Snap Decision

Gr 5–8—Chase Clark, an eighth grader quarterback of a losing JV football team, is poised to move up to the Loggerheads's varsity team if he plays his cards right. The Florida teen's best friend, Tripp, has already moved up, and another classmate, Meghan, was chosen as varsity kicker. Chase practices with both teams when senior skip day tempts some players to risk being benched, and it is just one lesson on the importance of making wise choices. A child of divorce, Chase looks to his coaches, and his religious friend, JB, for a moral compass. When Tripp hits his head during a game and doesn't want to stop playing, Chase knows he must tell the truth about Tripp's blackout—and obvious concussion—but it costs him the friendship. Days go by as Tripp is kept out of the playoffs, and Chase goes in. Playing on both teams causes Chase's grades to suffer, so it is no surprise when his math teacher suspects him of cheating on a test. His answers matched Tripp's, even in the mistakes, and Chase is suspended from football. Embarrassed and bewildered, Chase is eventually exonerated when the truth comes out, and is reinstated in time for the final, nail-biting game. The slow build to climax may frustrate readers who crave faster-paced action, but the football plays are detailed and authentic. Appended information about concussions highlight the symptoms and dangers. Librarians may also add this to character education and/or Christian fiction bibliographies.—Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland