Backfield Boys

A Football Mystery in Black and White

By: John Feinstein

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

In Backfield Boys, renowned sports journalist and New York Times best-selling author John Feinstein tells a thrilling story of friendship, football, and a fight for justice.

Freshman footballers Jason Roddin and Tom Jefferson are a perfect pair: Jason is a blazing-fast wide-receiver, while his best friend Tom has all the skills a standout quarterback needs. After summer football camp at an elite sports-focused boarding school, the boys are thrilled to be invited back with full-ride scholarships.

But on day one of practice, they're shocked when the team's coaching staff makes Tom, a black kid, a receiver and Jason, a white kid, a quarterback. Confronted with mounting evidence of deep-seated racial bias, the boys speak out, risking their scholarships and chances to play. As tensions ratchet up with coaches and other players, Tom and Jason must decide how much they're willing to lose in a conflict with powerful forces that has nothing - and everything - to do with the game they love.

©2017 John Feinstein (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

“An intriguing look at racism in contemporary sports and the power private schools have in shaping sports and upholding racist traditions." (Booklist)

John is John! incredible story

would have rather him read or narrated the book but the story is great

Stupidly Political

Weird politics tied into this clearly racist is wrong story. Story wasn't as memberable and characters were ok.