mystery stories, and think how wonderful it would be to be able to write stories and make a living at it. I also read detective, horror, aviation, and sports stories and decided I would try writing them myself.
Determined to sell, I wrote a detective story a week for 40 weeks, finding the time to marry, work, and play baseball and basketball before I sold my first story in 1941, "The Missing Finger Points," for $50 to Detective Story magazine.
After writing and selling children's sports stories to magazines, I decided to write a baseball book for children. I was living in Syracuse, New York at the time, working at General Electric. I spoke about my idea to the branch librarian. She was immediately interested and told me that they needed sports stories badly. So I came up with my first children's book, The Lucky Baseball Bat. I submitted it to Little, Brown, and the book was published in 1954.
I'm sure that playing sandlot baseball and then semiprofessional baseball with a Class C club in the Canadian-American League influenced my writing. I had my own personal experiences, and I saw how other players reacted to plays, to teammates' and fans' remarks and innuendoes, to managers' orders, etc. All these had a great influence on my writing. My love of the game helped a lot, too, of course.
Out of all the books I've written, my favorite is The Kid Who Only Hit Homers. It's a fantasy, but the main character in it could be real. There are a lot of boys who would love to play baseball but, for some reason, cannot. The only difference between a real-life boy and Sylvester Coddmyer III is the appearance of a character named George Baruth, whom only Sylvester can see and who helps Sylvester become a good ballplayer.
I've written many short stories and books for both children and adults, and find that writing for children is really my niche. Being the eldest of nine children (seven boys and two girls), I've lived through a lot of problems many children live through, and I find these problems excellent examples to include in my books.
Sports have made it possible for me to meet many people with all sorts of life stories, on and off the field, and these are grist for this writer's mill. I'm far beyond playing age now, but I manage to go to both kids' and adult games just to keep up with them, and keep them fresh in my mind.Very few things make me happier than receiving fan letters from boys and girls who write that they had never cared for reading until they started to read my books. That is just about the ultimate in writing for children. I would never trade it for another profession."
Matt Christopher died on September 27, 1997. His legacy is now being carried on by his sons, Duane and Dale Christopher.
Matt Christopher is America's bestselling sports writer for children, with more than 100 books and sales approaching six million copies. In 1992, Matt Christopher talked about being a children's book author.
"I became interested in writing when I was 14, a freshman in high school. I was selling magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman, and Liberty, and I would read the stories, particularly the adventure and mystery stories, and think how wonderful it would be to be able to write stories and make a living at it. I also read detective, horror, aviation, and sports stories and decided I would try writing them myself.
Determined to sell, I wrote a detective story a week for 40 weeks, finding the time to marry, work, and play baseball and basketball before I sold my first story in 1941, "The Missing Finger Points," for $50 to Detective Story magazine.
After writing and selling children's sports stories to magazines, I decided to write a baseball book for children. I was living in Syracuse, New York at the time, working at General Electric. I spoke about my idea to the branch librarian. She was immediately interested and told me that they needed sports stories badly. So I came up with my first children's book, The Lucky Baseball Bat. I submitted it to Little, Brown, and the book was published in 1954.
I'm sure that playing sandlot baseball and then semiprofessional baseball with a Class C club in the Canadian-American League influenced my writing. I had my own personal experiences, and I saw how other players reacted to plays, to teammates' and fans' remarks and innuendoes, to managers' orders, etc. All these had a great influence on my writing. My love of the game helped a lot, too, of course.
Out of all the books I've written, my favorite is The Kid Who Only Hit Homers. It's a fantasy, but the main character in it could be real. There are a lot of boys who would love to play baseball but, for some reason, cannot. The only difference between a real-life boy and Sylvester Coddmyer III is the appearance of a character named George Baruth, whom only Sylvester can see and who helps Sylvester become a good ballplayer.
I've written many short stories and books for both children and adults, and find that writing for children is really my niche. Being the eldest of nine children (seven boys and two girls), I've lived through a lot of problems many children live through, and I find these problems excellent examples to include in my books.
Sports have made it possible for me to meet many people with all sorts of life stories, on and off the field, and these are grist for this writer's mill. I'm far beyond playing age now, but I manage to go to both kids' and adult games just to keep up with them, and keep them fresh in my mind.Very few things make me happier than receiving fan letters from boys and girls who write that they had never cared for reading until they started to read my books. That is just about the ultimate in writing for children. I would never trade it for another profession."
Matt Christopher died on September 27, 1997. His legacy is now being carried on by his sons, Duane and Dale Christopher.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 13, 2025
A kid wants to be quarterback, but he's assigned to be a guard. He has trouble accepting his fate. His older brother is in Vietnam and has problems of his own. There's the usual lessons learned.
Not bad for kids of a certain age.
Not bad for kids of a certain age.
September 11, 2017
The Good: Matt Christopher's writings have been beloved by young sports fans and readers everywhere, and it's not hard to see why. Not only was the gridiron action fun and exciting, but the story of a young boy's triumph over a tough situation was rather inspiring. A positive mention of prayer was a nice bonus, and this novel had a lot of old-school charm going for it, particularly when a character mentioned "the needle on the hi-fi." The illustrations were great, too.
The Bad: The formatting--wide margins, varied sizes of print--was a bit annoying. That's a minor complaint, though.
Conclusion: Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a sports fan; this year's Super Bowl was one of the few I've ever watched, though I'm glad I tuned in, because that one set a record. Still, I can enjoy a good story, even when it focuses on football, basketball, gymnastics, or whatever. I've seen and enjoyed films such as Facing the Giants and Jump In!, and I even did a book report--by choice--in fifth grade on a book about basketball...by Matt Christopher. I have to say that the younger me had great taste; this author's writings still hold up for me, even mere months away from the age of thirty.
The Bad: The formatting--wide margins, varied sizes of print--was a bit annoying. That's a minor complaint, though.
Conclusion: Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a sports fan; this year's Super Bowl was one of the few I've ever watched, though I'm glad I tuned in, because that one set a record. Still, I can enjoy a good story, even when it focuses on football, basketball, gymnastics, or whatever. I've seen and enjoyed films such as Facing the Giants and Jump In!, and I even did a book report--by choice--in fifth grade on a book about basketball...by Matt Christopher. I have to say that the younger me had great taste; this author's writings still hold up for me, even mere months away from the age of thirty.
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May 15, 2017This was a really good book. the theme of this book is that sometimes when things do not go as expected there always another thing to make it a good thing. this is the theme because the main character, Boots is disappointed at first by not being big enough to play quarterback, finds out that it is just as challenging playing tackle.i really liked the book.
November 16, 2017
Jacob Homan
Period 3
10/26/17
1st draft
Tough to Tackle by Matt Christopher.
The book Tough to Tackle is about a boy named Boots who wants to play quarterback on his football team. When Boots asked his coach if he could play quarterback, instead of the position he was assigned, his coach said that he weighs too much to be able to play in the back field. This made him want to quit but he didn't because of the letters that he received from his brother. The letters caused him to tough through it and keep playing. Boots was very happy that he didn't quit because he ended up liking the position.
The thing that I liked about the book was I could relate to it. The emotion that I had when I was reading it was kind of strong because I knew how he felt about not being able to play the position but roughing through it and continuing to play. It did make me think about something in a new way. What I thought about was no matter how bad you want to quit, don't and push through. I could relate because when I played football in fifth grade I wasn't allowed to play a position that I wanted to because I was a couple of pounds over the weight limit.
The book that this reminded me of was The Great American Drew Brees. The type of reader that would enjoy this book is someone who likes an easy book to read and a sports book. Also, a reader that likes a little bit of mystery because the book didn't say what happened to Tom until the end of the book.
Period 3
10/26/17
1st draft
Tough to Tackle by Matt Christopher.
The book Tough to Tackle is about a boy named Boots who wants to play quarterback on his football team. When Boots asked his coach if he could play quarterback, instead of the position he was assigned, his coach said that he weighs too much to be able to play in the back field. This made him want to quit but he didn't because of the letters that he received from his brother. The letters caused him to tough through it and keep playing. Boots was very happy that he didn't quit because he ended up liking the position.
The thing that I liked about the book was I could relate to it. The emotion that I had when I was reading it was kind of strong because I knew how he felt about not being able to play the position but roughing through it and continuing to play. It did make me think about something in a new way. What I thought about was no matter how bad you want to quit, don't and push through. I could relate because when I played football in fifth grade I wasn't allowed to play a position that I wanted to because I was a couple of pounds over the weight limit.
The book that this reminded me of was The Great American Drew Brees. The type of reader that would enjoy this book is someone who likes an easy book to read and a sports book. Also, a reader that likes a little bit of mystery because the book didn't say what happened to Tom until the end of the book.
March 27, 2019
In my opinion when I first started reading this book in Third Grade I was instantly interested and drawn into it but I never got to finish it since it was the end of the school year but I got a copy of my own in my Senior Year of High School for Christmas and when I finished it I was splashed with delight on how great the book was and how descriptive Matt Christopher is with all the sports action there is in Football and my favorite part was when Boots hit the Quarterback and returned the fumble for a touchdown.So I recommend if your trying to find a good sports book look for a Matt Christopher book and I hope to read another of his Football Books and more of his sport books
November 27, 2017
It was a good book.
December 3, 2019
An inspirational book about football.
January 19, 2020
I loved this book way more than his basketball one I read last year. Fun read aloud for sports fan children.
October 21, 2021
It was good it just needs more excitement
January 31, 2022
My favorite Matt Christopher book, the first Football book of Matt Christopher that I've read and my favorite part was when Boots tackled the Quarterback and returned the Fumble for a Touchdown
June 17, 2022
One of my favorite childhood books. You can teach kids many lessons from this story.
January 1, 2023
I vaguely remembered really enjoying this book as a kid so decided to reread as an adult. It is pretty dated since the teams run very outdated offenses but enjoyable for the nostalgia.
November 20, 2024
Good book 📕
May 22, 2015
Tough to Tackle was a good book in my opinion. Boots Raymond has always had a dream about playing quarterback for the Apollos. The only problem is Boots is a bigger kid than the coach wants to put at QB. When he goes and tries out for the team. The coach he really wants to play QB, the coach told him that he is too big. He also crushed his dreams of ever getting to play QB. Boots then thought about not even playing football at all. Boots then went to practice the next day and was put at tackle. After that practice, he had enough. He went to his older brother and told him he was going to quit. His older brother told him not to and just to stick it out the rest of the season. Boots listened and was a big help to the team. He helped lead the team to be the division winners. Without Boots on the offensive line the team would have not won so many games.
Boots is a bigger athletic kid. Just like all kids he had a dream, but it was crushed by a coach. He did not want to be a quitter, but after not being able to play QB he thought hard about quitting. Boots was a very coachable kid which led his team to win.
I would recommend this book to all kids that play a sport from middle to high school. It shows how even if your dream does not come true you can still be successful.
Boots is a bigger athletic kid. Just like all kids he had a dream, but it was crushed by a coach. He did not want to be a quitter, but after not being able to play QB he thought hard about quitting. Boots was a very coachable kid which led his team to win.
I would recommend this book to all kids that play a sport from middle to high school. It shows how even if your dream does not come true you can still be successful.
November 11, 2010
Boots Raymond is a boy that want to play quarterback for his team, there's just one problem, the coach says he's too heavy to play that position. The coach assigns him to right tackle. His brother, Tom, is actually the one that encourages him to play football because he wants to quit ironically. His brother explains that it's good to play the line because you help the quarterback make the plays. As a young boy growing up I loved to play tackle football and became a varsity player and captain in high school. But reading this book as a kid made me have great respect for my fellow teammates. Sure I felt I was a good player and did whatever it took to win but I also knew that the players around me needed to believe in the same winning goal and we would achieve it as a team. A great example of realistic fiction and a book that every young boy should read. It is exciting and Matt Christopher has a way of taking one sentence and providing a great drawing to capture the imagination at just the right point of emphasis.
June 2, 2015
I like the story because its about fooball and I like football and I like he has real problems because he belives he can be the best qb there is in the whole league but the coaches think that he just way to big to play a skilled pstionn like that.I dont like the book because its kinda predictable because of course they let him have a try at qb and he loved the chance and the coaches loved him when he was playing the postion and barely anyone in the league could tackle him and no one on the whole team could tackle him and get him on the ground or just they rarley did it..I recommend the book to people thay like football and a good book that will have them on there seats for something that is unpredictable and a challlangge for them to read.I dont recommend this book to people that can already predict things thats going to happen.Or if you dont like football bcause most of the book is about football and what a foootball player is supposed to do.
May 10, 2012
The average age range for Tough to Tackle is secondary.
This book is about a young boy named Boots who wants to play football as a quarterback but he is too heavy and is better for a lineman. He talked to his brother Tom who was away, about quitting football but Tom told him not to so he stayed with it. The book talks through what happens during the game and the different plays and if the team wins or not. Also the whole family awaits the letter from Tom towards the end and can't wait for an answer. There are no artistic elements in this book because there are no pictures and this is a chapter book. I would recommend this book to children because it is a good book and has a message to not quit a team if you don't get the exact position you want because you can be good at another position on the team.
This book is about a young boy named Boots who wants to play football as a quarterback but he is too heavy and is better for a lineman. He talked to his brother Tom who was away, about quitting football but Tom told him not to so he stayed with it. The book talks through what happens during the game and the different plays and if the team wins or not. Also the whole family awaits the letter from Tom towards the end and can't wait for an answer. There are no artistic elements in this book because there are no pictures and this is a chapter book. I would recommend this book to children because it is a good book and has a message to not quit a team if you don't get the exact position you want because you can be good at another position on the team.
May 26, 2014
This is about american football and about Boots Raymond, he want to play quarterback than very thing. but of his side coach tell him play tackle, he can't not play a quarterback when he know that it make him feel very sad, at first he almost quit from the team but he has older brother that support him and tell him not to quit and make him continue to play. First time he play very bad and his team have to lose because he play not good that he can and he has saw american football super star that play same position as him, that man tell him how his position important and it make him have spirit to play, in the end his team won many game and become professional player.
This book tell me that if you do something that you love, try to do your best and don't give up too easy and it will be hard at the first but after that you will be good at it.
This book tell me that if you do something that you love, try to do your best and don't give up too easy and it will be hard at the first but after that you will be good at it.
February 2, 2017
In this book tough to tackle there is a teen named boots and he wants to play for the Apollos he joins and then his coach puts him in a tackling position which he does not want to play in he asks the coach that why couldn't he play in the position he wanted to play the coach then says that he has to be a specific weight group and he is too big so he couldn't play quarter back then he writes his brother a letter saying that Boots wants to quit the football team, his brother then tells him to not quit because he is going to regret quitting.
May 22, 2011
I read this with my son. We talked a lot about Boots and his attitude toward having to play tackle instead of the position he wanted (quarterback). We talked about that being a life lesson for us all.
Being a team player is extremely important in life.
We very much enjoyed reading this together. I'm definitely going to pull out some of my other Matt Christopher books to read with him.
Being a team player is extremely important in life.
We very much enjoyed reading this together. I'm definitely going to pull out some of my other Matt Christopher books to read with him.
October 21, 2011
i gave this book 4 stars because boots raymond wants to try out for quaterback, and the coach said theres a weight limit and he thinks that is a stupid rule. So the coach puts him at right tackle and he doesnt like that position very much and wants to quit but his brother tom encourages him to keep playing.Later in the story he gets better and likes to play right tackle.
January 8, 2020
Boots is ten year old kid how wanted to play quarterback but the coach said he was too heavy so he had to play de and he was not happy but the coach BELIEVED in Boots and Boots did not. But in the last game they put boots on offenses and he scored the winning touchdown! he was so excited his team came in first place and one the super bowl...
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January 22, 2009JAR4-Chr
March 19, 2012
This is another book from my childhood remembered. The writing is prosaic because of the age demographic the book is aimed for, but the characters and story are great. Another grade school classic.
February 24, 2010
I read this way back in the day (4th or 5th grade maybe?)when I started playing flag football. Barely remember it, but I do remember that relating to the main character.
July 10, 2010
its a good book because I was pretty small as a kid but I played football so I can relate
September 29, 2011
good but not that great
December 21, 2011
cute. this is a good coming of age book. it also teaches the importance of team and working together.
July 12, 2013
Read this with Josh in preparation for his first season of football. It was enlightening and a really good read for Josh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews