The Walk On by John Feinstein (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Walk On by John Feinstein Elizabeth Bush Feinstein, John The Walk On. Knopf, 2014 359 p (The Triple Threat) Library ed. ISBN 978-0-385-75347-0 $19.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-385-75346-3 $16.99 Paper ed. ISBN 978-0-385-75349-4 $7.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-385-75348-7 $10.99 Ad Gr. 6–9 It starts the way so many kid-lit sports books start—with a talented new kid arriving in high school to knock a starter off his position. There will be a girlfriend. There will be a clash of loyalties. There will be a championship run-up. Every box [End Page 203] is checked in the debut volume of the Triple Threat series, but Feinstein manages to add a couple of fresh twists to the old plot. Freshman Alex, aspiring quarterback, is almost immediately dubbed Goldie for his powerful passing game, and even Matt, head coach Gordon’s son, knows this kid has some skills he lacks. The coach himself, though, is having none of it, and he benches Alex. Assistant coach Hiller, who is also advisor for the student newspaper, advocates for some playing time for Alex. His efforts are for naught, but he does allow two of his best sportswriters to publish criticisms of Coach Gordon’s coaching decisions, and he is therefore fired from his own coaching position. This freedom of speech subplot adds some complexity to the overworked, predictable storyline, and Alex’s quarrels with his sportswriter girlfriend air some weighty issues concerning team loyalty and player interviews. A second intriguing thread involves Alex being framed for doping, but it arrives far too late to be thoroughly explored, culminating only in a tear-evoking confession from the actual culprit. Feinstein is a reliably entertaining writer, however, and fans of his previous Sports Beat series will enjoy catching a shout-out to its teen journalist protagonist. Copyright © 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois