Publisher: Penguin

Copyright Date: 2021

Edition Date: 2021 Release Date: 08/10/21

Pages: 242 pages

ISBN: Publisher: 0-525-51493-7 Perma-Bound: 0-8000-0778-6

ISBN 13: Publisher: 978-0-525-51493-0 Perma-Bound: 978-0-8000-0778-2

Dewey: Fic

Dimensions: 21 cm

Subject Heading:
Football. Fiction.
Sex role. Fiction.
Single-parent families. Fiction.
Fathers and daughters. Fiction.
Middle schools. Fiction.
Schools. Fiction.

Language: English

Word Count: 55,132

Reading Level: 4.7

Interest Level: 5-9

Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.7 / points: 8.0 / quiz: 509625 / grade: Middle Grades

Lexile: 680L

Guided Reading Level: V

Fountas & Pinnell: V

From New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica, comes a timely story about a young girl who joins the boys football team.

With Mike's signature fast-paced, heartfelt writing, he expertly explores gender inequality in football with nonstop sports action.

When twelve-year-old Alex makes up her mind to join her middle school's football team, she doesn't expect it to be easy. But she also never anticipated she'd be met with scorn and derision from her exclusively male teammates. Football has always been a source of happiness for Alex. She and her single father never miss a Steelers game on TV, and Alex knows she has a talent for throwing the perfect spiral. But the guys suck the joy right out of the game for Alex--going out of their way to trip her up during tryouts, and teaming up against her just to watch her fail. Suddenly, Alex is the lowest she's ever felt. But if getting QB is worth it to her, she's going to have to fight for it.