The Field

February 1, 2014

Gr 5-8-The lines between science and science fiction blur when Eric Horton gets the starting keeper position on his school's JV soccer team. Truthfully, he has been plagued by coincidence and random happenstance for much of his life. Part of the reason he's so good at soccer stems from an uncanny ability to predict where the ball is destined to go, so he is able to block the shot before the ball is actually kicked toward the goal. A visiting French professor begins to open his mind up to the possibility that everything is connected, including the rather trippy concept of The Universal Energy Field. Eric seems preternaturally drawn to the professor's daughter, Renee. But as things with his best friend begin to take a dark turn, and his relationship with Renee takes a downward slide, he finds that his "abilities" seem to fluctuate as his confidence wavers. This novel makes a valiant effort to present broadly abstract scientific concepts in a largely metaphysical way, making its protagonist open to the possibilities of such phenomena even though he is actively experiencing it. The most peculiar element of the story is its attempt to stay grounded in realism, focused primarily through Eric's friend Will, who turns to alcoholism after his father walks out on their family. Frustratingly, the book presents many esoteric concepts that are conveyed through dialogue. No one really talks like that, especially soccer players and their girlfriends. Still, some readers may find the philosophical musings interesting, and Eric's romance with Renee definitely makes the story more dramatic and complex.-Ryan P. Donovan, New York Public Library

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