I’ve had a lot of success recommending this funny, subversive sports story.
Recommended grade level: 7 and up
Pages: 320 (for ISBN 9780374301361)
Genre(s) and keywords: humor, sports
Tone/Style: humorous, satirical
Pace: moderate
Topics: soccer, high school, social norms, internet fame
Themes: being oneself, discovering oneself, nonconformism
Summary: At Jack Logan’s sports-crazy New Jersey high school, the new rule is that all kids must play on a team. So Jack and a ragtag group of anti-athletic friends decide to get even. They are going to start a rebel JV soccer team whose mission is to avoid victory at any cost, setting out to secretly undermine the jock culture of the school. But as the team’s losing formula becomes increasingly successful at attracting fans and attention, Jack and his teammates are winning in ways they never expected—and don’t know how to handle. Continue reading
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