The Mighty Dynamo

Twelve-year-old Noah Murphy lives for soccer, but when his father takes a much-needed job in Australia, continents away from their tiny Irish town of Carraig Cruach, Noah wonders if playing professional soccer might be the only way to save his family. With the Schools’ World Cup—and his opportunity to be scouted—weeks away, Noah is devastated when he is banned from his school’s team for a fight he didn’t start. Aided by best friend Stevie, Noah recruits a colorful new team of players whose skills are questionable but whose enthusiasm abounds. The initial chapters of Irish author Crowley’s novel are sluggish as he introduces many characters and sets up a complicated plot, but the story picks up once Noah’s new team is assembled. Moments of hilarity abound both on and off the field, and sports fans will enjoy the action-packed gameplay. After getting to know this lovable team of underdogs (Crowley also provides some outrageously awful antagonists), readers will be all in for the crescendo of the final showdown. Ages 9–13. [em]Agent: Marianne Gunn O’Connor. (Sept.) [/em]

This review has been corrected. A previous version mistakenly identified Crowley as an adult fiction writer making his children’s book debut.