Friday Night Lights...Twisted

 

All for the Game
By Heather Buchta
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 464 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0593384985
Reading age: 12 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9
Lexile measure: HL620L
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Friday Night Lights meets A Good Girl's Guide to Murder in this juicy, mind-twisting thriller about football, romance, and the cost of playing the game.

In Texas, football is life.

For Finn Geringer, it’s a ticket to a better future. Transferring to East Pages High, Finn hopes to secure a college scholarship and a chance to provide for his grandmother. In this town where football reigns supreme, East Pages seems perfect. Until it’s not.

Finn’s girlfriend, Megan, notices rival players absent from games. As she digs deeper, her life becomes increasingly dangerous: Mysterious cars tail her, strangers issue threats, and she’s sure someone’s been in her bedroom. Is it her imagination, or is East Pages hiding a dark secret?

Meanwhile, Finn’s cousin, Brit, the head cheerleader, revels in the perks of popularity and the prestige of attending a renowned sports school. But when a football player dies, she learns that her peers are purposely keeping her in the dark. Is her popularity an illusion?

Finn must choose between pursuing his dreams or uncovering the truth. As he, Brit, and Megan unravel the team’s mysteries, they face a powerful force determined to protect the school’s legacy at all costs. From veteran author Heather Buchta comes a gripping second-guessing game of suspicion and paranoia, romance and reputation, and the lengths people will go to protect who—and what—they love.

 My Thoughts:

This book is long, but it was a quick read. Part of that is the lower lexile level—about a 5^th grade level, although the book is definitely directed at a high school audience. I haven’t said it here recently, but about half of my incoming freshmen each year read below grade level, so having these high-interest, low-lexile books is important.

 On to the book…

 The school I teach at has a very successful football program, making the playoffs most of our 16-year history, including a state title. That said, we are nowhere near the rabid fans that you’ll find in this book. In East Pages, football is everything. Finn transfers to East Pages high school to further his goal of college, then pro, ball in order to support his family. His cousin Brit already goes to school there, but hasn’t really mentioned to her classmates that they are related. After all, up until his transfer, he was the enemy.

 And that’s the mindset of the town—anyone not part of their program is the enemy.

 The three POV characters are smart, and when they notice—collectively and individually—that things just aren’t quite right, they don’t just let it slide. They each have personal struggles, and the whole football thing just adds another layer to that.

 I was especially interested in Brit—super smart, but dumbs herself down to fit the cheerleader image. Her shock at realizing that she was never actually one of the “in” group is powerful.

 The three make personal sacrifices as they choose to do the right thing. The end isn’t easy, but it’s satisfying.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Drinking. Scheming. Sneaking around. The love of football is almost cult-like. Deceiving parents. Overbearing parents. Swearing, including the f-word. Mentions of Christian faith and scripture.

 Who Might Like This Book:

High school football fans. Anyone who likes suspense. This book would easily appeal to readers of any gender.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

#AllForTheGame #HeatherBuchta #NetGalley #YALit #FridayNightLights #BookReview