Don’t Know Tough is a somber, sadistic, and sobering look at the virtues, volatility, and violence of football and poverty in rural America. Eli Cranor's writing burns up the pages with authenticity and deserves every bit of acclaim it has received.
On the verge of the Arkansas state football playoffs, the Denton Pirates and coach Trent Powers are dependent on running back Billy Lowe’s athletic prowess. The problem is that Billy Lowe is as violent and explosive off the field as he is between the tackles.
When his mother’s abusive boyfriend is found dead in their trailer, a series of events unfold that will likely lead to heartbreak for all involved. The question isn’t whether the Pirates will get their hands on the trophy, it is whether or not the law will get theirs on Billy Lowe.
This book is every bit a story of a player and his coach as it is a murder mystery. The strained, and often time down right violent, relationships amongst the characters is what drives this story. While I initially picked it up after hearing it described as part Friday Night Lights, football is simply the stage upon which the real story plays out. The depths to which a coach or teacher might go to protect their players and students must have its limits, but what does one do when the circumstances and your faith blur that line beyond all recognition?
Don’t Know Tough is a story of paradoxes and promises. Every character is equal parts hero and villain, saint and sinner, good and evil. When the scenarios are this convoluted, right and wrong tend to disappear into the smoke of so many shades of gray. Cranor does an unbelievable job of weaving a compelling story, while exploring what it is to be human and our debt to each other.
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