Whistleblower

March 1, 2023
Grades 9-12 College junior Laurel Cates has been assigned to write a fluff piece on her university's football team for the school paper. In her research, she learns of how the coach has harassed women and knows she must investigate. One of the witnesses to the coach's behavior is star quarterback Bodie St. James, who Laurel is attracted to more than she wants to admit but who doesn't want to rock the boat with the coach who mentored him. As soon as Laurel publishes the article, the retaliations start piling up against her. But even though her car is vandalized, she's fired from her job, and she loses her position on the paper, she still finds the courage and support needed to continue fighting for what she believes in. Marchant pens a wonderful novel that features a strong heroine and themes of social justice. The book's humor will keep readers entertained even as topics such as sexual harassment are addressed, giving balance to this meaningful story.

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Starred review from March 1, 2023

Gr 9 Up-While covering her Southern California college's multimillion dollar football team for the school newspaper, reporter Laurel Cates hears rumors about the coach's drinking, womanizing, and worse that contradict his public image as a leader and a recovering alcoholic. That she and campus hottie Bodie St. James, starting quarterback, cross paths from the first pages of the book means Marchant knows how to set up a pleasant tension between these two against the backdrop of a potentially bigger story-and an explosive accusation. Bodie has always trusted Coach Vaughn. Attracted to Laurel, he's impressed by her journalistic integrity, but agreeing to be her source may upend his identity as a star athlete. Although the Daily's investigation enrages Vaughn's defenders, subjecting Laurel to hazing and harassment, her bond with other women of color is strong. They have her back, while also supplying essential jokes-and tacos. Laurel, whose mother is Mexican, speaks fluent Spanish; best friend Hanna is Vietnamese; and Mehri, a senior reporter who helps Laurel solidify hearsay into the Daily's scoop, is Iranian. They're not perfect-Hanna drinks too much and Mehri works too hard-but that's what makes them believable. Journalism also gets its props in this entertaining, explicit novel. Laurel and friends believe in truth and justice. Fake news be damned. VERDICT Explicit sexual references, binge drinking, and an off-campus drag show provide a realistic backdrop to college life as student reporter Laurel investigates criminal allegations against the head football coach. Enthusiastically recommended.-Georgia Christgau

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