On the Devil's Court

On the Devil’s Court is a novel aimed at teenage boys that follows 17-year-old Joe Faust through the basketball season of his senior year. Written by Carl Deuker, the book was originally published in 1988 and has remained a popular print title for more than 30 years. On the Devil’s Court was the first of three young adult sports novels by Deuker to be included among the Authors League of America Best Books for Young Adults and Best Book for Reluctant Readers. The novel was named South Carolina Young Adult Book of the Year in 1992. Other works by Deuker include Heart of a Champion, Runner, and Gym Candy.

Plot Summary

In the summer before his senior year of high school, only child Joe Faust moves with his parents from Boston, Massachusetts, to Seattle, Washington. His father, Dr. Joseph Faust Sr., is a driven, brilliant geneticist who accepts a position at the University of Washington. Joe’s mother, Ella Frank Faust, is a well-known artist who makes clay sculptures of naked male models. Joe, whose great passion is baseball, assumes he will be stuck in another private school, but he believes his basketball talent will only be actualized if he plays on a public high school team.