I was surprised at how much I ended up liking this book. Non-fiction and sports books aren't my favorite, but Bissinger writes well, gives an open-minded assessment of the Odessa culture (both the good and bad), and he creates a rich story. By focusing on several of the main players and their journey to the playoffs, he allows the readers to come alongside the team and the town and feel the emotions of each game.

The earlier chapters on the history of Odessa, the oil industry, and the politics of the town were helpful, but tedious to read through. I loved the sections on the individual players and the coach, and my favorite chapters were the ones dealing with the controversies of the Carter Cowboys along with their game versus Permian. I was so engrossed with the story during the game--Bissinger does an amazing job in those climactic moments!

There are many interesting and disturbing issues to be discussed from this book: the explicit and implicit racism, the prioritizing of sports over education in school, and the role of sports and dreams in the lives of young people. I am looking forward to discussing this book with my students!