• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

After budget cuts force the Southside Saints football team to disband, Jamal and his friends have to settle for playing pickup on the hardscrabble field behind their high school.

Then the president of a sporting goods company offers to donate $20,000 worth of equipment to the team. There's only one catch: he wants to be the coach. Thrilled to have a real team together, the players turn a blind eye to Coach Fort's racism, bullying and discrimination. Until he takes it too far. Now it’s up to Jamal and his teammates to take back their team and show what they’re made of.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Eric Howling is an advertising creative director and the author of the Lorimer sports novels Head Hunter, Red Zone Rivals, Hoop Magic, Kayak Combat and Drive. As a boy growing up in Montreal, Quebec, he always had a ball or stick or club in his hands. Now Eric's writing stories about playing some of those exciting sports. His books have been shortlisted for the Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award, named Resource Links Year's Best and picked as CCBC Best Books selections. Eric lives in Calgary, Alberta. Follow him on Twitter @erichowling.

Eric Howling's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"This book works well to highlight the perniciousness of prejudice backed by money. It also works well to illustrate the ingenuity of those whose intelligence is not measured by conventional means."

Resource Links

"An empowering read for reluctant-reader football fans who want to see athletes rise to the occasion."

Booklist

"Howling tackles the sensitive topic of racism head on and leaves readers enlightened and informed...a good read. Highly recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials