Boy 21

Quick, Matthew. Boy 21. New York: Little, Brown, 2012.

Audience: Ages 12 and older

Genre: Sports fiction

Personal Reaction: Boy 21 is the story of Finley, Boy 21 (also known as Russ), Erin, and basketball.  At the beginning of the story we know Finley is pretending some part of his life never happened.  His basketball coach asks him to befriend Russ, a new kid in town, who thinks he is an alien and will only go by the name Boy 21.  The three become friends and the basketball season begins. 

This novel flew by.  I read it in one sitting and found it hard to believe how much I truly enjoyed it. In this story Finley helps Russ play basketball again and Erin gets hit by a car, breaking her leg.  When Finley has to choose between Erin and basketball he realizes how much more important the people in his life are in comparison to the sport he once lived for.  This was a book I will recommend to many readers, not only those who love sports.  

Author Facts: Matthew quick was born in PA but later moved to Oaklyn, NJ.  He taught for many years, retiring in 2004 to become a full time writer.  He now lives with his wife Alicia Bessette who is a novelist and pianist in North Carolina.  

Author Website: http://matthewquickwriter.com/