Xavier is in year 12 at a private boys school and is desperate to get selected for the football team. He notices Nuala at the train station who is dressed and acting like a boy. He’s intrigued and their relationship develops into more. His team mates give him a really hard time because Nuala doesn’t fit the image of a real girl. The reader gradually finds out why Nuala acts like this (protecting herself from verbal/sexual harassment from a group of boys). Xavier is forced to choose between his friends and Nuala. This culminates at the year 12 formal when Nuala insists on wearing a tuxedo instead of a dress. He has to decide if football is really that important, especially when one of his friends dies.

Easy to read. Great for boys. Gripping. ( )