(PAPERBACK) The Scrub: The Faith, Family, and Football Series, Book 2

Underdogs like Hoosiers

Curly Lambeau's Ghost

A Rocky-like High School Love Story

The Scrub is a coming-of-age YA story of three adolescents facing insurmountable challenges. Janus is at odds with his football coach; his best friend Barnaby's physical therapist is bullying him, and Asha's alcoholic father controls her life. Yet, the three friends remained determined to overcome the odds and succeed.

The story shines a light on high school's emotional ups and downs. And how often students exist in their private worlds of inner torment. On any given day, you can reach soaring heights or just as easily be beaten down into a dark pit of despair.

Despite constant personal setbacks, our trio of plucky friends persists. But when Janus' fortunes reach rock-bottom, fatherless and on his own, he has only one place left to turn—he seeks guidance from the ghost of Curly Lambeau, the legendary Green Bay Packers coach. With dark forces closing in, is it too late for our three friends to fight back on their own? Or will they accept coach Curly's advice that you will always be more powerful through loyalty, friendship and teamwork than going it alone?

PRAISE FOR THE SCRUB:

"Mancheski deftly paints adolescence in the same dreamy nostalgia as the early days of football. A rosy, feel-good sports tale." -- Kirkus Review  (2017)

"The fact that this book really held me is a testament to the writing. The somewhat generic synopsis doesn't begin to hint at the quality of this book. It's a winner." --  American Mensa Book Reviews

By Caroline McCullagh (Writer, Reviewer, Novelist)

"To deal with the grief of losing his father, Janus "talks" to the ghost of Earl "Curly" Lambeau through a ten-inch statue. Mancheski's latest novel is written with deep passion and personal memories – not to mention rich Green Bay Packers lore." -- Grant Cousineau.  Book Reviewer for Green Bay Untitled Town – 3rd Annual Writer's Conference Event  April 2019

"I was enormously impressed with this. It's a masterful job in virtually every respect.  Continuously suspenseful, but it also packs a powerful emotional punch." 

Editor Tom, Kirkus Reviews, August 2019

"It's a beautifully written book. I enjoyed it immensely."