LOSERS TAKE ALL, by David Klass

The story: When their sports-obsessed new principal decrees that every senior in the school is now required to participate on a sports team, Jack and his group of un-athletic friends decide to make the best of what they know will be a terrible season by losing on purpose. Before they know it, the lovable Losers are all over the national media, and the principal is all over THEM. Nothing like this has ever happened at Fremont HS (aka Muscles High)! But the big question is--can you actually find the freedom to do what you want by being the biggest bunch of losers anywhere???

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG; Nudity PG; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (bullying, debate on the over=valuing of sports in our culture) PG; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: Jack is a funny, conflicted narrator, the son and brother of great athletes who has yet to find his place in a school run by a coach gone psycho. His characterizations of the different types of geek who form the Losers is spot-on, and will resonate with the geeky kids who pick up this book. Athletes will probably be confused by it, but might actually also get something from the story if they give it a chance. Due to the density of the prose, probably best for 8th grade and up.