Skip to Main Content

Read for a Lifetime 2022-2023 List: Kneel

Illinois Center for the Book Reading Program

Book Cover

About the Book

320 Pages For guys like Russell Boudreaux, football is the only way out of their small town.  As the team’s varsity tight end, Rus has a singular goal: to get a scholarship and play on the national stage.  But when his best friend is unfairly arrested and kicked off the team, Rus faces an impossible choice: speak up or live in fear.  “Please rise for the national anthem.”  Desperate for a change, Rus kneels during the national anthem.  In one instant, he falls from local stardom and becomes a target for hatred.  But he’s not alone.  With the help of his best friend and an unlikely ally, Rus will fight for his dreams, and for justice.   

About the Author