Cadet Quarterback

Essentially a story of pre-collegiate football, Cadet Quarterback relates the trials of 16-year-old Bruce Newell as a plebe at Washington Military Academy. The plot is far from unique -- egotistic high school football hero bucks prep school discipline, learns respect the hard way -- but it sparkles like new in the hands of long-time sports writer Sidney Offit. Refreshingly enough the moral principles inherent in this type of story are implied via dramatic incident rather than expounded at wearying length. The result is an exceptionally smooth narrative, with enough gridiron detail and off-the-field action to hold the most reluctant reader as well as avid high school sports fans. -Kirkus Reviews, re: St. Martin's Press hardcover edition (1961).