First published 2014
Alex Myers knows he has the stronger arm, but Matt Gordon sits firmly in the starting quarterback position. Matt happens to be the coach's son, and that connection matters more than raw talent. Alex watches from the sidelines as the Lions work toward their championship dreams. When Matt gets injured, Alex finally steps onto the field and proves his worth. He leads the team to a crucial victory that keeps their state title hopes alive. His performance should secure his position as starter. Then the drug test results arrive. Alex tests positive for steroids, a result that makes no sense to him. He has never used performance enhancing drugs. The positive test will end his season and destroy his reputation. Alex faces a terrible choice between accepting a false accusation or fighting a system that seems determined to crush him. Someone may have sabotaged his future, but Alex cannot prove it. His dreams of playing quarterback hang in the balance.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, sports, young-adult
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, underdog
368 pages · Hardcover · Knopf Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: drug-use