The Mighty Dynamo by Kieran Crowley

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Mighty Dynamo by Kieran Crowley Amy Atkinson Crowley, Kieran The Mighty Dynamo. Feiwel, 2016 [368p] ISBN 978-1-250-07924-4 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 4-6 A ragtag sports team with pluck and determination defies the odds to eke out an unlikely victory against underhanded competitors in this Irish import that gives this established formula the soccer treatment. Determined to become a pro footballer and earn enough money to bring his dad home from the Australian mines, twelve-year old Noah Murphy desperately wants his team to win the youth World Cup. Unfortunately, billionaire Cornelius Figg is buying his incompetent son’s victory, and he has paid to get star player Noah removed from the school’s roster. When Noah’s genius friend Stevie finds a competition loophole that allows them to play for the local girl’s school, they put together a team, including the local bully, a motormouth, an African-Irish kid—you know the lineup. Interspersed player profiles shed an entertaining light on the various team members (and provide a bit of a soccer education), Noah proves an accessible protagonist long on heart if not brains, and there is some sharp humor as well as interesting soccer scenes. However, excess detail bogs the book down, and stock characters and extraneous verbiage are more likely to bore readers than inspire their imaginations. Indeed, Noah’s team’s greatest obstacle to a satisfying ending is not a fixed match but the book’s frequent forays into tedium. Still, there’s a reason we’ve seen this setup so many times before: it works. Even here, it will provide enjoyable moments and a rewarding conclusion for those diehard young footballers with the stamina to make it through. Copyright © 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois