The Comeback Challenge

January 1, 1996
Gr 4-6-Christopher intertwines play-by-play soccer action with a story about a 12-year-old boy coping with his parents' divorce. Mark lives with his grandparents while his mother and father try to settle a bitter custody battle. He quickly becomes a valuable player on his school soccer team, but Vince, captain and last year's MVP, resents him. With Grandpa Conway's help, the boy confronts his parents with his angry feelings and stands up to Vince, as well. The book delivers important messages without becoming didactic. In a satisfying conclusion, Mark acknowledges that "Not all his problems had gone away-whose ever would?," but his future looks optimistic. Competent storytelling with positive values.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA

January 1, 1996
Gr. 4^-6. Mark, age 12, who is living with his grandparents while his parents squabble over custody, is anxious about fitting in on his new soccer team. He's pleased to discover that some of the skills he learned while living in England help the team, but the team captain, Vince, doesn't want to share team glory with a newcomer. The story is formulaic, but Christopher sets up some strong play-by-play action and mixes it with a message about the importance of acknowledging bad feelings and communicating with others. Parents and teachers may object to the fact that schoolwork and reading are never mentioned, but die-hard sports fans who resist reading may find that makes the story all the more tempting. ((Reviewed January 1 & 15, 1996))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1996, American Library Association.)