Shut Out

Kody Keplinger

Sept 2011 · Sold by Poppy

About this eBook

The battle of the sexes is on.
Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Ratings and reviews

“We’re all neglected during the autumn because of the rivalry. So, naturally, we should try to put a stop to it, right? Isn’t that what all of you want?” (Page 36) Keplinger’s voice shines through the brilliantly constructed characters, easily captivating the reader. I wasn’t sure what to expect from "Shut Out" and I was pleasantly surprised to find so many subplots in what seemed like a simple story. When you dive into this fast-paced read, you will find yourself engulfed in the lives of remarkably realistic characters, events, and teen experiences. I love the cover art for this novel; it has a never give up feel to it and definitely lets you know there will be a sports angle jammed into the mix somewhere, but it doesn't stop there. The battle of the sexes angle to the plot is serious, yet hilarious. Keplinger’s approach to the sexual topic in this novel is well done. I found the novel to be more about the relationships, trust, and friendships rather than sex itself. The emotions displayed by the characters only made them more likeable. When the girls band together to end the rivalry between the soccer and football teams, the plot thickens and a love interest blooms. The girls have put up with a lot of crap due to this sports rivalry, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to end it. How far are they willing to go? Will their relationships survive the battle of the sexes? Keplinger is definitely an author to keep your eye on. Her ability to captivate readers with real life issues and to create realistic, relatable characters, combined with a story that will appeal to young adults, makes her a master storyteller in my eyes.

I haven't read the book yet, but does anyone else think that the face on the cover looks like the actress Liv Tyler?

Great read! The author really got into the mindset of female teenagers and described various feelings they go through in each of their relationships. It had a few good messages at the end.

About the author

Kody Keplinger was born and raised in a small Kentucky town. She wrote her first novel, The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend), during her senior year of high school. The DUFF was a YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers and a Romantic Times Top Pick. Since then, Kody has written two more young adult novels, Shut Out and A Midsummer's Nightmare, and a middle grade novel, The Swift Boys & Me. She is the cofounder of Disability in Kidlit, a website devoted to the representation of disability in children's literature. Currently, Kody lives in New York City, where she teaches writing workshops and continues to write books for kids and teens. You can find out more about Kody and her books on her website: www.kodykeplinger.com.