Rivals

Carter is the star basketball player for Walthorne South and struggling to maintain his grades for playing. Alfie, also a student at South, dreams of being a sportscaster, even though she can’t play any sport well. Austin plays for Walthorne North, the rich kids’ school, where he has big shoes to fill following his father’s career. The first game of the season is a huge event, but an injury changes the line-up, putting Austin at center stage. When Carter’s coach tells him to make sure he passes the math test however he can, Carter hatches a plan that requires a little dishonesty. However, investigative digging by Alfie may threaten the season for both teams when she realizes there is more to sports than what happens on the court.

Like Greenwald’s previous sportsbook, Game Changer, this one is told through interviews, texts, chats, and news articles. However, this story about the dark side of sports features basketball and addresses other contemporary issues, like trash-talking by teams and poor sportsmanship by parents. These kids are flawed and realistic, bravely facing and understanding their faults. Alfie’s wizened views of sports provide food for thought and a great read for sports fans and mystery readers.