Crossover by Jeff Rud (Orca Sports $9.95) ages 12+

Now a political columnist in Victoria, former sports columnist Jeff Rud has written numerous sports-related books, including a biography of Steve Nash. In Rud's aptly-titled Crossover, teenager Kyle Evans is a good basketball player but his coach is asking for one hundred percent commitment. Trouble is, Kyle's also got a part in the school's upcoming stage play. He'd only auditioned to placate his girlfriend, thinking he'd be lucky to get a bit part, but then he landed the plum role of the Artful Dodger. Now his drama teacher is demanding fulltime commitment, too.

Trouble increases when the play's set is vandalized with homophobic graffiti and dog crap gets dumped in Lukas Connor's locker. So what if the somewhat effeminate co-actor Lukas, who'd aced the role of Fagin, favours fitted sweaters over baggy t-shirts, hates sports and loves dancing and singing?

Still, Kyle's left wondering if his old friend is really gay. And does it matter? 1-55143-981-5

-review by Louise Donnelly

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