It’s understandable when some guy on another team isn’t so nice to you. But what if it’s a relative? Aren’t family members supposed to stick together and watch out for each other? What if you discover that a certain someone you thought was your competitor is really on your side? Would you change your mind about him?

The world of football is one big family to some people, and author Tim Green highlights that fact in his new book. Green has explored family issues in previous Football Genius books, but in DEEP ZONE, he expands on the idea of watching your brother’s (or cousin’s) back when the going gets tough on the field or in real life.

Green introduced football players Troy White (who lives in Georgia) and Ty Lewis (who resides in New Jersey) in previous books of the series. For DEEP ZONE, the two middle-school gridiron phenoms meet in Miami, Florida at the seven-on-seven national championship games. A natural sense of competiveness develops between the boys. After all, they could possibly end up facing off against each other for the trophy in the Sunday final being played on the same field as the Super Bowl between the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Jets. And they both have an interest in the same young lady. Tate is Troy’s friend and plays on the middle-school team at home as a kicker. When Ty gets a look at her, something he’s never felt before happens, and he can’t get her off his mind. More competition for the two young football standouts.

Besides football, Troy and Ty have big-time connections to the Super Bowl teams in town for the ultimate game of the season. Troy’s mother is on the public relations staff for the Falcons, and Ty’s brother Thane is a player (on injured reserves) for the Jets. They all meet at a pre-game party, and their histories literally collide as Ty accidently splashes Tate’s white party dress with a red, fruity drink he’s holding when he gets bumped into by an adult nearby. Troy thinks Ty is a jerk, and Tate is speechless. Big brother Thane comes up with a way for Ty to apologize and get to see Tate again. It’s then over lunch that the group establishes their first bonds.

One of the strongest points of Green’s football and baseball books is his play-by-play descriptions of on-field action. Without dragging down the prose with too much sport-specific jargon, Green writes football and baseball plays that are easy for any reader to follow. You don’t have to know or even enjoy these sports to really appreciate the stories Green creates within these settings. Everybody wins because the themes are valid points about sportsmanship and family, and the sports writing is easily comprehended. Additionally, Green is a master with a meaningful metaphor and writes the life and brains of 12-year-old boys really well. The series is a winner, and DEEP ZONE is one of the star players.