Painting the Black

Reader reviewed by LJK

Five years ago, Ryan Ward pretty much gave up on sports after a fall from a tree put him in the hospital for two months. When his new neighbor, sports phenom Josh Daniels, invites him to play catch at the Community Center, Ryan has no idea that this will fundamentally change his senior year, and maybe even his future.

In Painting the Black, Carl Deuker has written another excellent novel about young athletes. His sportswriting is first-rate, and this book includes exciting descriptions of both football and baseball games. Deuker's description of the time and energy involved in bringing Ryan back to top form as an athlete is realistic, as is Deuker's portrayal of the shifting loyalties between friends and teammates. When Ryan faces a crisis of conscience brought on by Josh's actions, both boys act in ways that are very realistic for teeangers. This is a very good sports story that should appeal to even the most reluctant male reader.