This is a powerful book - on a few different levels. It's young adult sports fiction about high school football players. Mick Johnson lives and breathes football. His father made it to the NFL, drafted in the 3rd round, but never got to play. Mick believes it's due to an ankle injury. Now his dad puts a lot of pressure on Mick to excel at this sport. Mick's mom is supportive, but she stops going to Mick's football games because she doesn't want to witness him being injured. High School football is extremely competitive. Mick's intent is to be the #1 running back for the Varsity team. This means that he needs to be fast and he needs to be strong. In Middle School, he became friends with Drew, who played quarterback. Drew has the same aspiration as Mick when it comes to playing on the Varsity team - and being the #1 quarterback. So, they are "in it together".
As often happens in life, one decision can send you down a different path. Mick's dad got a different job and encourages Mick to take advantage of a "perk" he has with the new job. He can be a member of a fitness center for free and his dad offers to pay for a 1:1 trainer to work with Mick. Mick declines at first because he wants to work out with his buddies and fellow teammates at the high school workout center. When he doesn't feel like his workouts there are very successful, since he's not putting on enough muscle weight and not getting as strong as he would like, he decides to give the fitness center (Popeye's) and trainer (Peter) a chance. Peter suggests that Mick take "gym candy" aka steroids to help him reach his goals. Mick is definitely reluctant at first, but as he feels more and more pressure to succeed, he eventually caves. This is the beginning of the end for Mick.
This book focuses on how someone can get swept away with something even though it is illegal and has significant negative physical and mental consequences. Mick starts feeling insecure in his abilities; he feels pressure from his dad to succeed; he feels threatened by the upperclassmen on the team (because he wants the #1 running back position) and the young talent coming up behind him. He starts isolating from his friends and becomes addicted to what the steroids can do for him, despite the really awful side effects (severe full body acne, development of breasts, uncontrollable anger). It's really hard to follow Mick on this downward spiral! The end is not only surprising, it's shocking.
The pressure to be bigger, stronger, faster is a significant in high school sports. Since my son plays HS hockey I live this myself. There are some really important lessons in this book and I would recommend this book to all student athletes and their parents.
Wendy's Rating: *****
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