Mara is a strong-tempered, athletically gifted, closeted queer high schooler in the rural town of Elkhorn, Oregon. She was banned from the basketball team after she punched a teammate, and the only way to earn her way back into the coach's good graces is to successfully play another team sport for a season without getting into any fights. Everyone expects Mara to coast through a season of girl's volleyball, but instead she decides to try out of the all-boys football team. Her older brother Noah and her best friend Quinn already play football, so that means Mara will get to hang out with them and have a good time trying something challenging and new, right? No. Immediately, things begin to get complicated. Mara didn't feel like she was making a political statement, but then four other girls also decide to try out for team, Mara's mom gets upset at her, Noah's not sticking up for her on the field, and Quinn is being jealous and weird. Plus, one of the girls who decides to join football is Carly- the only out lesbian at Mara's school, and coincidentally, the girl who Mara punched.

I LOVED this book. I devoured it in three days. It's so deeply rooted in place, the rural and small-town setting influencing all of the characters, the choices they feel they can make, the things they try to hide. The book features a mid-30s queer mentor who I deeply related to. All of the girls who join the team are very different from each other, and have distinct (and occasionally conflicting) motivations for signing up. Their growing friendship is one of the joys of the book. Each character feels true and real, and I left the book rooting for all of them. I hope there's a sequel on the way!