Hard Hits

By Daphne Benedis-Grab

"We play with passion and we play with heart. And sometimes that passion goes too far."

When a violent event sends a middle school reeling just before the Homecoming football game, secrets start to come to the surface...

The Cottonwood middle school's undefeated football team, the Coyotes, are on the field, working to maintain their record. But suddenly the game comes to a halt. A hard hit has taken a player down--and he's been injured so badly he'll never play again. And then the very next day, the athletic office and coach's computer are found totally trashed.

A culprit is found almost immediately: Brian Miller, "the Destroyer," one of the best players on the team. Except . . .why would such a loyal and talented player do something like that to his own team?

Unless he didn't actually do it. Three kids decide to figure out what really happened. But as they start to ask questions, the threats start arriving.

What happens when winning is more important than anything else, and when obedience to the team is more important than anyone else?

This is a gripping read about what happens when a culture of total loyalty goes too far.

A high-stakes whodunit, this is perfect for readers interested in:

Tim Green, Tommy Greenwald, Mike Lupica, and Kwame Alexander's sports storiesA fast-moving plotSinister secretsLots of action, on and off the fieldSports dramaQuick reads

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1546150412
• ISBN13: 9781546150411
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7