The Accidental Quarterback

  Chapter 4

  Did you ever wish you had a superhuman power to help make something difficult much easier? Which power would you choose and why?

  Is it right to use special superhuman abilities to help you play a sport better than you would without them? Why or why not?

  Chapter 5

  Do you have any sympathy for Flab, who alludes to his weight while speaking with Alex?

  Chapter 6

  Why do you think Dex’s mother suddenly paid so much attention to Alex after he mentioned his dad was an inventor?

  Why was Alex’s dad reacting the way he did when he met Dex?

  Chapter 10

  Do you think it was right for Alex’s parents to hold off so long on telling him about his past and his parents’ secret lives? Why do you think they waited this long to tell him?

  With that in mind, was it right for Alex to avoid telling his parents about what was going on with the development of his powers?

  Chapter 15

  After hearing Dex and Alex argue about whether it was morally right to use their powers during football games, did it change your answer from the question in Chapter 4? Explain why it did or didn’t.

  Chapter 18

  Dream up five more characters like Kenny, Dex, Sophi and Alex who have powers. What would their abilities be and what (animal DNA, robotics, etc.) would activate those powers?

  Final writing exercise

  What exactly do you think happened at the end of the book? Did Alex use his powers or not? Was it right for Dex to use his abilities when he realized Kenny had them too? Who was that mysterious man in the epilogue? Write a summary with your answers, along with predictions for what will happen in the next book in the series.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Georgia McBride is a passionate, tireless and incredible editor and I am forever in her debt for all her hard work on behalf of The Accidental Quarterback. The entire team at Month9Books and Tantrum Books deserves a long standing ovation for its amazing job.

  To my mother and father, Leslie and Richard Curtis, this book wouldn’t exist without your advice, editing, suggestions, love and support. Thanks for shaping me into the writer—and person—I am today.

  A tip of the cap to my friends and family for their excitement and for cheering me on from the sidelines. Every “how’s the book coming?” was extra motivation along the way. Special thanks to Jennifer Parker for her early reading and to Aaron Venar for his football coaching.

  A special shoutout to my writing teachers throughout the years, particularly to Deanna Fleysher, for her help shaping my voice.

  An infinite amount of thanks and love to my most amazing, wonderful wife, Erica, for getting me to the finish line, for listening to me talk ad nauseam about the plot, for reading every version and for inspiring me daily. Benji—I hope when you’re old enough to read, you’ll get a kick out of this and not just because your dad wrote it.

  Finally, thank you, reader, for picking up The Accidental Quarterback. I hope you’ll continue with me on this journey—it’s going to be a wild one.

  CHARLES CURTIS

  Charles Curtis is a sportswriter for USA Today’s For The Win. He has reported and written for other publications including ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, Bleacher Report, NJ.com, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York City with his wife and son.

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