Beyond the Game: Pat Tillman

Beyond the Gameis a nonfiction chapter book series about athletes who have stepped up beyond sports to make a difference in the world, from acclaimed author Andrew Maraniss and illustrator DeAndra Hodge. This is the story of NFL star Pat Tillman, who gave up his NFL career to enlist in the army.

In this chapter book biography by acclaimed author Andrew Maraniss, readers learn more about the life and work of Pat Tillman--an NFL player who left his career with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the army after 9/11, and ultimately was killed by friendly fire.

After 9/11, Pat Tillman felt it was his duty as an American to stand up for the country, even though he was a pro football player in the prime of his career. He was someone who matched his toughness on the field with a soft heart, someone who always stood up for the underdog, and someone who felt an obligation to do the right thing--not depend on other people to do it. And for all his actions, Tillman often questioned his role in the military and the war--revealing the depths of his integrity and the ethical way he lived his life.

Through his actions and his legacy, Pat Tillman has changed the world beyond sports.

Complete with black-and-white illustrations throughout, statistics, resources, and ways for kids to make a difference on their own--Beyond the Game is a giftable and inspirational series for every reader.

New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss writes sports- and social justice-related nonfiction for children, teens, and adults. His bestselling adult book, Strong Inside, received the Lillian Smith Book Award and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize. The middle grade adaptation was named a Book of the Year by the ALA. His next YA book, Games of Deception, received the Sydney Taylor Book Honor.

His YA biography, Singled Out, was named one of the 100 Best Baseball Books Ever Written by Esquire and was a Rainbow Book List selection. His latest YA book, Inaugural Ballers, was a School Library Journal Book of the Year.

You can visit Andrew Maraniss at AndrewMaraniss.com or follow him on Facebook @AndrewMaranissAuthor, on Twitter @TruBlu24, and on Instagram @AMaraniss.

DeAndra Hodge is an illustrator and a graphic designer originally from Huntsville, Alabama, currently based in Washington, DC. She graduated with a BA in fine art from the University of Montevallo. Her love of illustration began as a child, when she would make up her own stories and illustrations, often begging her teachers to share them with the class. She is most widely known as the illustrator of both the Kid Confident and the That Girl Lay Lay book series.

You can visit DeAndra Hodge at DeAndraHodgeArt.com or follow her on Instagram @DeAndraHodge_ and on Twitter @DeAndra_Hodge.