Wetherell’s son Matt is a starter for a Hanover, N.H., high school soccer team, which is seeking its third straight state championship, and he details the season’s ups and downs, while describing the culture surrounding competitive youth soccer and saying good-bye to his son’s childhood. Wetherell (Chekov’s Sister
; Morning
) writes with energy and light humor, but he tries to cover so much territory that the narrative lapses into disorganization and unanswered questions. The account feels like a collection of short essays linked tangentially by Matt, whose challenging senior year isn’t well integrated into Wetherell’s musings on soccer parents or the grueling life of a teenage soccer star. Wetherell also indulges in sweeping, hero-making prose regarding soccer and Matt’s team, which has the opposite effect of its intent (“cleats on the bass line that supplies the game’s rhythm—always there, hardly noticed, absolutely core”). Still, Wetherell’s astute observations on soccer and the accompanying lifestyle plus his passion as a parent contribute to an often informative read. (Sept.)
