Out of the Pocket

September 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-Senior quarterback Bobby Framingham is gay and tired of keeping it a secret. He confides in a close friend who promises not to tell, and then does. Suddenly Bobby is in the spotlight, and raw emotions come into play. His best girl friend is hurt and disgusted. His coach insists that he's not really gay. His teammates' reactions range from supportive to freaked out to furious. In the meantime, his father undergoes treatment for cancer, and the football team comes together to prepare for a championship game. The sports-action sequences are well drawn and engaging, and the bond among teammates is strong. Character interactions are believable and often surprising, and Bobby is a likable narrator. A few repetitive scenes are a small price to pay for a thought-provoking, funny, and ultimately uplifting story of self-actualization that masterfully defies stereotypes about both coming out and team sports."Megan Honig, New York Public Library"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2008
Bobby Framingham is one of the top high-school quarterback prospects in California. Hes troubled, though, byhis growing realization that he is gaynot easy in the homophobic world of school sports. He confidesin his coach, a teacher, and a few friends before he isouted by an unscrupulous reporter for the school newspaper. This sets off a firestorm of national media attention, which Bobby faces bravely.At the same time, healsocomes to terms withhis fathers cancer, andhe meets a young man, whom he starts to date. At the end, Bobby finds acceptance at home, at school, and with hisfriends.Most ofthe elements in this story, told inBobbysauthentic first-person voice, ring true, from Bobbys initial struggle with his sexual identity to the sometimes hostile reaction of his teammates.Bobby's fathersillness adds an unnecessary element of melodrama, but this is a minor quibble with a thoughtful, powerful novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)