Out of the Tunnel: (Red Zone)

In Troy, Ohio, there's Trojan football and then there's everything else. It's been that way as long as anyone can remember. But it's been more than a decade since Troy took home the state title. This season, they finally have a chance to end the drought. Brian Norwood is the son of a Trojan football legend. His father starred on the last championship team--an undefeated team. And it seems like every sacred Trojan tradition began with his dad. Now Brian is the starting tight end--a member of the team's inner circle. He's finally living up to his father's expectations. But being one of Troy's privileged few is not at all what Brian expected. -- "Journal"

About the Author :
Patrick Jones lives in Minneapolis and is the author of many novels including the Support and Defend series. A former librarian, Jones received lifetime achievement awards from the American Library Association and the Catholic Library Association.

Review :
With the kickoff of the Red Zone series, focused on the beloved high school football team in tiny Troy, Ohio, and written at a fourth-grade level, Jones shows that the cult of blind jock worship is still alive and well, but it's also being challenged by independent-minded student athletes. Even though Brian is a varsity starter, he can't escape the shadow of his overbearing football legend father, who was part of the school's championship team years ago. He hesitantly takes part in some ugly, destructive traditions of the Big Six (the inner circle of players) and damages friendships before deciding that self-respect and his love of the game are what's most important. A vibrant mix of personalities and circumstances among the team members and staff--including the pompous, Vince Lombardi-quoting Coach Z--sets the stage for additional tales of the Trojans' pivotal season. --Publishers Weekly -- "Journal" 3Q 4P J S Centering on the suburban town of Troy, Ohio, each of The Red Zone books has a revolving cast of characters, which maintains freshness and readability. With football as the central character, it is also the catalyst moving the stories forward, though there are no explicit transitions between each book, so the events surrounding each central character must engage and be variable. The depth at which the rotating authors absorb the readers demonstrates the series' sustainability. The Option packs an emotional lesson on the repercussions of drunk driving between rivals Shane and Gary. Brian, in Out of the Tunnel, battles his conscience about bullying to be part of the tight-knit team, while in At All Costs, the damage of concussions to youths playing sports is validated. While Breakthrough is the weakest in terms of a powerful message imparted to readers, it focuses on an unlikely friendship. Readers will appreciate the ability to pick up whichever books interest them while not having to read in sequential order. These books can be effortlessly advertised to boys reading below grade level who still maintain an interest in contemporary topics. This series will be an easy selection to stock on school shelves. --VOYA -- "Journal"