Mike Lupica Books In Order

Publication Order of Comeback Kids Books

Publication Order of Danny Walker/Travel Team Books

Publication Order of Game Changers Books

Publication Order of Heat Books

Publication Order of Home Team Books

Publication Order of Peter Finley Books

Publication Order of Zach & Zoe Mysteries Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Sunny Randall Books

Publication Order of Jesse Stone Books

Publication Order of Spenser Books

Publication Order of Best American Sports Writing Books

Michael or Mike Lupica (born 11th May, 1952) is, probably, the most popular and best-known sports columnists in United States. He started his newspaper career at 23 years only with the New York Post in 1975 and at that time he covered the games of New York Knicks. In the year of ’77 he was the youngest columnist ever for the prestigious Daily News where he presently writes as many as 4 syndicated columns per week. In his illustrious career he has successfully worked for The National & the New York Newsday. Since 1987 he has been writing a column for the Esquire magazine. His works have been published in Parade, Playboy, Tennis, Sport Magazine, the World Tennis et al. Mike Lupica has also been a regular on the Sunday morning show – The Sports Reporters – that airs on ESPN. In 2003 he bagged the coveted Jim Murray Award from the National Football Foundation.

HIS WORKS

Lupica has written several fiction and non-fiction books and the majority of these books have been a bestseller. He has also co-written a number of non-fiction books in his career. In fact, he is #1 bestselling author for the books for young readers and his works include Fantasy League, Heat, and Million-Dollar Throw etc.

Autobiographies

Lupica has co-written autobiographies with Bill Parcells and Reggie Jackson and has also collaborated with noted author, William Goldman.

Novels

Mike is also a noted novelist and his famous mysteries include the fictional NYC TV reporter Peter Finley. One of his books, Dead Air, was nominated for the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award. He has also written a wonderful novel for the young readers titled, Travel Team. Among his novels, Bump and Run & Wild Pitch were bestsellers and deserve special mention here.

HEAT

Heat is a novel for young adults that were published in 2006. The events of the book take place in Bronx, NY. Michael Arroyo, a highly gifted baseball player, is the main character of this novel. The coaches from all the teams say that Michael is so good in the game that it is hard to believe that he is just 12 years of age. But things are not rosy for him as he has no parents and his birth certificate is lying in his native home in Cuba. The onus lies on him, his best friend Manny and his brother Carlos to prove to the world that he is really a 12 year old boy. As the book progresses we learn that Michael meets a beautiful and mysterious girl named Elle. Also he has to lie to almost everyone he meets otherwise he will get separated from his brother. His loving brother is just 2 months away from turning 18 years which will make him a legal guardian. Michael remembers his father from time to time who actually died just a few months before the plot of the story unfolds. Michael’s father was a great man and always encouraged him to do well in almost everything and always wished that his son excels in baseball.

TRAVEL TEAM

Travel Team is about a young basketball player named Danny Walker. The story revolves around how this young boy was rejected from the travel team of his town as he was a bit short. He became so dejected that he felt like giving up on basketball but his friends and family members egged him on to get on the YMCA League. But his dad who was a professional basketball player himself decided to start their own travel team. They qualify for the league but their first few games they are beaten quite comprehensively. In fact, they lose all their matches. The majority of the book is about how they try and overcome from being one of the worst teams in the league.

The plot of this fascinating book is set in a small town on the east coast. The town is basically known for its basketball as Danny’s dad was instrumental in leading his 7th grade travel team to the ESPN championship. So Danny decided that he should follow the footsteps of his famous father. Will is Danny’s best friend in the book and essays a magnificent supporting role. Ty Ross is the best player in the town and we also get to know, through the course of the book, that Danny’s parents are now divorced but they come together to help Danny in his endeavor.

Travel Team is definitely not a typical sports story as it follows the passion of a 4’4” teen who just wants to play basketball and be good at it. The reader can easily relate to many events that have been described in the book and many high school teens can easily connect with the character of the book, Danny. Lupica, through this book, tries to explain that irrespective of the difficulties and adversities, one should never ever give up on a dream even if it seems a bit far-fetched.

This is truly one of the better books of Mike Lupica and it is no surprise that this novel was a bestseller. There is too much suspense in this book and the readers are never sure how this book will end. This book ends in a real cliffhanger and proves why Mike Lupica is still a highly respected and celebrated author in the US and elsewhere.

BOOKS TO MOVIES

A few of the books of Lupica have been turned into a TV series or movie. Dead Air, for example, became a CBS TV movie – Money, Power, Murder – for which he wrote the teleplay.

TV & RADIO WORK

Since 1988 Mike has been on of the rotating experts on the ESPN Show – The Sports Reporters. He also hosted a chat program on ESPN 2 titled The Mike Lupica Show but it was largely unsuccessful. He is also a recurring guest on Good Morning America and CBS Morning News.

PERSONAL LIFE

Mike spent his childhood in New Hampshire and graduated from the prestigious Bishop Guertin High School. He first came into limelight as a sportswriter and wrote the column for the much popular Esquire magazine for a decade and at presents writes regularly for Travel + Leisure Golf. He now lives in Connecticut with his wife , 3 sons and a daughter.

3 Responses to “Mike Lupica”

1. Susan: 12 months ago

   Loved Robert B Parker’s work; his heirs picked the right author to add to his titles. Thanks!

   Reply
2. Robert W Marshall: 1 year ago

   I’m looking for a Mike Lupica book for my 11 y/o grandson…about hockey. Has Mike written such a book? If so, can you tell me the title?? Thanks.

   Reply
   • Graeme: 1 year ago

     The Hockey Rink Hunt. #5 in the Zach & Zoe Mysteries.

     Reply