Boy21

by Matthew Quick

"Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in gray, broken Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish Mob, drugs, violence, and racially charged rivalries. At home, he takes care of his disabled grandfather, and at school he’s called “White Rabbit”, the only white kid on the varsity basketball team. He’s always dreamed of getting out somehow with his girlfriend, Erin. But until then, when he puts on his number 21, everything seems to make sense.

Russ has just moved to the neighborhood. A former teen basketball phenom from a privileged home, his life has been turned upside down by tragedy. Cut off from everyone he knows, he now answers only to the name Boy21—his former jersey number—and has an unusual obsession with outer space.

As their final year of high school brings these two boys together, “Boy21” may turn out to be the answer they both need."

Boy21 incorporates cultural aspects that I have not frequently seen in other books, and I found these details to be very interesting, as well as, to a certain extent, shocking. I think it's important for books to expose the unfortunate situations of certain communities, and the danger of Finley's world was very vividly explained by the end of this novel. Finley and Russ were both characters whom I really grew to like, and seeing their friendship progress was both enjoyable and inspiring. Finley was a very selfless character, as well as a brave one. I really loved the basketball aspect of the book, as it is my favorite sport, and could relate to Finley in the way that I am also a point guard. His frustrations in the games and his claim that athletes simply shouldn't think were realistic to me, and it was great to see his trustful, mutually supportive relationship with Erin. Matthew Quick has impressed me once more!

4/5 stars.