Strike - Mitch Johnson

 

All Owen has ever wanted to do is play football professionally, so when he is recruited to Hollwell Park youth team, he feels as though all his dreams have come true.  But when his dad presents him with new boots to celebrate, he discovers a note hidden inside revealing a cry for help, everything changes and suddenly football doesn't seem to be as important any more.  But now Owen needs to choose whether to play football or to help those working in awful conditions making football boots.

I have to admit that I'm not the biggest football fan, but the blurb for Strike really appealed to me and I knew it would be a book that would appeal to lots of children at school (in fact, there was a queue for the book before I'd even finished reading it!).

From the start, it is clear that Owen and his dad are a tight unit, and their relationship is a special one (the reason for mum's absence becomes apparent later in the book and I would advise tissues!).  Despite Owen's dad's injury years ago meaning he couldn't follow the football career he started, he isn't a father who is intent on living out his dreams through his child.  All he wants is for Owen to be happy and he is clearly doing everything he can to ensure that happens.  He's a really supportive parent.  The discovery of the letter really throws Owen, especially having heard Budi, one of Hollowell's players, talking in post-match interviews.  Suddenly, worrying about whether he's really good enough to be in the youth team is the least of his problems.

Owen has some big decisions he needs to make, not least being whether he is prepared to act upon the note and risk his place on the Hollowell youth team.  It's a book that would make a perfect daily read in a Year 5 or 6 classroom, and I can just imagine the discussions that it would provoke.  

At first glance, Strike is a book about football, but it doesn't take long to realise that the book is so much more than that.  This is a book about family, dealing with grief, friendship, doing the right thing, standing up for what you think is right, being brave, trusting your instincts ... and football.

Publishing on the 4th June, Strike is a book that I loved.  It's going to be a huge hit and I know that there will be a queue of children outside my office on Monday morning, desperate to get their hands on it.