ALL FOR THE GAME

A group of teens learn about uncovering who you are in a society that wants to define you.

In Texas, football is a way of life, but for Finn Geringer, it’s also a path to supporting his family. He believes that transferring to East Pages High will bring him college scholarships—but he finds himself in the middle of a very different game. As a former ballet dancer with a white dad and Black mom, Finn’s girlfriend, Megan Kaufman, knows what the pressure to succeed feels like (Finn, whose mom is cued white, is racially ambiguous; thanks to the father he doesn’t know, he has olive skin and eyes “the color of midnight”). When Meg notices players from other teams are missing games, it confirms the suspicions Britney Wallace, Finn’s cheerleader cousin, has had since freshman year. And after a player dies, Brit realizes her peers are deliberately withholding information from her. Together, the three work together to figure out what’s going on. Widening the pool of people possibly involved in shady goings-on as the plot progresses, Buchta heightens the tension in this intense, high-stakes thriller. Each member of the cast brings a unique perspective to the challenges they face, and the three leads’ alternating narration adds to the feelings of suspense. The inclusion of strong girls, particularly Brit, who won a cybersecurity award, is refreshing.

A twisty, fast-paced thriller that will keep readers guessing.