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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Football has been the glue that has kept Isaiah sane for years when his family fell apart. When he gets a serious concussion, he is forced to reevaluate the cost.
Football and concussions! Such a great way you have the conversation.
Being a football mom, one whose son played nose tackle, if what happened to Isaiah happened to him, I’d probably make him quit. This book isn’t necessarily focused on football but the repercussions and what can happen to a person when their bell is cracked. I liked how it also focused on Isaiah‘s pre-football days and post football days. Football definitely gives a troubled kid focus, however, Isaiah‘s trouble stemmed from the devastating loss of his sister Hannah. He was acting out and the only way for him to straighten up and get some structure was for his father to force his hand and make him choose football. Unfortunately there were repercussions to being so focused and playing as hard as Isaiah did. The relationship with Grace almost seemed secondary. Overall it was a good book,
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
I picked this up because some of our middle school readers asked for sports books. It's a compelling, quick read with some good game details. But the bulk of the story is about the main character dealing with the fallout of family tragedy and past decisions. Not my cup of tea, but I think our teens will be into it.
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not very good in my opinion, i do not feel like it was well written and the storyline was odd
Isaiah Sadler knows things aren't right. They haven't been since Hannah died. They haven't been since his bell got rung.
This book does a great jump delving into the topic of concussions in football, particularly at the high-school level, and just how impactful the game of football can be to a young man.
There's a lot to unpack with family dynamics in this book, and how tragedy can alter more than just our emotions.
I'd say Cracking the Bell should be a book a lot of high school athletes read, especially boys, as it touches on the reality that life doesn't work the way we want it to, and we have to react to that reality in a healthy way.
This book does a great jump delving into the topic of concussions in football, particularly at the high-school level, and just how impactful the game of football can be to a young man.
There's a lot to unpack with family dynamics in this book, and how tragedy can alter more than just our emotions.
I'd say Cracking the Bell should be a book a lot of high school athletes read, especially boys, as it touches on the reality that life doesn't work the way we want it to, and we have to react to that reality in a healthy way.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Isaiah was on a downward spiral following the death of his sister and grandfather, but football provided a way for him to channel his pain. With many college coaches knocking on his door, he suffers another concussion, one he was unable to hide. As he processes the possibility of his life without football, he also confronts his grief regarding the losses his family suffered and the subsequent fallout.
This was an interesting journey. I sort of wish I had read instead of listened to the book, because there were a few times I got lost in the back and forth. Isaiah was an interesting and rather deep character. There were a few times I really felt his pain, and cried for him. This young man had some big choices to make, and he really didn't have much of a support system to help him. I really appreciated his struggle, and was proud of how far he came over the course of this book.
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Isaiah was on a downward spiral following the death of his sister and grandfather, but football provided a way for him to channel his pain. With many college coaches knocking on his door, he suffers another concussion, one he was unable to hide. As he processes the possibility of his life without football, he also confronts his grief regarding the losses his family suffered and the subsequent fallout.
This was an interesting journey. I sort of wish I had read instead of listened to the book, because there were a few times I got lost in the back and forth. Isaiah was an interesting and rather deep character. There were a few times I really felt his pain, and cried for him. This young man had some big choices to make, and he really didn't have much of a support system to help him. I really appreciated his struggle, and was proud of how far he came over the course of this book.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS