Overview

Part Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger, part Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, this debut YA novel tells the incredibly powerful story of bullying and how--taken to the extreme--it can wreak havoc on the lives of teenagers. Kurt is a talented but emotionally damaged football player. Danny is a rising star on the gymnastics team, an outsider in a school where the football team rules. But the two form an unlikely friendship, and when one of the gym team is viciously assaulted by the quarterback and his cronies, Kurt rises to his defense and challenges the entrenched stereotypes of high school sports. Reminiscent of the early work of Markus Zusak, this is that rare book that authentically captures the voices, fierce loyalties, and harsh justice of teenage boys.

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9781441775306

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Reviews

Kurt and his struggles are heartbreakingly real, and readers will pull for him long after the story ends. -- Kirkus Reviews A great read for the high school student or advanced middle school reader...Cohen writes very well in the perspective of the two high school students...The story is catchy and will keep readers interested. -- VOYA This powerful novel is thought-provoking and well-written, and it's about as dark and disturbing as YA literature gets. -- School Library Journal Cohen's debut offers a timely look at bullying...The central tragedy is gripping, as is Kurt's heartbreaking past. -- Publishers Weekly Sports novels don't hit much harder than this...Well-drawn alternating perspectives...Sports fans will love Cohen's style: direct, goal oriented, and filled with sensory detail. -- Booklist (starred review)

Author Information

Joshua C. Cohen was a walk-on for the University of Wisconsin-Madison gymnastics team and, after college, danced professionally in both the classical and modern disciplines. Since retiring as a dancer, he has worked as an editor in the financial industry and is currently a senior SEC editor for Thomson-Reuters. He and his wife live in New York City. Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman's The Genius, Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin's Selections from Dreamsongs. Paul Michael Garcia, an AudioFile Earphones Award winner and former company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, received his classical training in theater from Southern Oregon University, where he worked as an actor, director, and designer.

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