<DIV><I><B>“I hit him so hard, the clash of helmets and pads sounded like a gunshot across the field. I crushed him with the hit, held on to him, and crushed him again when I slammed him into the ground . . . I had arrived.”</B></I><BR /><BR /> Arlo Brodie loves being on the football field, getting hit hard and hitting back harder. That’s where he belongs, leading his team to championships, becoming “Starlo” on his way to the top. Arlo’s dad cheers him on, but his mother quotes head injury statistics and refuses to watch. Arlo’s girlfriend tries to make him see the danger; when that doesn’t work, she calls time-out on their relationship. Even Arlo’s coaches begin to track his hit count, almost ready to pull him off the field. But Arlo’s not worried about collisions. The cheering crowds and the adrenaline rush convince Arlo that everything is OK--in spite of the pain, pounding, dizziness, and confusion.<BR /><BR /> In <I>Hit Count,</I> Chris Lynch explores the American love affair with contact sports and our attempts to come to terms with clear evidence of real danger.<BR /><BR /> Praise for <I>Pieces:</I><BR /> “Each character springs fully formed off the page, and Lynch’s irreverent, inventive dialogue crackles . . . Exceptional.” —<I>Kirkus Reviews,</I> starred review<BR /><BR /> Praise for <I>Inexcusable:</I><BR /> “Unforgettable.” —<I>Booklist, </I>starred review</DIV>