On the Devil's Court by Carl Deuker is a compelling sports novel that effectively explores themes of superstition, self-belief, and personal growth in a high school setting. The narrative's engaging pace is well-appreciated, though some readers find the supernatural elements a bit forced. Character development excels, making it an engaging read for young adults and sports enthusiasts.

Readers who enjoy On the Devil's Court by Carl Deuker are likely fans of sports-themed young adult fiction with a psychological twist. Similar to S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders and M.T. Anderson's Feed, they appreciate nuanced character development and moral dilemmas intertwined with high-stakes athletic drama.

In On the Devil's Court by Carl Deuker, 17-year-old Joe Faust moves with his parents to Seattle and struggles to choose between public Loyal High and private Eastside School for his senior year. Despite conflicts with his parents and a rivalry with talented yet troubled Ross, Joe ultimately attends Eastside, where he experiences a turbulent basketball season filled with doubt, personal growth, and triumphs.

Suspenseful / Mysterious / Challenging / Dark / Emotional

**Joe Faust Jr.**  
A 17-year-old basketball enthusiast navigating life changes after moving from Boston to Seattle, who feels overshadowed by his brilliant scientist father.

**Dr. Joseph Faust Sr.**  
A renowned scientist known for his groundbreaking work, who struggles to connect emotionally with his son, Joe, and to appreciate Joe's basketball talent.

**Ella Frank Faust**  
Joe's artistic mother who balances her role as a supportive parent and a communication bridge between Joe and his father, while pursuing her controversial sculpture work.

**The Devil**  
A pervasive and ambiguous presence in the story, influencing events through mysterious occurrences without any direct appearance or dialogue.

**Ross**  
Joe's high school peer and basketball rival known for his carefree and risky behavior, who sometimes tempts Joe into questionable situations.

**John Lustik**  
A kind-hearted and studious high school senior at Eastside and basketball teammate, who supports Joe and helps him navigate school and team dynamics.

**Coach Raible**  
An ex-Marine and basketball coach known for his demanding and inflexible nature, who initially underestimates Joe's abilities on the team.

Study Guide

Book Brief

Explore On the Devil's Court reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Book Brief On the Devil's Court

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore On the Devil's Court and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

On the Devil's Court Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1 On the Devil's Court Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2 On the Devil's Court Part 2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3 On the Devil's Court Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4 On the Devil's Court Part 4 Summary & Analysis

Part 5-Epilogue

On the Devil's Court Part 5-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

On the Devil's Court Character Analysis

theme

Themes

On the Devil's Court Themes

Symbols & Motifs

On the Devil's Court Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

On the Devil's Court Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

On the Devil's Court Essay Topics

Carl Deuker

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

Guide

on-the-devil-s-court

On the Devil's Court

Book Brief

On the Devil's Court

Super Short Summary

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read On the Devil's Court?