Backfield Boys: A Football Mystery in Black and White -- John Feinstein

<p><b>"The best writer of sports books in America today" (<i>The Boston Globe</i>) tells a thrilling story of friendship, football, and a fight for justice.<br></b><br>Renowned sports journalist and <i>New York Times-</i>bestselling author John Feinstein's young adult novel <i>Backfield Boys </i>follows best friends and football stars Jason Roddin and Tom Jefferson, a perfect, though unconventional, pair: Jason, the Jewish kid, is lightning fast and a natural wide-receiver, while African-American Tom has an amazing arm and a quarterback's feel for the game. After summer football camp at an elite sports-focused boarding school, the boys are thrilled to enroll on scholarship for their freshman year--despite their mothers' fears of injury and especially CTE. <p/>On day one, they're stunned when the coaches make Tom a receiver and Jason a quarterback, a complete contradiction to their skill sets and training. Suspecting deep-seated racial bias, the boys speak out, risking both their scholarships and their chance to play. Soon local newspaper reports begin a secret investigation, and as tensions rise Jason and Tom must decide how much they're willing to lose in their quest to expose the ugly remnants of a racist past that still linger in contemporary jock culture. <p/><b>Praise for <i>Backfield Boys</i>: </b> <p/>An intriguing look at racism in contemporary sports and the power private schools have in shaping sports and upholding racist traditions. --<i>Booklist<br></i><br>"A str