In this sequel to Murphy and Mousetrap, Murphy and his three friends, Danny, Jeff and Albert, are making the transition from the tribal elementary school to the community middle school.

They are all trying out for the middle school's soccer team, and they're pretty confident that The Formidable Four will all make the team. But once the tryouts begin, Albert, the tribal-school superstar, plays like a second-stringer. Murphy's new friend, Molly, is determined to help the boys find out what's wrong with Albert, but when they discover the truth, they realize that Albert is playing a whole different game.

Sylvia Olsen's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Nominated, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Award
• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

"A novel of courage and achievement told from the point of view of four native youths who must learn to cope with life off the reserve and their friend's illness…Many life lessons are taught with meaningful thematic messages, values and spirit…Highly recommended for primary/junior male readers both for recreational reading and for literature circles or discussion groups."

Resource Links

"Part of the terrific Orca Young Readers collection, A Different Game is the story of four boys who strive to make their school's soccer team only to discover that sometimes you get call[ed] up to play in a bigger game, and that life, like soccer, is better when it's a team effort...A solid, well-crafted story with strong, likable characters that will appeal to readers from Grade 3 up."

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