It’s 1987 and twelve-year-old Sam Beasley only wants two things: to play football and for his mother to stop dating losers. Only there’s no money for a football team in Bricktown, while there’s an endless supply of losers for his mother to bring home.

Sam finds comfort in the elderly widow down the street. While he’s careful not to let on about his crummy home life, Mrs. Coleman always seems to know when he needs to do wash or eat a hot meal. When he mentions his football dilemma, she surprises him by offering to fund the team. It’s a dream come true, until she names the team The Gospel and declares herself head coach. 

  The Bricktown Gospel get off to a rocky start. Especially when Mrs. Coleman arrives to practice armed with a whistle and bible scriptures to go along with a mouthful of grammar lessons. But Sam has bigger worries, like his mom’s latest loser, Troy, easily the worst one yet. Troy moves into Sam’s house and starts knocking him around. Sam hides bruises, he continues sneaking down to Mrs. Coleman’s, even sleeping on her porch. Mrs. Coleman helps Sam with his studies while on the field, The Gospel win their first two games and look to be on a collision course with the league champions. But just when things are looking up, tragedy strikes at home, and Sam has nowhere to turn but to the boys of Bricktown.  

 BRICKTOWN BOYS is a middle grade story about community, poverty, and one boy’s refusal to give up hope.