I started and finished A Sense of Direction in one evening; I couldn't really stop thinking about it, so I couldn't put it down. I found it...
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As a native Oregonian and soccer fan, I enjoyed this book. It was fun to read about places I've long known, and discover places I haven't been before, even though they are in my backyard. It was also fun to stumble across familiar names quite unexpectedly. I liked how the story focused on the boys as people and gave insights into their background that helped shape them. The backstories added a lot of depth to the characters. I also appreciated knowing a little more about what happened to these boys after the season ended. I found myself rooting for the Woodburn team and wanting all the boys to succeed, both on the field and off. The only part I didn't like was the characterization of the nearby communities as somehow being at fault and cast negatively for having the resources to send their kids to camps and play in private soccer clubs. Maybe I'm just defensive because I'm a resident of these "privileged, affluent" areas, but I didn't like being painted with that brush, because I don't think it's a generalization that applies to everyone in my community. Otherwise, it was a fun read that really brings home the importance that team sports can play in the lives of kids, and what a difference a caring, engaged adult/coach can do.
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MP DeGroot has commented on (1) product.
The Boys from Little Mexico: A Season Chasing the American Dream by Steve Wilson
MP DeGroot, July 20, 2010
As a native Oregonian and soccer fan, I enjoyed this book. It was fun to read about places I've long known, and discover places I haven't been before, even though they are in my backyard. It was also fun to stumble across familiar names quite unexpectedly. I liked how the story focused on the boys as people and gave insights into their background that helped shape them. The backstories added a lot of depth to the characters. I also appreciated knowing a little more about what happened to these boys after the season ended. I found myself rooting for the Woodburn team and wanting all the boys to succeed, both on the field and off. The only part I didn't like was the characterization of the nearby communities as somehow being at fault and cast negatively for having the resources to send their kids to camps and play in private soccer clubs. Maybe I'm just defensive because I'm a resident of these "privileged, affluent" areas, but I didn't like being painted with that brush, because I don't think it's a generalization that applies to everyone in my community. Otherwise, it was a fun read that really brings home the importance that team sports can play in the lives of kids, and what a difference a caring, engaged adult/coach can do.(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)