Knights of the Hill Country

Knights of the Hill Country by Tharp, Tim. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780375836534.

In a small Oklahoma town, one star linebacker must decide what kind of man he wants to be--both on and off the field. Welcome to Kennisaw--where Friday night high school football ranks right up there with God and country, and sometimes even comes in first. This year, the Kennisaw Knights are going for their fifth straight undefeated season, and if they succeed, theyll be more than the best high school team in the eastern Oklahoma hill country--theyll be legends. But the Knights legacy is a heavy weight to carry for Hampton, linebacker and star of the team. On the field, hes so in control youd think he was able to stop time. But his life off the field is a different story. His father walked out on him and his mom years ago, and now his mom has a new boyfriend every week. Hes drawn to a smart, quirky girl at school--the type a star athlete just isnt supposed to associate with. And meanwhile, his best friend and teammate Blaine--the true friend who first introduced Hampton to football back when he had nothing else--is becoming uncomfortably competitive, and hes demanding Hamptons loyalty even as Hampton thinks hes going too far. This unforgettable novel is the story of a boy whose choices will decide the kind of man he becomes, and raises powerful questions about sportsmanship, loyalty, and the deceptiveness of legends.