Cross-X by Joe Miller (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $26)

I'm on the verge of finishing Joe Miller's terrific journalistic account of a successful debate team from a poor, academically dismal high school in Kansas City, Missouri. Despite their failing grades in unchallenging classes taught by underinformed teachers, four black boys named Marcus, Brandon, Ebony and Antoine excel on the national debating circuit under the tutelage of an untiring, politically progressive coach named Jane Reinhart. With virtually no economic or moral support from the school district, Reinhart and the boys devote their weekends to local and distant tournaments, and Miller becomes an honorary team member for several years (starting around 2002) so he can document their progress and pitfalls.

Apart from a somewhat tedious section that presents the history of the high school, Cross-X is consistently funny and entertaining. At times it's downright thrilling, particularly when close debates boil down to the whims of finicky judges. Most importantly, the book is an articulate, unpretentious and enraging look at the racial inequities in America that prevent curious and intelligent children from exploring possibilities outside their impoverished neighborhoods.