Leverage

Leverage follows two high school athletes at their sports-focused school: Danny, a small gymnast dealing with bullies, and Kurt, a new football player with a traumatic past. The paths of these two unlikely characters intersect as tensions rise between the celebrated football program and the underfunded gymnastics team. The story examines power dynamics, hazing rituals, and the culture of silence that can exist within competitive sports programs. Both main characters must navigate complex social hierarchies while confronting their own fears and limitations. The narrative tackles themes of moral courage, institutional responsibility, and the true meaning of strength. Through its exploration of high school athletics, the book raises questions about what people will do when faced with difficult choices between speaking up and staying safe.

Readers describe this YA novel as an intense look at high school gymnastics and football culture. Online reviews consistently note the book's realistic portrayal of bullying, hazing, and abuse of power. Readers appreciated: - Raw, unflinching approach to difficult topics - Authentic depiction of competitive sports pressure - Dual perspectives between main characters - Fast-paced narrative style Common criticisms: - Some found the violence excessive - Secondary characters lack development - Plot becomes predictable - Resolution feels rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (40+ ratings) Sample reader feedback: "The brutal honesty about team dynamics made me uncomfortable but kept me reading" - Goodreads reviewer "Needed more depth to the adults' roles and motivations" - Amazon reviewer "Captures the intensity of high school athletics without glorifying toxic behavior" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🏆 Joshua C. Cohen was a competitive gymnast before becoming an author, giving him firsthand experience with the intense world of athletics he portrays in "Leverage" 🔍 The book tackles serious issues including steroid use, bullying, and sexual assault in high school sports - topics that were considered particularly bold for YA literature when it was published in 2011 🤼 The story alternates between two narrators: Danny, a gymnast, and Kurt, a football player - representing opposite ends of the high school athletic spectrum 📚 "Leverage" was selected as a Junior Library Guild Selection and named to YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults list in 2012 🎯 Cohen spent five years writing and revising the manuscript before it was accepted for publication, drawing from both his gymnastics background and his experiences as a high school teacher