The Bone Cage
Angie Abdou
This remarkable novel takes readers deep into the gruelling, often solitary world of amateur sports, and follows the fortunes of two athletes: a wrestler and a swimmer, both vying for a place on the Canadian Olympic team. Neither a classic sports novel, nor a simple coming-of-age story, The Bone Cage offers a unique spin on both beloved genres.
The Bone Cage was a contender for Canada Reads 2011, when it was defended by Georges Laraque.
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From the book
Digger has always been a good sweater. He's only just stepped into the sauna and already he can feel the itch of sweat behind his ears, around his hairline, along his spine. It's a natural talent his teammates envy, especially at a time like this. Digger, Ben and Fly lie sprawled in the sauna — cutting weight for the Olympic Trial matches this weekend, freshly flown to Toronto from Calgary this morning. All three are veterans to the routine. First, they unroll the plastics — pants and hooded jackets they crumpled into stinking balls the last time they cut weight. Eventually, they'll pull the clothes on in the sauna, but first they'll get a bit of a sweat going.
From The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou ©2007. Published by NeWest Press.