“Heartbreaking.” —Laurie Halse Anderson, acclaimed author of Speak
“John Ed Bradley skillfully shines a beam of humanity through the prism of the game, revealing to us the full spectrum of its colors, from love to hate, bigotry to tolerance, and devotion to betrayal.” —Tim Green, retired NFL player and bestselling author​
From former football star and bestselling author John Ed Bradley comes a searing teen novel that looks at love, life, and football in the face of racial adversity.
Growing up in Louisiana in the late 1960s, Tater Henry has experienced a lot of prejudice. His town is slow to desegregate and slower still to leave behind deep-seated prejudice.
Despite the town’s sensibilities, Rodney Boulett and his twin sister Angie befriend Tater, and as their friendship grows stronger, Tater and Rodney become an unstoppable force on the football field. That is, until Rodney sees Tater and Angie growing closer, too, and Rodney’s world is turned upside down and threatened by a hate he did not know was inside of him.
As the town learns to accept notions like a black quarterback, some changes may be too difficult to accept.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
“John Ed Bradley skillfully shines a beam of humanity through the prism of the game, revealing to us the full spectrum of its colors, from love to hate, bigotry to tolerance, and devotion to betrayal.” —Tim Green, retired NFL player and bestselling author​
From former football star and bestselling author John Ed Bradley comes a searing teen novel that looks at love, life, and football in the face of racial adversity.
Growing up in Louisiana in the late 1960s, Tater Henry has experienced a lot of prejudice. His town is slow to desegregate and slower still to leave behind deep-seated prejudice.
Despite the town’s sensibilities, Rodney Boulett and his twin sister Angie befriend Tater, and as their friendship grows stronger, Tater and Rodney become an unstoppable force on the football field. That is, until Rodney sees Tater and Angie growing closer, too, and Rodney’s world is turned upside down and threatened by a hate he did not know was inside of him.
As the town learns to accept notions like a black quarterback, some changes may be too difficult to accept.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Praise for this book
"HEARTBREAKING." - Laurie Halse Anderson
"This engaging story shines a spotlight on the complexities and tension of racial integration...the author's history as a football player really shines...readers will connect with Rodney as he struggles to resolve his feelings." - Tim Green
"The book is so many other things that football might come third or fourth on the list. It is unflinching American history, it is cultural anthropology and it is a riveting morality play. Probably most of all it is a love story of the finest kind because it hurts all over and it mercilessly pits one kind of love against another in a genuine blood sport. John Ed Bradley has gathered a fine and believable cast of characters to tell a tough story, but above all Rodney Boulet stands as one of the most authentically, uncomfortably honest adolescent males I have read in quite some time." - Chris Lynch
"This engaging story shines a spotlight on the complexities and tension of racial integration...the author's history as a football player really shines...readers will connect with Rodney as he struggles to resolve his feelings." - Tim Green
"The book is so many other things that football might come third or fourth on the list. It is unflinching American history, it is cultural anthropology and it is a riveting morality play. Probably most of all it is a love story of the finest kind because it hurts all over and it mercilessly pits one kind of love against another in a genuine blood sport. John Ed Bradley has gathered a fine and believable cast of characters to tell a tough story, but above all Rodney Boulet stands as one of the most authentically, uncomfortably honest adolescent males I have read in quite some time." - Chris Lynch
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