Hardcover
Young Adult Fiction / Sports & Recreation / Football
The Breakfast Club meets Friday Night Lights in this powerful coming-of-age YA novel by celebrated author Robert Lipsyte, winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award, about a high school football player dealing with the aftermath of a violent incident at school that leaves him questioning everything.
Ronnie Rhinehart, better known as “Rhino” on the field, is the captain of his high school team in Woodhaven, a small town obsessed with football. His only goal is to earn a division I football scholarship so he can escape this town forever. Until the day he punches Josh Kremens in the face.
To avoid serious punishment and stay in school, Ronnie is forced to join Group, a cast of misfits who discuss their feelings with a counselor. At the same time, tensions are rising on the football team. Not everyone is happy that Ronnie, a junior, was named captain, especially Cogan and his friends, the Berserkers. Other than his best friend, Andy, Ronnie struggles to find solace and support, even at home, where his dad puts pressure on him to maintain his role on the team. Reluctantly, Ronnie finds himself liking aspects of Group, even if he isn’t always a welcome presence to the other members. Then one fateful day, Keith, another Group member, comes to school with a gun . . . and everything changes.