Genre: Sports/Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 14 and up
# of Pages: 200
2008 Iowa Teen Award Winner
RAC Book: Yes
Miles Manning has been a starting football player since he was in junior high. His team begins the year with high aspirations of winning state, but those dreams quickly vanish when their two starting quarterbacks get hurt and their coach has to leave for radiation treatments. The new coach blames Miles for everything that goes wrong with the team and believes he thinks too much and should just react to situations.
As hard as life is at school, however, it is worse at home. Miles’s dad is like a ticking time bomb that they all tip toe around and try not to set off. He still manages to find things to be angry about and usually goes after Miles when he wants to yell at someone. He was a big football player himself, so whenver he can he tells Miles all the mistakes he is making and never compliments him on what he does well.
On top of everything else, the players who are doing well on the team have all started taking recreational drugs including steroids and want him to do the same. This story accurately depicts the many aspects of a teenager’s life and how pressure can come at a student from all sides at times. Despite the many people trying to pull Miles down he always does what he feels is right, even if he knows there will be consequences. He cannot allow others to think for him and instead chooses to always think for himself. Miles has to learn that there will be life after high school and in order to survive he needs to look ahead. Recommended, especially for sports readers.
Young Adult Book Reviews 
this book was good i read it twice.
yea i thought it was good too!
This is a good book its really good i love it
The book was really good. It was interesting unlike the others only in my opinion.
it’s very good
this book rocked i read in two days football is my favortie sport i will never use drugs
This book sucked, I would never ever suggest this book to anyone ever. I thought it was poorly written, and think it should be recalled for serious editing. The overall plot was good but it needed to be written with more detail.
you don’t know what a good book is then! almost all my students I’ve had have read this book and LOVED it!
Yea what ever “John”. This book was okay in my opinion but it dosen’t need serious editing. Have you read the book Crank nd its series? The book wasn’t great but keep your rude comments to yourself. I’m not hating on your opinion, but just be nice. In some peoples opinion maybe your opinion “sucks”!
XoXoXoBridgetOxOxOxOx
this book was okay but the ending was terriable
I think ur 100% correct
pretty good book, it was an easy read, but lacked detail and meaningful moments that could have made the book really good. This book should only be recommend to young teens, because of its “on the surface” ideas. 7/10
i loved this book,when i read it it was just amazing.When i was done it sucked.I think they should make a second book.
this book was good they should make another one…it is now my favorite book. I hate reading books because they are stupid but not this one i could really relate to this book
this book was fantastic!
it was alright
I loved this book so much that I am right now trying to wright a trailer about this book why people should read this book
It was very interesting and relatable. I was hooked every second.
i dont like foot ball that much this book doesn’t look to good
this book was awesome! football is now my favorite sport and because of this, im even joining the football team next year!
This book is byfar the most amazing piece of writing that i have ever read
yes just stared and look great really
love this book
I think it was a good book.
Good book! But the drug reference might have been a little heavy for young teens.
where does the book take place?
So does he take the drugs or not??