Specky Magee & The Spirit of The Game

Specky Magee #6

by Felice Arena

I tell you what, they're turning it on here today, folks. They're putting on a ring-a-ding-ding contest... And who is that lad in the number five guernsey? Specky can't wait to get to the country and have the chance to play grassroots football for the first time... against adults. But more is at stake than the outcome of just one game. Who is Razorback Jack, the mysterious footy hero that Specky keeps hearing about? And what are the boys back at Booyong High up to? Can the massive underdogs, the Rivergum Redfins, serve it up to the Bull Ants? We have got a game on our hands this afternoon...

253 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Popular and prolific Australian children’s author Felice Arena is the creator of many best-selling and award-winning children's books for all ages. Some of these include the acclaimed middle-grade historical novels The Boy and the Spy, Fearless Frederic, A Great Escape, and The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan – the bestselling Specky Magee series, the junior series' Sporty Kids and The Besties, and the joyous read-aloud picture books Pasta!, Cheese! and most recently My Big Secret - also illustrated by Arena.
www.felicearena.com Instagram.com/felicearenabooks

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like it when a book surprises me. I started reading the Specky Magee books last year, on the urging of my older son. I'm not a football person, however I am really enjoying these books. While AFL football is the background of all the books, and features heavily, the characters are dealing with issues any kid that age faces - school, bullies, relationships, and so on.

In this book, we are introduced to Brian, a kid from Redgum in country Victoria, who is training with Specky for the state team. Specky is introduced to grassroots, country football and has the opportunity to play for the Redgum Razorbacks, a team that is mostly made up of adults!

While trying to save the team, Specky and his mates need to navigate high school crushes, the "new" Screamer, new training styles, and keeping secrets.

I really enjoyed this story and how the characters dealt with the various challenges thrown their way. I even enjoyed the football match at the end!

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Specky goes bush and plays some country footy and gets involved in a big grudge match with dire consequences of course (ridiculous plot line really) and a mysterious strange fellow that wanders around the bush like a phantom (more ridiculous plot lines) all entertaining and all totally silly and Specky Magee is the champion footballer of the known universe.
Specky will return later in the year.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just seeing the cover makes me totally nostalgic over my teenage years. This book set my imagination alight at a time when all I cared about was footy. The “country town” vibe in this book is unreal. Would recommend to any aspiring 8-15 year old Aussie Rules player.

[Dane Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn’t really catch my attention but after reading the first chapter I was hooked! It really brought out the full teen experience

[Oliver Burnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Specky goes to the country to play footy with his new victorian U/15's teammate,
they have problem fielding a full team, which is so different from what specky is used to, he is used to being able to field many teams.

and who is razorback jack?

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We listened to this in the car and laughed so much. We loved it and loved all the voices - it made the story even better than reading it ourselves. We're now specky fans.

[Ben Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

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