Love, Football, and Other Contact Sports by Alden Carter

by Alden R. Carter

On "Jersey Day" the artsy academic girl wonders suspiciously which football player could have possibly put his invitational jersey on her desk. In "The Briefcase" the new kid reaps the consequences when his parents force him to carry an expensive briefcase with him to school. In "Elvis" a brainy girl with this unfortunate nickname receives social aid from an unlikely benefactor--the school's football star. In these laugh-out-loud pieces, Alden R. Carter tells the stories of students from one end of the social spectrum to the other. Jock to loner, academic snob to outcast, Carter explores and shatters the sterotypes behind the relationships, friendships, rumors, peer pressure, sports, bullies, and other assorted forms of mental anguish that come with high school.

Genres: Young Adult, Sports, Short Stories, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Contemporary, Teen

Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

This book hits all the highs and lows of high school football, from giving your jersey to a girl you like to having a girl try out for the team. Full of laughs and fun for everyone!

-Beth M.-

[Sam Schoenick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of short stories and is pretty hard to follow along. In the book Alden R. Carter tells short stories about a kid who is in high school. The book was really good and it tells a lot of good stories. This book is really good for teenagers in high school. When i first started reading this book i was really bored until a short story was told about ken writing a story about a perverted elf. It was very funny and kept me reading.

Ken is a guy in high school kind of like me. He plays sports and kind of goofs around in school. The way Ken acts around his friends is funny. He always is criticizing people in funny way. He makes up funny names for the kids in his school. His girlfriend Sarah always yells at Ken for picking on people.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the sports aspect to this book but the main thing that I enjoyed in the story was how each chapter would switch to a different character's life and what they were experiencing and that was pretty cool because in the end they all sort of tied together to each other while staying in the same time frame.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of the Wisconsin connection. It started a little slow for me but it got much better as the short stories progressed.

[pines · Rating 3 out of 5]

there's a post out there about girls and the mediocre book they read in middle/high school... I know for a fact this is mine

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book written in short stories, Love, Football and Other Contact Sports by Alden Carter follows the life and times of the Argyle High School student body. Featuring the football team to the social outcasts, each character interconnects in the way that only surviving high school can do. Be it a conflict between a pacifist and a hothead or a feminist and a Neanderthal tradition, each story shapes the experiences of the Argyle High students that teenagers will relate to immediately.

The use of short stories makes this book very easy to read. As each connects to another they do not have to be read in order, allowing the reader to skip around as he/she likes. No prior knowledge of football is needed either; there is a handy guide to the positions within a team at the beginning of the book. Dealing with first love, bullying, racism, blended families, and growing up, each “clique” within high school is represented. Laughing one minute and gasping the next, this book is one for all readers.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The romantic and obnoxious football fan in me was thrilled when I discovered this book at the library some weeks back. I took my time reading it because even though I was interested, there were other books in line. Finally, I picked it up today to give it a shot. I wasn't sure about the format, the way it's played out in short stories. Well, I didn't put it down until I finished. Each short story gives a high point of several characters, each of whom is in some way connected to the West Argyle High football team. The stories are sweet, funny, and because they're short, you don't find yourself bogged down in unnecessary information. Although there are several narrators, I think it was a good choice to have Ken be the primary. His thoughts really tied the entire novel together. In the end, you'll learn about football, you'll laugh, you'll reminisce about your own high school days, you'll wish you went to West Argyle, and if you're like me, you'll probably be brought to tears as well.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of interconnected short stories revolving around a small town high school football team. They show the growth of some of the players, as well as their softer sides. Also featured are the girls who both loathe and love them. The characters vary from short story to short story, but the way they work together still gives a good picture of both the serious and silly side of high school life.

As with any short story collection, I liked some stories better than others. Overall, I definitely enjoyed the collection, and as a character-driven reader, really appreciated getting to spend more time with the characters (most of whom were quite likable) than I would in the average short story. A good one for fans of Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of interconnected stories and vignettes follows students at Argyle High as they learn the games of football, love, and life. Is there a brain hidden in that 300 pound linebacker after all? Who has a secret crush? This collection reminds readers that nothing is as simple as it seems.

Readers must leave their preconceptions and stereotypes at the door as they read this collection. For middle school readers who aren't quite ready for the heavy subject matter of Chris Crutcher's books, but who still love reading about sports, Love, Football, and Other Contact Sports is a funny, fast-paced read that most will enjoy.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. It's a mid-level YA book, and each chapter is a short story centering around one player of the high school's football team. Together the stories make a picture of student life and as the stories move from sophomore through senior year you really get to know some of the star players. There are also a good number of female narrators (none of whom are cheerleaders and some of whom know nothing about football) making this an ideal book for students of either gender.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so good! Alden Carter makes you feel like your in the middle of all the drama and excitement. But the coolest thing about this book is the way the main character changes almost every chapter. although it's kind of confusing if you don't pay attention to what your reading. OHHHHHHH and all of the little chapters link together. So it's like one big story told by five different people. i know it sounds kind of like a girl book. But this book has the coolest football stories.

[Risa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fairly good. I had no clue about football before reading this (and the handy girl's guide to the sport at the beginning of the book) so it's not entirely necessary to love football to enjoy this book. I found it really funny and entertaining to read with some cool characters.

I was a bit hesitant to read it once I found out it was a collection of short stories b/c I don't usually like them, but I was definitely impressed with this book.

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teen boys and girls will enjoy this collection of stories told by several different students at Argyle West High School. Readers will gain the perspective of football players, nerds, cheerleaders, and regular joes while they laugh out loud at the heartwarming anecdotes. The tales do a wonderful job of breaking down typical high school stereotypes by revealing the complexities of the characters.

[Hayley]

I thought this book was not bad, not the greatest but okay. Some of the short stories were funny, cute, and unique, although others were predictable, a bit boring, and pointless. The way I feel about the plot of the stories is similar to the way i feel about the characters. The characters are realistic enough to relate to teenagers today.

[Kwenton]

This book is very interesting. I started reading this book the last week i was out of school. I can relate to love football and other contact sports because there is a lot of adversity to face. Me reading football books really gives me more motivation. For some reason sports books seem to impress me more than other books.

[Marcus Driggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character is Rollins , the character trait that he represents is foolish. Rollins is foolish ,because he wrote a letter to some kids pretending to be a rapist santa, also he kept playing pranks on his teammates. Ultimately ,Rollins character trait is foolish and I predict that he will get in big trouble if he doesn't stop playing around so much.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good...but nothing special...I liked the first chapter when one of the main character, a female, describes the football positions. Besides that it is a bunch of high school stories featuring mostly a group of football players and friends. Not amazing...not bad.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compilation of short stories connected to the West Argyle High football team that explore and shatter stereotypes about "typical" high school teenagers. Very quick read and easy to relate to. You'll learn a little about football, love and life right alongside the characters of the stories.

[Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally I loved this book, I recommend this book if you are into sports and in highschool this book is short stories but they all connect together and the end of the book was my favorite part and it is cool seeing a story from each of the charaters.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short stories, set in central Wisconsin.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is ok. It's a combination of a ton of different stories and I hate that type of writing but the stories can be pretty funny so I guess that makes it ok.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a creative collection of short stories with cast-type list before starting.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The collection of short stories was a fun look at some serious issues. The content should appeal to both boys and girls.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was badly written. The characters were all flat, all of the stories were underdeveloped and I very much disliked it.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collection of stories

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and easy read.