Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica

When Molly Parker's mother died, she revealed to Molly an important secret- the identity of her father, none other than Boston Celtic great Josh Cameron. Molly, now living with her mother's best friend's family, is determined to seek out Josh and get to know him. Josh is skeptical of her claim, though he admits to dating Molly's mother in college. As the two get to know each other, Molly begins to doubt that Josh is capable of being the father that she wants- and needs- him to be.

Intreguing and complex characters truly make this a wonderful tale. Twelve-year-old Molly is fierce and feisty and not afraid to speak her mind, while Josh is at first the stereotypical self-involved star athlete but grows into a real father figure. Even the secondary characters such as Molly's friend Sam and Josh's housekeeper Mattie are well developed and add a lot to the story. While the sports aspect will attract readers, it takes a backseat to the relationship between Molly and Josh. Despite a few implausible events, oversentimentality and predictibility, this is an entertaining and heartwarming story.