Nat Cartwright is an obnoxious young footballer spotted by a scout playing in a park kick about. Asked to go for a trial with Premier League Hatton Rangers, he finds himself thrust into the deep end of Rangers' desperate fight against relegation and the extinction that will follow. The problem is, Nat is only 13 years old.
Some underhand dealing within the club has everyone believing him to be 16, a ruse discovered late on by a nosey reporter, but there is a bigger sub story running in the background. A couple of shadowy characters make fleeting appearances and anyone with an active mind will telegraph their motives in an instant. Mentioned intermittently, it might be the author had trouble trying to develop this side issue which is a shame. Maybe it was decided it would make 'Striker Boy' too long.
The denouement is one that you just knew would happen all along, which isn't to say it's a bad thing as many books and films have unsurprising endings, but the finale here is simply incorrect. Yes, it's fiction, but even those books have to be correct when dealing with matters of fact. It may be an oversight on the part of the author and publisher, which is a surprise considering his background, but anyone reading this (and they'll certainly be football fans) will notice immediately. It may, of course, be completely overlooked and forgiven. There is another glaring error a few pages in, but few will worry.
The premise behind Jonny Zucker's novel may seem implausible from an adult point of view, but is perfect fare for the market at which it's aimed. The chapters are short, which should ensure readers' interest is maintained. One can imagine this being a serial in comics such as Tiger or Victor; a comic strip minus the pictures. Whilst the teams involved are real Premier League clubs - other than Hatton Rangers - their players are invented, which, though not a distraction, makes for odd bedfellows. Maybe it's a legal thing. It's just a shame about the final few pages.
Amazon Home
