Found by Harlan Coben - ESSENTIAL

Coben, Harlan  Found (Mickey Bolitar, #3), 326 pgs.  G.P. Putnam’ Sons, 2014.  $18.99  Content: Language: PG (3 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   

Mickey is trying to find acceptance on the varsity basketball team, even though he is only a sophomore.  The seniors are giving him the cold shoulder, until they lose two of their star players.  One player disappears and the other player tests positive for steroids.  The team looks to Mickey to help them solve the problems that are breaking up their team.  Mickey is also trying to deal with Spoon’s accident that he feels guilty for and Ema’s missing online boyfriend.  There is also the overriding mystery of what happened to Mickey’s father that has been going on throughout the series.  

 I love this series and the books are easy to recommend to middle school and high school boys.  On a couple of occasions I have found myself doing a book talk and trying to sell it to people in the young adult aisle at Barnes and Noble.  The main character is smart and funny with a good heart and his best friends, Spoon and Ema are entertaining and great sidekicks.  This book solved more of the mystery about his dad and I can’t wait to keep reading more about Mickey.   

MS, HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.