Cracking the Bell

Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach is another Rosie (Eliot Rosewater) nominee this year. The novel follows main character Isaiah after a big hit from last Friday’s football game. Following the hit, Isaiah starts feeling sick. He goes to the doctor to find out there is a little bit more wrong than just a concussion. He is at risk. With one more bad hit, he could be killed or become brain dead. His mom tells him to stop playing, but now he is ultimately left with a choice to see what he will do for the sport that he not only loves, but that has changed his life. Football not only forced him to turn his life around; football got him a scholarship to a top tier school, but that all goes away if he stops playing. Considering I’m not typically drawn to sports books, this one is really well written and I found myself flying through when I sat down to read. (3.94/5 starts on Goodreads)