Box Out

Sophomore Liam Bergstrom has just been promoted to the varsity basketball team at his midwestern high school. The pressure is on him to meet his coach's and teammates expectations. While the girls team is probably headed for state, the boys are struggling, and the coach starts to count on the power of prayer to win; and he requires participation by all the players. Liam must decide whether to stand up for himself, and his beliefs, against his teammates, his fellow students, and even his parents. There are several important themes in this newest novel by John Coy: racism, prayer in schools, "team" sports, and peer pressure - all of significant importance to teen readers.