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Out of the Pocket
CCBC Review:
Bobby Framingham is a successful high school quarterback who dreams of recruitment to Stanford before turning pro. Bobby’s a confident guy who wishes that he could be honest with his teammates and family about his sexuality, but he worries that being openly gay could jeopardize his athletic future. He’s done his research, and he knows that there has never been a publicly gay player in the history of the NFL. After coming out to his best friend, he’s relieved that Austin seems okay—kind of—with the information. As it turns out, Austin can’t keep the news to himself, and others on the team aren’t so accepting. Eventually Bobby’s secret is exposed in the school newspaper, which leads to national coverage. Reactions from peers, family, fans, and the media range from homophobic intolerance to unexpected support. This tumultuous stage of Bobby’s life is both exacerbated and put in perspective when his father is diagnosed with lymphoma. Bobby struggles to master new skills on the field that require him to function “out of the pocket,” at the same time as he is forced to leave his comfort zone in the real world. Ultimately it appears that Bobby will bring his winning ways to both arenas. © Cooperative Children's Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Gays
Homophobia
LGBTQ+ Persons
Sports
Diversity subject:
LGBTQ Character/Topic
Physical Disability/Condition
On CCBC Booklist:
Privacy Between the Pages: Selected Books for Older Children and Teens
Publisher:
Dutton
Publish Year: 2008
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9780525479963
CCBC Location: Fiction, Konigsberg