Plot Summary

T.J Jones, (real name The Tao Jones) is a young japanese-black-german american who goes to Cutter High school. He is sick of the athletic program taking control over everything in the school, and thinks the school shows too much bias and that a letter jacket shouldn't mean everything. Simet, his teacher and friend, wants to start a swimming team, and after hearing about T.J's ability in swimming, asks him to help him start one. T.J. is reluctant at first, but comes up with some ideas and says he'll do it. He sees a boy named Chris being picked on whose brother died because he is wearing his brother's letter jacket, and T.J. thinks what a great idea it would be if he could get him a letter jacket. He puts up flyers advertising the swim team, and gets responses from people who aren't very great swimmers, but he doesn't have much other choice and he thinks that if he could get them letter jackets he could completely uck the system. They practice in the local gym pool and aren't very good, but they make up letter requirements that look hard, but, in reality, are rather easy. They go on to get last in every meet, and everyone does get a letter, except for T.J., who purposely lost the state meet because he wanted to stop Cutter from winning the All-Sport trophy.

Some Characters

T.J.- A boy of very mixed race who is adopted and brought up by a caring couple. He is an advocate for gun conrtrol and doesn't like arrogant athletes.

Chris- A slow boy who was brain damaged as a very young child by his mother's boyfriend. Respects his brother Brain greatly, though Brain has died.

Andy Mott- A tall boy who has a prosthetic leg. He lost it as a child when his mother's boyfriend tied him up like a dog by his leg too tight. He is very sarcastic.

Simon- A very large boy with low self-esteem. He is not doing very well in biology and wants his mother dead for some reason.

Dan Hole- A very stereotypical nerd who uses an intense vocabulary.

Tay-Roy- A former bodybuilder, he is a great athlete who is just too largely built to be a good swimmer.

Jackie Craig- He is described as the "most average and unnoticable boy you'd ever see" and he keeps very quiet.