One of the Boys

A New York Times Bestseller

Grace Woodhouse was the star kicker with a D1 future, but that was before she came out as transgender and quit football. Now, as senior year begins, Grace is navigating a new life with queer friends and a fresh perspective.

But when her old teammates beg her to rejoin the Pageland High football team, Grace can't resist the call of the game. Can she be both a star football player and a trans girl? As Grace steps back onto the field, she'll face down transphobia, navigate complicated feelings for her ex-girlfriend, and learn to unite her past and present worlds. One of the Boys is a heartfelt, funny, and inspiring story about self-discovery, breaking stereotypes, and the power of solidarity, all wrapped up in an unforgettable season of high school football.

Perfect for fans of sports stories and authentic queer narratives, this book is a winning game of "feelingsball" you won't want to miss!"

P R A I S E

"Heartfelt, hilarious, and blisteringly honest. One of the Boys is genuinely one of the best contemporary YAs I've ever had the pleasure of reading."
-- Andrew Joseph White, NYTimes bestselling author of Compound Fracture

★ "A standout first work, setting a high bar for the blooming subgenre of queer sports fiction."
-- Booklist (starred)

★ "One of the Boys is an amazing feel-good read for any teen (or adult!) who loves football--but for those who know nothing about the sport, Zeller does a great job making it accessible. Alongside great sports plays and banter, Zeller also prioritizes "feelingsball," or mapping Grace's mental and emotional journey as she works to unite the football world and the LGBTQ+ world, two spaces with long-held stereotypes and prejudices against each other. One of the Boys is a standout work of YA fiction, as inspiring and illuminating as it is funny and relatable."
-- BookPage (starred)

★ "Zeller artfully exposes the tender underbelly of locker room posturing, presenting a subversive, experience-informed interpretation of toxic masculinity... An intersectionally diverse cast--which includes Grace's taciturn yet supportive single father--helps the protagonist forge her own path and blaze a trail for others in this necessary debut."
-- Publishers Weekly (starred)

Author: Victoria Zeller
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 05/13/2025
Pages: 344
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.40lbs
Size: 9.10h x 5.90w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781646145027
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 03/10/2025
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2025
Foreword 04/21/2025
Booklist 05/01/2025 pg. 88

About the Author
Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. A former football player and lifelong fan, her initial focus was sports journalism before she made a sharp pivot to writing about queers who can't stay out of trouble. Her sportswriting can be found at Defector, while her manic minute-by-minute sports analysis can be found on Twitter at @dirtbagqueer. One of the Boys is her debut novel.

Author residence: Buffalo, NY