First published 2017
Jason Roddin and Tom Jefferson arrive at their elite boarding school ready to dominate on the football field. Jason has spent years perfecting his speed as a wide receiver. Tom has the arm and instincts of a born quarterback. The Jewish and African American best friends earned scholarships after excelling at summer camp, despite their mothers' worries about head injuries. On their first day, the coaches deliver shocking news. They want Tom to play receiver and Jason to take snaps as quarterback. The assignments contradict everything the boys know about their own abilities. Jason and Tom suspect racism drives the decision. They risk their scholarships by speaking out against the coaching staff. When Jason suffers a concussion during the season opener, both friends face an impossible choice. They must decide how much they will sacrifice to expose the racial prejudice embedded in their school's football culture.
Genres: american-fiction, african-american, mystery, contemporary, sports, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, sports
Setting: Boarding School
Period: Contemporary
353 pages · Hardcover · Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Content warnings: racism