Mercy Rule

(Hardback)

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Dannys parents yanked him from the art school that let him wear a kilt and listen to bands that no ones heard of. Now hes starting sophomore year at the public high schoolthe one with the gymnasium at the heart of the building and the glorified athletes who rule it all. The smart thing would be to blend in, but Danny has always been about making statements.

Brady just wants to get out. Go to college, play football, maybe reach the NFL. He definitely wants to stop waiting for his deadbeat mother to come home, sleeping on park benches, and going to bed hungry. But first he has to lead the team to the championships. It all adds up to a lot of stress. So who can really blame him when he and the football team turn their aggressions on the new freak Even the quarterback needs to blow off steam sometimes.

Coach turns a blind eye to his players crimesbecause this year, theyre going to State. But maybe if Coach had paid more attention they couldve caught it before it all happened. Maybe it couldve been avoided.

Maybe.

With quick cuts between a large cast of unforgettable characters, and razor-sharp plotting, Tom Leveen takes readers on a countdown to an inevitable, horrifying act. This gripping novel offers an intense, smart perspective on the tragic, toxic mindsets behind the celebrated American sport and the monsters it creates.

Reviews

Each narrator has a unique voice through language and formatting, with small details all adding to an exciting climax. Readers hooked by the intriguing start will stay with this all the way to the thrilling conclusion. Booklist
Each narrator has a unique voice through language and formatting, with small details all adding to an exciting climax. Readers hooked by the intriguing start will stay with this all the way to the thrilling conclusion. Booklist

Author Bio

Tom Leveen is the author of six teen novels, including his most recent titles, Hellworld and Shackled; Zero, an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2013; and Sick, a YALSA Quick Pick 2014. A rocking and frequent speaker at schools and conferences, Tom lives and writes full-time in Phoenix, Arizona.