In Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica, Nate Brodie is an 8th grade quarterback for his school's football team in Valley, Massachusetts. Nate learns important lessons in keeping promises, loyalty, friendship and overcoming obstacles. Nate learns these lessons through the problems experienced by people he loves. His father has had to take a part-time job for which he is overqualified when he loses his job, his mother has to work two jobs and his best friend, Abby McCall is going blind. Nate's playing during the season is affected by these challenges as well as the stress of an upcoming football throwing contest in which he has the chance to win a million dollars. Nate and Abby's friendship is threatened when she learns that she may have to go away to a special school for the blind. Then, Nate's dad loses his part-time job. Pressure is on in every corner of Nate's world. However, he realizes that his stress is nothing compared to what others are experiencing. Nate's positive attitude gives him an advantage. Ultimately, he meets his football hero, the Patriots' Tom Brady, on the night of the throwing contest. Nate wins the contest and offers the million dollars to Abby so that she can have surgery to correct her eyesight.