Stand-Off

Ryan Dean West is back to his boarding school antics in this bitingly funny sequel to Winger, which Publishers Weekly called €œalternately hilarious and painful, awkward and enlightening€ (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

It€s his last year at Pine Mountain, and Ryan Dean should be focused on his future, but instead, he€s haunted by his past. His rugby coach expects him to fill the roles once played by his lost friend, Joey, as the rugby team€s stand-off and new captain. And somehow he€s stuck rooming with twelve-year-old freshman Sam Abernathy, a cooking whiz with extreme claustrophobia and a serious crush on Annie Altman€"aka Ryan Dean€s girlfriend, for now, anyway.

Equally distressing, Ryan Dean€s doodles and drawings don€t offer the relief they used to. He€s convinced N.A.T.E. (the Next Accidental Terrible Experience) is lurking around every corner€"and then he runs into Joey€s younger brother Nico, who makes Ryan Dean feel paranoid that he€s avoiding him. Will Ryan Dean ever regain his sanity?

From the author of the National Book Award€“nominated 100 Sideways Miles, which Kirkus Reviews called €œa wickedly witty and offbeat novel,€ Stand-Off is filled with hand-drawn infographics and illustrations and delivers the same spot-on teen voice and relatable narrative that legions of readers connected with in Winger.