Rhino's Run

by Robert Lipsyte

“You can’t play it safe when you’re the captain.”

From celebrated author Robert Lipsyte, this powerful coming-of-age follows high school football player Ronnie "Rhino" Rhinehart after a violent incident at school leaves him questioning everything he ever believed.

Ronnie Rhinehart, better known as Rhino on the field, is the captain of his high school team in Woodhaven, a small town obsessed with football. His only goal is to earn a Division I football scholarship so he can escape this town forever. Until the day he punches Josh Kremens in the face.

To avoid serious punishment and stay in school, Ronnie is forced to join Group, a cast of misfits who discuss their feelings with a counselor. At the same time, tensions are rising on the football team. Not everyone is happy that Ronnie, a junior, was named captain, especially Cogan and his friends the Berserkers. Other than his best friend, Andy, Ronnie struggles to find solace and support, even at home, where his dad puts pressure on him to maintain his role on the team. Reluctantly, Ronnie finds himself liking aspects of Group, even if he isn’t always a welcome presence to the other members. Then one fateful day, Keith, another Group member, comes to school with a gun . . . and everything changes.

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, Audiobook, Contemporary, Mental Health, High School, Social Justice

192 pages, Hardcover

Published January 28, 2025

Reviews

[Tracy Shouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ronald "Rhino" is a junior in high school and captain of the football team in a small town a couple hours away from NYC. Rhino has set his goal of getting a scholarship to play at a Division I school, his ticket out of town. This goal becomes questionable when he punches another student who was leading a protest to ban automatic weapons at a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day gathering at the high school. Both of the boys' fathers do everything possible to get the whole altercation sweep under the rug and forgotten allowing the boys to keep a clean record. This lands them in after-school group therapy sessions with the school psychologist. One afternoon one of the members of the group shows up with a gun to retaliate against the bullying he suffered at the hands of several Senior football players. The same team members who want to take out Rhino. This story is action packed and will appeal to reluctant readers. Since young adult literature has been in a slump lately when it comes to sports fiction, I am so excited to have a book to share with students.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Right before the presidential election of 2016, Ronald Rheinhart lives in a small town with his father, a security guard, his mother, a real estate agent, and his younger sister Livy. His older sister, Alison, who is very supportive, is away at college. Ronald, aka “Rhino” is a big kid who has always played football, and is hoping to get onto a college scholarship to play. When there is a school assembly, and his teammate and rival Josh stages an anti gun protest, the two tangle as Ronald tries to stop it. Josh head butts him, and Ronald retaliates with an automatic punch to the face. Josh’s father, a school board member running for city council, wants retribution, and the school just wants things to be quiet, so the two boys are remanded to Ms. Lamusciano, the school psychologist who runs an “in lieu of detention” Group. Also in the group are the very angry Keith, who has been bullied by football players and retaliated with inappropriate drawings, Joy, a trans Black gymnast, Marco, and Tyla. Ronald doesn’t share much, but does get drawn into the group’s drama a bit, even though his father tells him to keep his head down. Josh tries to take over the group and persuade them to join in his anti gun protests, but when a tragedy occurs, everyone is thrown off kilter. Ronald is being given a hard time by teammate Cogan, and struggles with a concussion. He even drives off to visit his sister, only to find out that she’s dropped out of college. When the previous tragedy has further ramifications, Ronald is really affected. Will he be able to navigate the difficult times with the questionable support of his family and friends?
Strengths: I don’t want to spoil things, but if you are looking for a book with nonfatal school shootings that also has football, this is the book for you. I loved Ronald, and thought he was a very interesting personality, successfully dealing with his right wing father, who rails against “woke” culture and also Josh, who was very “woke”. He’s right in the middle, but wisely keeping all of his opinions to himself. He is unphased by most things, including being targeted by the idiotic Cogan. He’s a smart kid, willing to keep an open mind, and just really wants to get out of his small town and move on to anything else. Mr. Lipsyte has written a number of other sports related books, including The Contender, Center Field, and Yellow Flag. He’s 86 now, and still shows no signs of throwing in the towel!
Weaknesses: There were several circumstances that are questionable, and make this best suited for high school readers. Ronald’s history teacher, Mr. Biedermann, calls him on the phone to talk about assignments. Near the end of the book, Ronald drives Ms. Lamusciano home and goes into her condo for a cup of tea. I can’t believe that teachers in 2016 would do either of those things. Also, Ronald gets two serious concussions, yet continues to play football without observing concussion protocols. At one point, he washes a Percocet down with beer.
What I really think: This is a good choice for high school readers who enjoyed Herbach’s Cracking the Bell or Crutcher’s Angry Management.

[Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 2016 leading up to the presidential election, Rhino’s Run takes place in a town where the high school’s real heartbeat is football (and the culture of bullying that comes with it). Against this backdrop, Robert Lipsyte follows junior Ron “Rhino” Rhinehart, a standout athlete whose altercation with student activist Josh Kremens lands both teens in a mandated therapy group run by school psychologist Ms. Lamusciano. What begins as punishment becomes a tentative community as the boys and the other “misfits” in Group begin to connect, until a classmate brings a gun to school, forcing them to confront the very issues they’ve been circling.

Lipsyte tackles a wide range of contemporary issues (gun violence, trans rights, hyper-partisan politics, and Trump-era divisions), but the treatment is broad and often lacks nuance. At times the novel reads like an afterschool special, presenting conflicts and resolutions in ways that feel simplified, with a protagonist who often seems more aspirational than believable.

The writing itself is simple and accessible, clearly aimed at reluctant teen readers, and the pacing is brisk enough to keep the story moving. As sports-driven coming-of-age fiction, it has an obvious appeal for younger high school boys, especially those who might see themselves in Rhino’s struggle to reconcile different parts of his identity. Still, readers looking for more layered characters or deeper engagement with the political and social issues raised may find the book too pat.

Gary Tiedemann's narration is competent giving Rhino a believable voice.

Thank you HarperAudio Children’s for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronald “Rhino” Rhinehart is a high school linebacker on the football team who experiences intense character development in this short, explosive read. The book begins with him punching a student activist in the face at a school pep rally and takes off quickly from there. Rhino and the other student, Josh, are forced to attend group therapy with other “delinquent” students and a school counselor. Rhino is also given a suspension and temporarily removed from the football team. Rhino is quiet in Group at first, but begins to open up and even befriend other members of the group, including Josh. When one of the other students in the group brings a gun to school with the intent of harming himself and others, the therapist for Rhino’s group is blamed. Meanwhile, Rhino is struggling in other parts of his life. He is a star on the football team and a captain as a junior, but is being bullied on and off the field by a group of seniors on the team who call themselves the Berserkers. Home is complicated, as well. His father wants him to do whatever it takes to get back on the football field and his oldest sister is estranged. 

Pacing is tight and propulsive. Rhino is an appealing protagonist with a lot of growth and change in this short, intense book. Highly recommended for students grades 8+. This would make a great book club book; there’s so much to debate and discuss. Rhino is white; supporting characters are mostly people of color. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are plenty of YA books about sports where bullying in involved. This is perhaps the most intelligent one I have read. It starts at a school assembly where Rhino, a junior of the football team, reacts when another student slams his head into his nose. Rhino reacts, punching the boy. Both are suspended and assigned to Group, an alternative program for 'misfits'. At first, Rhino figures he'll ride it out and then get back to football, but a number of events get in his way, a bullied boy bringing an automatic weapon to the group, not knowing it was moved to a different room, and another school function is taking place there. There's also another boy on the football team whose desperation at not yet being recruited by a college, drives him to ever more violent acts, there's tension at home, Rhino's gradual growing introspection as he realizes there are many things that are rotten his town, and a couple shocking events near the end that make characters and readers painfully aware of how fragile the facade of a small town can be. It's well worth a spot on any library shelf where quality YA fiction is considered important.

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary fiction set in the fall of 2016, for ages 13-18. There are serious topics here including bullying, a school shooting, police killing a teen, obesity, bigotry, and more. This is when Colin Kaepernick took a knee, and Trump hadn't been elected yet. This is so nuanced, with characters on all sides of all the issues (more or less). It was also so interesting when I learned more about the author. He's been writing for 60 years and can still pull off a teen book well. Ron Reinhart is intelligent, a good writer, and good at football. The book is his journal entries, but he dictates much of it into a recording to make it realistic that he's got time to write all of this. After it was over, I couldn't remember any swearing, other than asshole. That isn't realistic, but maybe he was keeping it clean in case the school therapist ever read it. Anyway, it wasn't one of those books where it seemed like there was no way it was actually in first person. I rarely glazed over from football talk, and I was very invested in the story. It's really short, too, but a lot happens. Sad stuff, and uplifting, and Ron is very nuanced and real, too.

[Sally Kruger]

Ronnie Rhinehart's focus is on football. He's captain of the team and plans to play Division I in college. If all goes well, that will allow him to get out of his dying town.

Home life is full of up and down emotions. His parents are focused on what is happening in their jobs. Rhino only gets attention when he does something wrong or slacks off in his training.

When Rhino lashes out during a school assembly and punches a popular kid, he finds himself suspended and required to attend the Group for counseling. Meeting with the Group does help him feel better. There's also the added benefit of meeting some new people with problems of their own. However, when one of the Group members brings a gun, and Rhino learns he was the target of the attack, his values begin to shift.

Author Robert Lipsyte has written twelve novels for young adults. I was excited to see his latest RHINO'S RUN. It is very relevant in today's very divided culture. The story will have a definite impact on reader's and get them thinking about what is most important in life.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great coming-of-age book by Lipsyte, Rhino (Ronald) is captain of the football team and when he’s punched one day by Josh they have to attend Group in order to stay in school and on the team. One day during Group someone comes in, and they hear gun shots. As time goes on, Rhino wonders if he is falling out of love with football and getting hit and suffering a concussion. Rhino, his best friend Andy, and others come up with a plan to let the school know about the bullying going on, gun control, and censorship. Will it do any good?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Zoe Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wow. I did not expect to get so much out of it, but truly, it left me stunned and emotional. I think it's incredibly poignant especially in this current political state 2025. The way things progressed makes me want to hear from Ronnie again, even though he's just a kid in a book. I admire the characters, the writer, and the statements made (and not made) throughout this book. I think there's something very honest and authentic about the teen voices, while still high lighting how mature high schoolers in these times had to become so quickly. So, so good. Absolutely stunning. Love and representation for "the good jocks" everywhere which is so near and dear to me.

[Jaevion Poindexter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read was called Rhino’s Run. It was by Robert Lipsyte. Its about a highschool running back, facing adversity and other high school problems. Rhino was a junior with the goal of making it to Division 1 football. Just like most high school football players.
I like sports books, especially ones that go into detail during games. This book definitely did that to help create a picture in my mind while reading it. It reminded me of a book I read last year by Mike Lupica called QB1. Just like Rhino’s Run the book was about a high school football player with the dream of making it to Division 1 football. I give this book 5/5 stars because of my personal preference

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

certainly not a bad book, but being set in the fall of 2016 makes it feel more like a period piece than current events. so much has changed and a lot of the themes of the book have gained a lot more momentum in ways that amplify the tension

also lots of unresolved threads and arcs- part of that is the nature of the format (a first person journal) but part of it is that this feels like the topic came before the story and characters. lots of very underdeveloped characters, events have no breathing room, and the main character does a lot of listening and learning rather than acting

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Robert Lipsyte at his best. The man knows sports. The man knows teenagers. The man knows education. Rhino is caught between the world of football (in a town where football is king) and the world of thought, and creativity. He lives where there is an abyss between the two...and when a gun comes to school he's thrown into a very realistic dilemma. This ain't your run-of-the-mill shooter comes to school story. This is a story that lets the reader know that nothing is black and white; when you live on planet Earth, you live in the gray.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe close to a 2.5 but it felt like it was written to ride the current wave of social justice stories and it's easiest to go with stereotypes and cliches like football, bullying, and gun violence, so I guess it didn't bring anything new or different and wasn't written in a way that kept me invested either.

Plus it seems out of touch for how schools are run-- lots of suspension of disbelief.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not quite what I expected. I'm not sure that there's enough football to engage sports readers, but the short length will have students picking it up. I didn't dislike it, but it felt like a lot of different issues crammed into one short title with resolution that happened too quickly at the end.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this in one weekend on a sports road trip with a teenage boy. we both liked it. It simplifies some issues but then you have to for a 5 hour audiobook. I feel more action focused shorter books need to be published for the YA audience.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of important topics touched on - this is both a positive and negative factor of the story.

[hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

so good love ronnie’s character development throughout the whole story, this book lets me easily visualize the characters and setting.

[Claire Olmstead · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 very interesting read that I wish had gotten more time to flesh things out.