Liam Bergstrom was called up to the varsity basketball team as a sophomore because of an injury to one of the senior players. He should be thrilled but Coach Kloss and his teammates pray before the games and require attendance at early morning prayer meetings. All of this makes Liam uncomfortable. Darius Buckner, a recent transfer from Chicago, quit the team during a game, which gets Liam to wondering about what he’s gotten himself into. When he decides to take a stand, his mother whole-heartedly supports him, but his dad, who works as a teacher in the district, seems, if not hostile to his action, at least ambivalent. There are other sub-plots, such as a girlfriend on an exchange in France that seems out of place in the narrative. The novel is laden with basketball jargon that may put off readers without in-depth basketball knowledge. ( )

Recommended for reluctant and lower-level readers. Many descriptive basketball scenes for the sport lover (as usual I glazed over them). But beyond being a sports action novel, it also covers weighty issues such as Liam standing up for what he believes and the issue of prayer in school. I liked the plot twist of Liam and Darius practicing with the girls' team and how that experience widens Liam's perspective. ( )

Another stellar sports novel from John Coy, who wrote Crackback. Liam is a sophomore and has just been moved up to the varsity basketball team. The head coach runs things very differently from the JV coach, including leading team prayers in practice and before (during and after) games, and requiring players to participate in a student-led Christian religious group. Although Liam is Catholic, he is pretty sure the coach of a public high school team should not be requiring students to participate in religious activities. Liam realizes that if he questions the coach, he will get little time to play during the games -- and if he doesn't play, his team will be more likely to lose as Liam is one of their tallest and best rebounders. The other players know what Coach expects, and they are willing to go along to get to play ball. It's hard to stand up for what's right, especially when it could cost you your dreams -- and other people's dreams too. The basketball scenes in this are even better than the football scenes in Crackback! All my ballplayers should pick this one up. 7th grade and up. ( )

This book was very good. I like how it involves events that could happen in real life. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Liam Bergstrom is one lucky sophomore. The varsity coach is bringing him up from JV to rebound for the varsity. Another player's bad luck (an injury) has become good luck for Liam.

When he starts practicing with the varsity, he gives it everything he has. He wants to make his mark on the team because of his ability, not just because of his height. The coach seems impressed, and Liam spends a fair amount of time off the bench and right in the middle of the action.

Unfortunately, there is one thing about the varsity team that kind of surprises Liam, and to be honest, disappoints him.

Before each game and at half-time, the team is required to pray. Coach asks a player to lead the team in prayer, and even though Liam is a practicing Catholic who believes in God and prayer, he feels uncomfortable. In addition to the game prayers, Liam discovers that the team members are expected to attend the HAF (Horizon Athletic Fellowship) meetings as well.

When Liam begins to question the legality of praying at school, several of the players tell him it's just the cost of being part of the team. Liam doesn't like the fact that not everyone on the team may follow Christian beliefs, and he feels hypocritical when he just pretends to participate. When he finally decides to ask the coach about the situation, he gets an answer he later learns was a lie. Having his coach lie to him and then expect him to do something as personal as pray, makes Liam take the issue to the next level.

Bringing the question of separation of church and state to the attention of people beyond the team stirs up things with his teammates and even the school principal. Liam finds out that asking questions and then standing up for what you believe in is not always the easiest road to take. Liam learns that sacrifices are hard and often costly.

BOX OUT is an excellent book. It provides plenty of play-by-play basketball action, plenty of teenage anxiety involving school, parents, and romantic issues, as well as plenty of possible discussion topics for teens and adults. It is well worth reading. ( )