The Beast

Counterattack #1

by Paul Hoblin

Alyssa Duncan is a beast on the soccer field. As the Copperheads' starting goalie, she might be the difference between a state title and total defeat―and she likes it that way. When a concussion takes Alyssa out of the lineup, her rising-star teammate Becca Miller takes over in goal. Becca turns out to be pretty good, too. And what seemed like a temporary change might not be so temporary after all. Will Alyssa heal in time for playoffs? And even if she recovers, what kind of beast will she have to be to knock Becca back to her old position?

Genres: Sports, Young Adult

112 pages, Library Binding

First published December 28, 2012

About the author

Paul Hoblin lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. He won a free throw shooting competition as a kid - and still has the trophy on his dresser.

Reviews

[Paul Vender · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book The Beast by Paul Hoblin is full of drama. I personally did not enjoy this book at all because it was too dramatic and wasn't my type of book. Although it was about being a goalie. Alyssa the Copperheads starting goalie is out with a concussion. Alyssa is scared for her spot back in net with the rising up star of the Copperheads Becca, The replacement goalie. Becca turns out to be a pretty good goalie. Alyssa will have to try to beat out Becca. Will she gets back to claim her spot back on the team just in time for the playoffs? Not only will she get her spot but will she get the Rick Morris her dream guy that Becca is trying to steal. overall this book had too much drama and would recommend if you're into that.

[8th Grade Views on Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Beast, though a nice read for those who enjoy sports, wasn’t as good as it could’ve
been. For starters it's language was very relaxed and didn’t narrate the story as well as other
books. Then, it might not have been completely relatable to all audiences. However, it was
extremely interesting, and had a good story.
The theme was clearly jumping to conclusions can lead to misfortune, and fog a person’s
vision. Throughout the story, the main character Alyssa, who is a star goalie at her school,
constantly jumps to conclusions. She never asked about what was happening and to boot she
let someone else who didn’t know her situation push to do the wrong things. At the end though
she learned all and more just by having a conversation.
{SPOILER}
Alyssa is the star goalie for her middle school, who dominates everyone else in soccer. She has
a beast inside her when she is on the field, and she has the dream boyfriend. However, in a
game that was a blowout and the ball had barely crossed to Alyssa’s side, she let herself tune
out. This is when somehow the opposing team broke through and now she had to defend the
goal, but when she went to save the ball, everything went black.
She had a concussion, no playing and hospital stay for a while. Her boyfriend began to
distance himself from her for what seemed like no reason. What’s even worse, Becca Miller, a
soccer phenom, was the new starting goalie. Alyssa soon saw her life fall apart as a teammate
shared a story of how she had experienced the same thing. This teammate started pushing
Alyssa to try and force Becca out.
This never worked though, no matter how many times Alyssa did something to Becca she’d
get right back to work. Alyssa began to think it was hopeless as her boyfriend slowly tried to get
with Becca. Until Alyssa saw a chance and tried to play even with her concussion, but she only
made herself with. When she was in the hospital recovering, Becca came to visit. She explained
how she had no interest in playing goalie, and how she wasn’t trying to take Alyssa’s boyfriend,
how he was trying to get with her. This is when she realized that Becca was pretty cool and that
she should have jumped to conclusions.

[Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good way to explain a team. When Alyssa got a concussion and was a goalie for her soccer team. Her coach did not know what to do until Alyssa came to practice to see their star forward, Becca, practicing goalie and she was really good at it. Alyssa's boyfriend helps Becca out will goalie stuff which is a great plot twist because it will help the team and possibly make becca a permanent goalie. I liked this book because it is a plot of what actually happens when you get hurt in a sport and all of the emotions that go through your head. The choices that went through Alyssa's head were great to read because it makes you guess what is next to come.

[Katia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beast is about a girl named Alyssa who is a really good soccer goalie. That is until she gets a concussion, then they have a new goalie step up named Becca. Now Alyssa has competition to keep her spot. I think it was a pretty good book. I like sports books, and it was easy to read. It kept my attention.

[Leah Hester · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have checked how long the book was before picking it up. The premise sounded cool and I love soccer- been playing it all my life. But this does not exactly fit my idea of a great soccer book, in large part because it was probably written for elementary to middle school children. And not on the better end of those. It was okay though, definitely a sit and read in an hour type deal.

[Adrian Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was an amazing book. It has everything accept it just left me wanting to read more when the book was finished. The book finished at a cliff hanger. I just feel like the author should have put in the ending like if she got to get her position back or not. Or if she kept playing goalie because at the end of the book the girl that was trying to replace the beast said she didn't want to be a goalie.

[Jacob Rohrer]

This book is very entertaining it kept wanting me to keep readying because Alyssa Duncan was there star goalie she was a beast at it. But in one game she got a very bad concussion and she couldn't play. So there starring forward had to play goalie. She was very good to. Alyssa tried to get her to quiet because she thought she would take her stop at starting goalie. She tried to play in one game because the goalie wasn't there yet and she went in and got hit in the face by a ball and got knock out again. There other goalie went to the doctor and they talked because Alyssa thought the goalie was going to steal her starting spot and take her boyfriend. But she told her that she wanted to quiet so she did. I liked the book a lot.

[Emily Skousen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa Duncan is the Copperhead High School goalie. She is Amazing. She gets a concussion and is out for a little while. While she is out there starring forward plays goalie and she is super good. Alyssa is mad and she wants her spot back. But she might not be able to have it back. I really liked this book. I finished it in 1 day because it was a very quick read. I did not want to put the book down. I also enjoyed it because I love playing soccer. So I could relate to what was happening. I would recommend this book to everyone. Even if you don't play soccer I think that you would really like this book:)

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced drama for soccer fans. Alyssa wants to keep Becca from stealing her boyfriend, Rick, and her goalie position after she is injured. The plot is mainly focused on Alyssa's ill-founded angst, but her pain is something that many can relate to. The simple fact that someone just might be better than her is an overwhelming blow. I personally didn't like it that Alyssa and Ruth plot to get rid of Becca. For grades 4 and up.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a dearth of female sports books. This short 100+ pages is a Junior Library Guild selection, & part of a hi-low series for YA. I didn't like the self-deprecatory attitude of the protagonist & especially how she contrasts herself with her so-called replacement. It wasn't strong enough in character development or story.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will see what my sports girls think.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Possibly good for upper primary and also middle school kids who aren't big readers. Not a lot of substance, an easy read. Jealousy, head injury, passion for the game, payback, insecurity.