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Head Fake by Scott Gordon
Mikey makes everything a joke, even the clinical depression he’s struggled with for years. After a run of failed jobs, he becomes the unlikely basketball coach at a high school for high-risk offenders who are experiencing mental illness. The position becomes suddenly available after the team tried to strangle their last coach.
Every instinct tells Mikey to get as far away from this school as possible. Coaching these kids, who have been arrested for who-knows-what, would be difficult for a normie. For Mikey, it could cause another breakdown and force him right back to living on the street. But he knows that if he has any chance to make his twenty-sixth birthday, he needs to keep this job, even if the school board wants him fired, and the students would rather fight each other than play ball.
This poignant, hilarious, and sometimes uncomfortable novel proves that even the most damaged of us can emerge victorious.
Readers will find themselves caught up in the journey, cheering for Mikey and his team…An absorbing, uplifting tale of finding light and self-worth in adversity’s darkest depths.
We are thrilled to announce that Head Fake, the debut novel by Scott Gordon, has been longlisted for the prestigious 2025 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel!
This recognition is a testament to Scott's remarkable talent and the powerful, fearless storytelling that defines Head Fake. The novel’s poignant exploration of mental illness, resilience, and the power of human connection has deeply resonated with readers and critics alike. We are incredibly proud to be part of the journey that brings this incredible work to a wider audience.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Scott Gordon for this well-deserved honor, and we are immensely grateful to the PEN/Hemingway Award judges for including Head Fake in this esteemed longlist.
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At Maxwell Street Books, we believe in the power of great storytelling to inspire, heal, and provoke thought. We are honored to have published a novel that embodies these ideals and to see Scott's work celebrated on such a significant stage.
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Thank you to the readers, reviewers, and supporters who continue to champion Head Fake. We look forward to sharing more of Scott Gordon's powerful voice with the world and can’t wait to see where this recognition takes him.
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With gratitude,
The Maxwell Street Books Team
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