Author(s): Chris Lynch
Format: Paperback
No. of Pages: 368
Publisher: Algonquin Books (division of Workman)
Language: English
Date Published: 2016-07-01
Dimensions: 120 x 210 x 27.94mm
Publication City/Country: New York, United States
Edition: Reprint
Illustrations: text only

Arlo Brodie loves being on the football field, getting hit hard and hitting back harder. That's where he belongs, leading his team to championships, becoming "Starlo" on his way to the top. Arlo's dad cheers him on, but his mother quotes head-injury statistics and refuses to watch. Arlo's girlfriend tries to make him see how dangerously he's playing; when that doesn't work, she calls time-out on their relationship. Even Arlo's coaches begin to track his hit count, ready to pull him off the field when he nears the limit. But Arlo's not worried about tallying collisions. The cheering crowds and the adrenaline rush convince him that everything is OK-in spite of the pain, the pounding, the dizziness, and the confusion.

In Hit Count, Chris Lynch explores the American love affair with contact sports and our attempts to come to terms with clear evidence of real danger.