The Setback

Leitch (Dinos Driving) explores how resentment can impact one’s relationships in this joyful ode to sports and the confidence and connections they can cultivate. Sports mean everything to Canadian sixth grader Liam, whose late grandfather—a soccer legend who played on the national team—is Liam’s hero. Participating in athletics also helps Liam decompress from the emotional stress of helping his younger sister Allie navigate a recent diabetes diagnosis. With his best friend Marcus, Liam dreams of attending Camp Jackman, an elite summer program for promising athletes. But when, following tryouts for the Cedar Glade town baseball team, Marcus is accepted while Liam is turned away, the two begin to drift apart, especially after Marcus befriends athletic prankster Jayson. Without baseball, Liam worries that his camp application won’t be impressive enough for admission. Desperate for a way to make himself stand out—and to win back Marcus’s friendship—Liam searches for a new sport to excel in. Earnest first-person narration conveys Liam’s tenacity, drive, and can-do attitude, even as he struggles to stay positive while managing feelings of disappointment, jealousy, and overwhelm. Protagonists cue as white. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)