Cracking the Bell

Isaiah's life resolves around football. It has since his sister Hannah was killed in a wreck involving a drunk driver, and Isaiah began getting into trouble with the law. His father gave him a choice...either play football or go to a school for juvenile delinquents. He decided to try out for football and thrived under the structure, focusing his intellect, passion, and leadership abilities into being the best player he could be, but when he gets a serious concussion which leaves him blacking out and vomiting, he realizes he could be risking his life by continuing to play. Suddenly, his whole future playing college football is called into question, and he finds himself drawn to his old ways again. Though there is some football action here and there, most of the story focuses on Isaiah and his relationship with his divorced parents who both want very different futures for him. Isaiah is a well-developed character who many teens will be able to relate to as they form their identities and try to decide what they will do once they graduate.