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Review by
Louella Moreland
"Pop," by Gordon Korman, is one of the best young adult books I have read
this year. Through Korman's excellent storytelling skills, even a football
novice can easily understand the language and plays that are the background
of this heart-wrenching story. High school hierarchy, characters that stand
out in our own experiences, family relationships and local color abound. The
story could take place in Anytown, USA, in any park, in any high school
football arena. Even though the situations are commonplace, it is the way
Korman weaves the believable into his novel that makes the reader become so
connected to the characters and action.
Marcus has transferred to a new school after his parents' divorce. He
loved playing football back in Kansas and wants to be ready for tryouts at
his new school, where the team had an undefeated season the year before.
He begins practicing in the local park during the summer before school
starts, meeting up with Charlie, an unusual character, who begins working
out with him. Although Marcus doesn't learn who the man really is until
later, he quickly realizes that the man knows an awful lot about football.
Soon Marcus is beginning to lose his fear of being tackled, enjoying the
"pop" of contact as the eccentric man slams his body time and time again
against the young athlete. However, not all is good times. One day while
working out, the man throws the football into a car window, runs off and
leaves Marcus with the job of leaving a note for the owner. This begins a
string of run-ins with law enforcement.
When Marcus gets to the team tryouts, he learns that the team and coach
do not welcome the new outsider, no matter how well he can play football.
Troy Popovich, the star quarterback, is openly hostile, encouraging the team
to keep Marcus on the outside. This is aggravated by Troy's on-again,
off-again girlfriend Alyssa, who decides to take Marcus under her very
knowledgeable wing. It soon becomes clear to Marcus that Alyssa knows a
great deal about football and is even respected by the coach.
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The situation becomes more puzzling and confusing when Marcus
learns that Charlie is a former pro football player and Troy's
father.
Charlie continues to work out with Marcus, increasing Marcus'
playing abilities while increasing the pranks on a local
businessman, for which Marcus ends up being blamed since he refuses
to tell his mother or the local police who is really at fault for
the vandalism.
Things begin to make sense when Marcus finally learns that
Charlie is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, brought on by the
numerous head injuries he suffered as a pro player. What it doesn't
do is ease the strain of Marcus' relationship with Charlie's family,
who are hiding Charlie's illness from the public. As the disease
progresses, Marcus is facing charges for the damage that Charlie is
causing, forcing Marcus to close down communication, even with his
mother. Caught between his loyalty to Charlie and to his mom, the
high school ballplayer searches for a way to help Charlie.
As with this horror-ridden disease, do not expect a happy ending
to this novel. The resolution that Korman gives us is as
well-crafted and honest as the action throughout. I would recommend
this novel to anyone, but especially to those touched by the
grief-filled experience of Alzheimer's.
For this and books about other difficult high school situations,
check out our young adult section at the Lincoln Public Library, 725
Pekin St.
[Text copied from file received from
Louella Moreland,
Lincoln Public Library District]
(Ms. Lou's blog:
lincolnpubliclibraryupdates.blogspot.com) |
