A review by contemplitclhs
Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach

challenging hopeful informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

   This book was very well written, not only was it about sports, but it also talked about personal problems that I have had also. A boy named Isaiah never decided to play football until his freshman year of High School. He wasn't the best kid, usually smoking weed or getting in fights at school. His Dad eventually threaten him to be kicked out of the household if he didn't change, and his dad told him to go out for football to take his anger out. He did. He wasn't bad at all, a first-year starter and the best tackler on the team. He hit a kid so hard, he ended up getting a concussion without knowing. The character did a very good job of describing the concussion with "witches whistling, and bells ringing."
     The writer Geoff Herbach pull me in right away. He stated lines about football, but also his outside life, and how his sister died and he needed to persevere throughout the year and not have it affect him. These books I like, because usually, you can learn a thing or two about how to persevere when going through a rough time. The book was also fast past which I like, it got into many details right away. It never seemed to bore me. Isaiah liked this girl named Grace, but she had a bad influence on him as she drank every time while working, and made him drink with her. He liked her so he did whatever she told him. Although they never got caught because she was a good worker and got everything done. 
Love,
Hayden Rieck