DINGED by Tommy Greenwald

 

Back with another great sports novel by Tommy Greenwald! Once again Greenwald combines a variety of text structures to tell this action-packed football story.

Caleb Springer is just a freshman, but as his father states, he is full of natural talent. As a young QB, much is expected of Caleb and he delivers. He will be leading the Walthorne Wildcats to victory this season and, hopefully, a state championship. It doesn't take long for the older players and the community to embrace this young QB. Once they see him in action, he's all everyone is talking about.

Being the son of a well-known NFL player means Caleb has been emersed in football since he could hold a ball. He and his father discuss the game and plan strategies constantly. Recently, Caleb has been noticing that his dad is forgetful and sometimes quick to show his temper. It doesn't seem like that big a deal, but Caleb has also noticed his mother stays close to his dad and often steers him back to the subject of a conversation or reminds him about something he has forgotten. As the big game draws closer, Caleb starts to get even more concerned about his dad, but he keeps it to himself.

DINGED focuses on the dangers of football and the threats of head injuries and the long-lasting effects. As the story mentions, there have been huge advancements in the safety of the game, but players and families still need to carefully weight the risks when players hit the field.