• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Linebacker Reggie Scott is forced to deal with the repercussions of an incident that shakes his belief in the game he loves.

When Reggie is persecuted by angry fans for being a "dirty" player, Reggie is forced to confront his own guilt and decide whether he can continue to play his senior season and beyond.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Jeff Rud's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standards Selection

Jeff Rud is the author of ten sports-related books for children. This is his second novel in the popular Orca Sports Series. Rud worked for nearly thirty years as a journalist in Western Canada before becoming a media relations manager in British Columbia’s Ministry of Education. He and his wife Lana, a middle-school teacher, have two children and live in Victoria, British Columbia.

"This fast-paced, short novel is perfect...It offers the excitement of the game and at the same time includes a story with substance and morals...Recommended."

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"A deeply engaging story...This book will pleasantly surprise readers used to the same old predictable sports stories for boys... For a very good portrayal of emotional turmoil, this is one football story that is worthy of reading, regardless of how much the reader loves or loathes sport. Highly Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"This is one of the best Orca books I've read. This book will be a great read for reluctant readers."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG)