On the Line - by Paul Coccia & Eric Walters (Paperback)

About the Book

In this novel for middle readers, thirteen-year-old basketball star Jordan Ryker learns that his father is gay.

Book Synopsis

Thirteen-year-old basketball star Jordan Ryker feels like his life is falling apart.

All Jordie wanted was for his parents to stop fighting. Soon, he gets his wish. His parents separate and then his dad announces he's gay. Shocked, Jordie struggles with how to process all this. His dad taught him everything he knows about basketball, and there's an important championship game coming up. He needs him more than ever. But Jordie feels like his dad has abandoned his family. He doesn't want anything to do with him now and he definitely doesn't want to meet his dad's new boyfriend. It takes a new girl with wicked basketball skills and a revelation from his best friend to help Jordie realize that while some things change, other things never do.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Review Quotes

"On the Line navigates emotionally charged themes with compassion and honesty. The dynamic basketball setting will appeal to its middle-grade audience along with its cast of well-drawn and endearing characters. A touching and refreshing story of a young teen learning what it means to love unconditionally."

--Michelle Kadarusman, author of Music for Tigers

"A story that challenges young readers to see beyond themselves and from different perspectives and with compassion for the struggles that others may be experiencing."-- "CanLit for Little Canadians"

"An emotional, thought-provoking journey exploring identity, with a basketball backdrop."-- "Booklist"

"A relationship-driven story."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Beautifully and realistically rendered...Shines a light on the restorative power of best friends and caring family...Both straight and LGBTQ+ readers will love a work created by two outstanding writers who, as it turns out, are greater than the sum of their storytelling parts. Highly Recommended."-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"

"Readers will embrace the language and style of the book...This is a coming-of-age story with a real-life scenario that teenagers, or those they know, could face."-- "School Library Connection"

About the Author

Paul Coccia is the author of The Player and the bestselling Orca Soundings title Cub, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. He has an MFA in creative writing from UBC and lives in Toronto with his family.

Eric Walters is a Member of the Order of Canada and the author of over 115 books that have collectively won more than 100 awards, including the Governor General's Literary Award for The King of Jam Sandwiches. A former teacher, Eric began writing as a way to get his fifth-grade students interested in reading and writing. Eric is a tireless presenter, speaking to over one hundred thousand students per year in schools across the country. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.