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    Out of the Pocket

    Author Bill Konigsberg
    Ebook
    Penguin Young Readers | Dutton Books for Young Readers
    On sale Sep 18, 2008 | 272 Pages | 9781440634055
    Grade 9 & Up
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    A powerful young adult novel that explores the tumultuous journey of self-acceptance and will resonate with readers long after the final page.

    “This book is for anyone who cares about understanding bigotry.”—Christ Crutcher, author of Whale Talk and King of the Mild Frontier

    Bobby Framingham is the star quarterback at Durango High School and one of the most talented high school football players in California. He’s waiting on scholarship offers from big schools and hopes he’ll go pro after college. On the field, his teammates are like his brothers. But off the field, he knows he’s different—Bobby is gay.

    Can he still be one of the guys and be honest about who he is? And even more, if people knew, could he still get that scholarship? Bobby’s not sure. After all, there are no openly gay male athletes in any of the major college or pro sports. Can he help change that? He doesn’t want to be a hero or a poster boy for gay rights—he just wants to play football—but how he handles his situation will send a big message.

    Just like in football, once Bobby’s forced out of the pocket he’ll have to make a play. He’ll have to deal with the changing dynamics of the team and his changing relationships with his friends and family, and accept that his path to success might be more difficult, and more public, than he’d hoped.
    Bill Konigsberg is an award-winning sportswriter for the Associated Press. This is his first novel. He lives in New York City. View titles by Bill Konigsberg
    “Out of the Pocket tells the truth. Bill Konigsberg has created a funny, compelling, haunting story about growing up different, and in the spotlight. This book is for anyone who cares about understanding bigotry.”—Christ Crutcher, author of Whale Talk and King of the Mild Frontier

    “How I rooted for Bobby, and all his imperfect, complicated, oh-so-human friends.”—Catherine Gilbert Murdock, author of Dairy Queen and The Off Season

    “It’s tough enough completing your pass as the linebackers blitz, but when your private life is also crashing in, the game is about survival. A hard-hitting first novel about quarterbacking your life.”—Robert Lipsyte, author of Raiders Night

    “Bill Konigsberg scores a touchdown with Out of the Pocket, a heartfelt story that captures the intimacy of sports and the complexity of teens.”—Alex Sanchez, author of Rainbow Boys and The God Box

    About

    A powerful young adult novel that explores the tumultuous journey of self-acceptance and will resonate with readers long after the final page.

    “This book is for anyone who cares about understanding bigotry.”—Christ Crutcher, author of Whale Talk and King of the Mild Frontier

    Bobby Framingham is the star quarterback at Durango High School and one of the most talented high school football players in California. He’s waiting on scholarship offers from big schools and hopes he’ll go pro after college. On the field, his teammates are like his brothers. But off the field, he knows he’s different—Bobby is gay.

    Can he still be one of the guys and be honest about who he is? And even more, if people knew, could he still get that scholarship? Bobby’s not sure. After all, there are no openly gay male athletes in any of the major college or pro sports. Can he help change that? He doesn’t want to be a hero or a poster boy for gay rights—he just wants to play football—but how he handles his situation will send a big message.

    Just like in football, once Bobby’s forced out of the pocket he’ll have to make a play. He’ll have to deal with the changing dynamics of the team and his changing relationships with his friends and family, and accept that his path to success might be more difficult, and more public, than he’d hoped.

    Author

    Bill Konigsberg is an award-winning sportswriter for the Associated Press. This is his first novel. He lives in New York City. View titles by Bill Konigsberg

    Praise

    “Out of the Pocket tells the truth. Bill Konigsberg has created a funny, compelling, haunting story about growing up different, and in the spotlight. This book is for anyone who cares about understanding bigotry.”—Christ Crutcher, author of Whale Talk and King of the Mild Frontier

    “How I rooted for Bobby, and all his imperfect, complicated, oh-so-human friends.”—Catherine Gilbert Murdock, author of Dairy Queen and The Off Season

    “It’s tough enough completing your pass as the linebackers blitz, but when your private life is also crashing in, the game is about survival. A hard-hitting first novel about quarterbacking your life.”—Robert Lipsyte, author of Raiders Night

    “Bill Konigsberg scores a touchdown with Out of the Pocket, a heartfelt story that captures the intimacy of sports and the complexity of teens.”—Alex Sanchez, author of Rainbow Boys and The God Box

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