Rash by Pete Hautman

Rash by Pete Hautman is set in the year 2074 when just about everything fun is illegal - french fries, football, owning a large dog, even walking without a helmet! Just calling someone a name could get you locked up in prison. In fact, the USSA (United Safer States of America) runs on prison labor because so many citizens are in jail! Bo is a sixteen-year-old high school student who has already incurred two infarctions. With the three strikes you're out law, he is on his way to a work camp in northern Canada after trying to punch out the guy who wants to steal Bo's girlfriend. At the camp, Bo and several other students are forced to play football illegally (without protective gear!), just for the head guard's amusement. Luckily, Bo created an artificially intelligent (AI) lifeform on his laptop (WindO) who is working hard to get him out. Bork seems to be Bo's only friend and only hope.

This was a great book! I'm not a huge sci fi fan, but this futuristic look at society was really interesting. People in the USA decide it would be better to be safe than free. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in computers, football, and/or sci fi adventures. There is some mature language.