Out of the Blue, Young Reader's Edition

From the beloved and charismatic wide receiver for the 2012 Super Bowl–winning New York Giants comes a root-for-the-underdog memoir about always believing in yourself.

Victor Cruz, the Super Bowl-winning and record-breaking wide receiver, is best known for his explosive plays and salsa touchdown celebrations. While his meteoric rise in the NFL looked like the result of a magical year, it was actually a lifetime in the making.

Raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Victor overcame numerous setbacks through hard work, perseverance, and the support of his loving family—from his grandmother who gave him his signature dance moves; to his late father, a former firefighter, who introduced him to football and taught him how to play; to his hard-working, single mother who never let him give up in the face of a challenge. They all helped to keep him on the right path, as did his coaches, but Cruz’s journey was never easy. There were academic struggles, injuries, and more. In this inspiring, never-before-seen account, Cruz pays tribute to the people and places that made him the man he is today, recounts his most defining moments, and illustrates how his hardships ultimately unleashed his impenetrable will to win.

Victor Cruz is the New York Giants wide receiver whose breakout 2011 season catapulted him to stardom. In 16 games, Cruz had 82 receptions for 1,536 yards, a franchise season record. He averaged 96 yards-per-game, with nine touchdowns, including a 99-yarder and a crucial Super Bowl catch. Before joining the Giants, Cruz was a standout at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Paterson Catholic High School in New Jersey.

Peter Schrager covers the NFL and college football at FoxSports.com. He is a frequent contributor to GQ, Esquire.com, and The Daily.