|
Box Out | 
 enlarge | Author: John Coy
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $6.80
You Save: $10.19 (60%)
New (18) Used (7) from $6.80
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 71269
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.7 x 1
ISBN: 0439870321
EAN: 9780439870320
ASIN: 0439870321
Publication Date: June 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: New - Has remainder mark. Fast shipping from trusted wholesaler with many exclusive publisher contracts.
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Liam has just been bumped up to starter on the varsity basketball team, and the pressure's on. With the girls' team heading to State, the boys' team is under even greater scrutiny than usual in Liam's small midwestern town. When the team's coach starts counting on the power of prayer---and enforcing teamwide participation---Liam finds himself in a spotlight that's more nerve-racking than any trip to the free-throw line. In trying to stand up for what's right, Liam is forced to stand up for himself---against his teammates, his fellow students, and even his parents.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Athletes and Ethics September 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
John Coy's BOX OUT, the perfect antidote for a sports-loving, reading-resistant middle schooler, will also find an audience among those who love to read and those of any age. In simple language, Coy tackles complex issues such as the separation of church and state. Liam Bergstrom, a 17-year-old hoops player who is delighted when he is promoted from JV to Varsity, is troubled immediately when he discovers the Varsity coach leads his team in Christian prayer before every game. Coach Kloss also has religious meetings at his house for the high school athletes.
What makes the novel work is the inner conflict Liam goes through as he tries to sort out why this troubles him so. His mother is gung-ho against the coach, while his more conservative father (a teacher in the same school system) recommends caution. Meantime, Liam meets pressure from his friends and fellow athletes as well -- his friends oppose his making a stink and advise him to just go along with it so he can get his minutes on court. When he decides to report the practice to a national group and a letter is sent to the principal, all purgatory breaks loose.
Both boys and girls should enjoy this ethical dilemma with a basketball backdrop, as it features not only the boys' team but the champion-caliber girls' team as well. By the end of the book, lines have been drawn and sides have been taken. Verbal harrassment escalates to physical violence and Liam learns that taking ethical stands can come at great cost. Readers will enjoy not only the plot, but the characterization as Liam stands on principle and suffers the consequences. Like Coy's earlier work, CRACKBACK, I recommend this book highly to middle readers.
Box Out: a Challenge August 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Tough issues abound in teenage life, and this book is filled with insightful, challenging situations to which teenagers can relate. John Coy's research into the teenage experience regarding sports, coaches, relationships, and decisions is obvious in the characters and plot of the novel.
Liam Bergstrom's life revolves around the basketball court, and he embraces the opportunity to play varsity ball after a teammate's injury. Coach Kloss tells him, "We're a tight team. If you ever have anything you need to talk about, come on down. My door is open." Liam is ecstatic! On his first big game day, he cannot believe he is wearing a Horizon High School varsity uniform. But when Coach comes into the locker room for the pre-game talk, Liam learns the one big difference between Varsity and JV: prayer. Though raised in the Catholic faith, Liam is not so sure the inclusion of prayer should be part of high school athletics.
Something else troubles Liam about Coach's behavior. Supposedly a believer in team basketball, the man clearly has favorites and disapproves of the style and attitude of the only black player on the team, Darius. When Darius quits, Coach and the teammates act like he was never really a team player, yet others do not receive similar treatment. Darius, however, maintains that Coach does not really respect the game.
When Coach and his teammates encourage (even expect?) him to attend weekly before-school Horizon Athletic Fellowship meetings, where prayer and expression of one's faith are foremost on the agenda, Liam becomes even more uncomfortable in his new role. The members wear HWJC bracelets (How Would Jesus Compete?), and some hypocritical players communicate a totally different opinion in front of other than they express to individuals. Coach, who was always willing to discuss any issues and concerns, assures Liam he has checked out the prayers, and all is legitimate. Frustrated, Liam eventually contacts an organization called Americans United for Separation of Church and State for guidance.
The author builds upon the conflicts on the court and in school to guide Liam to a difficult decision, one which broadens his definition of basketball and enables him to discover the courage within him to do what is right, not always what is easy.
Athletes will find the basketball details accurate and engaging. Non-athletes will understand the terminology and explanations based on the author's contextual information. All readers will be challenged to defend their positions on racism, prayer in schools, peer pressure, and team sports.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
