Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach

Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach is an intense and important novel about concussions and the role of high school sports.  But it is also about the support systems we have around us and the trust we put in them to support us in the right way.  It is about forging our own path while at the same time relying on those closest to us to help guide us in the right direction.  Herbach hits on some tough issues in this novel, but delivers them in a way that makes us think deeply about each topic.

This is the story of Isaiah, a kid with a deeply troubled past, that discovers football when he begins high school.  The rush of the game, along with the camaraderie he feels with his teammates and coaches, has helped Isaiah move on from a past that includes run-ins with the law, his sister's tragic death, and his grandfather's murder.  He has become a star player for his high school, but when another traumatic concussion threatens to end his playing career, Isaiah has to fight the voice that tries to draw him back to his past.  With the help of friends and family, he is given a chance to fight for a future that he never dreamed was possible.  Isaiah's story will keep you cheering from the sidelines as you watch him navigate a life that has the potential for great things.   

From Amazon:

Friday Night Lights meets Concussion in this powerful and important novel by Geoff Herbach, author of the Stupid Fast series, exploring the dangerous concussion crisis in football through the eyes of a high school team captain.

Isaiah loves football. In fact, football saved Isaiah’s life, giving him structure and discipline after his sister’s death tore his family apart. But when Isaiah gets knocked out cold on the field, he learns there’s a lot more to lose than football.

While recovering from a concussion, Isaiah wonders what his life would look like without the game. All his friends are on the team, and Isaiah knows they can’t win without him. The scholarship offer from Cornell is only on the table if he keeps playing.

And without football, what would keep his family together? What would prevent him from sliding back into the habits that nearly destroyed him?

Isaiah must decide how much he’s willing to sacrifice for the sport that gave him everything, even if playing football threatens to take away his future.

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