TACKLE WITHOUT A TEAM

by Matt Christopher ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 1989

After someone plants marijuana in his duffel bag, a young lineman is thrown off his team. Scott knows he's been framed, but how can he prove it? Even his parents doubt his innocence. He has some suspects--a girl with whom he recently broke up; an unfriendly former teammate--but the coach needs hard evidence before Scott can be reinstated. Meanwhile, he joins a newly formed team that plays more roughly than he likes--an opportunity for the author to comment on good and poor sportsmanship. Christopher can always be counted on for plenty of tense sports-action plus a plot twist or two, but here the denouement is rather artificial, with Scott contriving to extract a confession on the playing field via a mini-recorder hidden in his gear. On the other hand, the anti-drug message here is convincing--in part because it is not heavy-handed. A glib, easy story to draw reluctant readers.

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1989

ISBN: 0316095885

Page Count: 145

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1989

Categories: CHILDREN'S