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From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

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. (Age 13 and older)

CCBC Choices 2009 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2009. Used with permission.

From Horn Book

January 1, 2009
Senior Bobby Framingham is the quintessential All-American California high school quarterback, except that he's gay. When a student reporter outs him, Bobby must deal with the fallout from teammates, family, and friends. Bobby is a narrator with depth and believability. This story about sports and identity examines the complexities of a difficult situation with humor and thoughtfulness.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From School Library Journal

September 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-Senior quarterback Bobby Framingham is gay and tired of keeping it a secret. He confides in a close friend who promises not to tell, and then does. Suddenly Bobby is in the spotlight, and raw emotions come into play. His best girl friend is hurt and disgusted. His coach insists that he's not really gay. His teammates' reactions range from supportive to freaked out to furious. In the meantime, his father undergoes treatment for cancer, and the football team comes together to prepare for a championship game. The sports-action sequences are well drawn and engaging, and the bond among teammates is strong. Character interactions are believable and often surprising, and Bobby is a likable narrator. A few repetitive scenes are a small price to pay for a thought-provoking, funny, and ultimately uplifting story of self-actualization that masterfully defies stereotypes about both coming out and team sports."Megan Honig, New York Public Library"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Booklist

September 1, 2008
Bobby Framingham is one of the top high-school quarterback prospects in California. Hes troubled, though, byhis growing realization that he is gaynot easy in the homophobic world of school sports. He confidesin his coach, a teacher, and a few friends before he isouted by an unscrupulous reporter for the school newspaper. This sets off a firestorm of national media attention, which Bobby faces bravely.At the same time, healsocomes to terms withhis fathers cancer, andhe meets a young man, whom he starts to date. At the end, Bobby finds acceptance at home, at school, and with hisfriends.Most ofthe elements in this story, told inBobbysauthentic first-person voice, ring true, from Bobbys initial struggle with his sexual identity to the sometimes hostile reaction of his teammates.Bobby's fathersillness adds an unnecessary element of melodrama, but this is a minor quibble with a thoughtful, powerful novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)