Rash

Rash by Pete Hautman is set in a futuristic society that has surrendered many freedoms to keep all its citizens safe from illness, disease, injury, natural disasters, etc. When sixteen year old Bo is sent to a prison labor camp in the tundra, he is introduced to playing the game of football. In Bo's world outside prison, playing football is illegal. So is running without wearing shin guards, kneepads and a helmet. At first, Bo can't catch, throw, run with or kick the football. But Bo is a gifted athlete and he soon learns to run with the ball. Playing football in prison gives Bo many privileges, but Bo doesn't like playing football at the whim of the prison warden and Bo wants desperately to leave prison. And Bo just might find a way to do this when the Artificial Intelligence program named Bork he created in high school suddenly contacts him in prison.

Rash should appeal to both boys and girls in grades 7 - 12. And although this book is set in the future, non sci-fi fans should enjoy it as well as fans of the genre.

Find the book here at the Adrian Public Library