MMGM- Triple Threat

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Lupica, Mike. Triple Threat

August 25th 2020 by Philomel Books

School library copy

Alex and her father LOVE football, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers. Her mother left the family when Alex was small to pursue a medical degree, and now lives far away, so Alex and her father are very close. He was a football player in high school, in the same small Pennsylvania town where they still live, but never had the skills to take his career further. Alex plays soccer and is very athletic, and has superior throwing skills. When she decides to try out for the middle school football team, her father thinks she will make the team. The coach is a little confused at first that she has come to tryouts, but doesn't cause any problems, although the quarterback, Jeff, is a jerk. Her good friend Caleb isn't wild about the idea, but supports her as best he can, but her former soccer teammates are very mean. Alex is a good player, and makes the team. Her skill set aligns with being a quarterback, and after a little hesitation, the coach is putting her in, and she's doing well. She also takes some hits, which are painful, but she doesn't complain. Other teams' reactions are usually negative at first, changing to a grudging acceptance after they see her play. The notable supporter is Jabril, the team captain, who just wants his team to succeed and who knows that Alex is a player who can help the team. Jeff remains steadfast in his jerkhood, and Caleb struggles to balance his affection for his friend with the pushback of his teammates. Alex stands strong before all of the challenges she faces and refuses to back down, and her football skills serve the team well. Her coach admits that he was hesitant at first, and her father is her biggest advocate, even getting an ice cream cake for the team on the last game. Will it be a consolation or celebratory offering?

Strengths: For the target demographic, this has a great selection of football scenes that I didn't quite understand but which mimic the excitement of the field, and has a great dose of school drama. There was also a little bit about Alex's mom being so far away. For me, I loved the fact that there wasn't a huge deal made of her trying out-- no one even involved the principal, much less the school board or local media, as is the case in most previous middle grade books about girls playing football. She just played. She stood up to the guys who were jerks, aligned herself with others who supported her, and took the advice of a friend to ENJOY playing, because if it wasn't fun, what was the point? I thought the interactions between the characters were realistic, balanced, and reflected modern reality. I book marked a ton of pages that had great quotes. I absolutely ADORED Jabril and his style of captaincy. Have to say that I might have cried a little at the end. Maybe it was allergies. 

Weaknesses: It seemed odd that Alex had to buy a helmet and pads for try outs. What if she hadn't made the team? I want to check with our athletic director, but I'm pretty sure our school provides all of this equipment. Also, in the book Alex puts her hair in a ponytail. Why is it loose on the cover? It looks silly. 
What I really think: I don't think anyone should play football. The chance of severe injury is too high. However, it's 2020. If girls want to play and are skilled enough, they should play. Period.