As I work my way through reading the Lincoln Award nominees for this year, I figured I would get the sport book over with right away since they're not exactly my genre. But, much to my surprise, this is much more than just a sport book. It's about identity, grief, loss, reinvention, uncertainty, told in such a way that is moving and accessible for teens. Isaiah is such a likeable lead, prone to mistakes and messing up, but you can tell that he has a genuine desire to make things right.

The book focuses on the aftermath of a serious head injury Isaiah sustains during a game, one that may prevent him from continuing to play. After a rough childhood and the death of his sister, football gave Isaiah structure and goals and kept him out of trouble. And now, with the threat of losing the thing that gave him a second chance, he must choose between the new life he made for himself or run the risk of falling back into bad habits.