Cohen, Joshua C. 
LEVERAGE
New York:  Dutton, 2011. 
IL YA
ISBN  0525423060

     

Kurt is the new football star, while Danny is on the gymnastics team. Both boys have a past, full of sorrow and pain.  The steroid using football players bully everyone, including the players in other sports.  Danny does his best to stay out of their way, but an ever-increasing prank war between the gymnastic squad and the football team pulls him and his teammates in.  When a tragedy occurs, Danny is one of the few who know who is responsible.  Kurt, the stuttering abuse survivor and fullback is also a witness. As the two teens deal with their guilt over their failure to act during and after the events, they are forced to confront the bullies and their own self-doubts. The scenes containing sexual violence may bother some, but are appropriate to the plot and handled well.  
(Booktalk by the Sequoya Youth Book Award committee, 2014)