Cracking the Bell

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.

How much is one season worth when it could cost him everything?

• High-Stakes Football: As team captain, the pressure is on Isaiah to lead his team to victory, but his next big hit could be his last.
• A Coming of Age Story: Forced to confront his future, Isaiah questions the sport that gave him an identity after his sister’s tragic death.
• Heartbreaking Family Drama: Football is the only thing holding his grieving family together. If he quits, he fears he’ll lose more than just the game.
• A Story of Redemption: Without the structure and discipline of the game, Isaiah fears sliding back into the destructive habits that nearly ruined his life.