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Lorimer Sports Stories
The Comeback
On the surface, fourteen-year-old Chris is pretty average, playing hockey and having friends. But underneath it all, Chris is depressed. He quits his hockey team, but his doctor suggests that he should pick up another sport. Chris starts playing soccer, and the positive benefits of sport start to take effect. But former hockey teammate Trent is on the team, and his suspicions about Chris and his mental health threaten Chris's acceptance and recovery. When Chris and Trent are chosen to play in a summer tournament, Chris decides to keep his depression a secret. But will rumors and stigma about his condition make him backslide and turn his own team against him? Find out in this sensitive high/low middle grade title.
160 pages, ebook
Published February 4, 2020
1 person is currently reading
965 people want to read
About the author
Alex O'Brien
2 books51 followers To celebrate the Year 2000, Alex O’Brien took a leave of absence from his career as a human resources director to write. After an enjoyable and prolific sabbatical, highlighted by winning the lyric category of the USA Songwriting Contest (Drum Machines and Beauty Queens), Alex decided to devote his creative energy to writing permanently and resigned from his executive position. He spent the next fifteen years completing seven novels, a collection of short stories, a writer's memoir, eight plays, three musical books, two collections of poetry, and close to five-hundred song lyrics.
This period brought much success and recognition including honourable mention for a poem and a play in the 2001 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition (In My Garden and Horseshoe Reflections), second place in the singer-songwriter category of the 2002 Dallas Songwriters’ Association Song Contest (Belfast Novels), and finalist status in the lyric category of the 2002 USA Songwriting Contest (I Should Have Stayed). Since then, his musical comedy, Saturday Night on Bourbon Street, has received public readings at the St. Lawrence Theatre in Toronto, showcased by Heretic Productions, and the Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts in Parry Sound, directed by Amanda Gibley of Limelight Theatre, as well as a director’s workshop conducted by the City of Brampton Theatres, coordinated by Scott Lale, the Artistic Director.
In 2006, Alex’s songwriting activities culminated in a publishing deal for eight of his songs co-written by Willie McCulloch and managed by Scot Tex Music Publishing. During this period, Alex also added a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, with High Honours, to his Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Industrial Relations degrees. Over the past three years, he has taken over thirty MOOCs including How to Write Fiction and How to Write Poetry from the University of Iowa’s esteemed writing program. He lives with his vivacious wife near Parry Sound, Ontario and they have two wonderful children.
The Comeback is Alex's second published novel. It was released by James Lorimer and Company Ltd. Publishers in its Sports Stories series on February 4th, 2020. Alex's first book, The Playmaker, came out a year earlier on February 5th, 2019.
This period brought much success and recognition including honourable mention for a poem and a play in the 2001 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition (In My Garden and Horseshoe Reflections), second place in the singer-songwriter category of the 2002 Dallas Songwriters’ Association Song Contest (Belfast Novels), and finalist status in the lyric category of the 2002 USA Songwriting Contest (I Should Have Stayed). Since then, his musical comedy, Saturday Night on Bourbon Street, has received public readings at the St. Lawrence Theatre in Toronto, showcased by Heretic Productions, and the Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts in Parry Sound, directed by Amanda Gibley of Limelight Theatre, as well as a director’s workshop conducted by the City of Brampton Theatres, coordinated by Scott Lale, the Artistic Director.
In 2006, Alex’s songwriting activities culminated in a publishing deal for eight of his songs co-written by Willie McCulloch and managed by Scot Tex Music Publishing. During this period, Alex also added a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, with High Honours, to his Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Industrial Relations degrees. Over the past three years, he has taken over thirty MOOCs including How to Write Fiction and How to Write Poetry from the University of Iowa’s esteemed writing program. He lives with his vivacious wife near Parry Sound, Ontario and they have two wonderful children.
The Comeback is Alex's second published novel. It was released by James Lorimer and Company Ltd. Publishers in its Sports Stories series on February 4th, 2020. Alex's first book, The Playmaker, came out a year earlier on February 5th, 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 20, 2025
What a great action packed novel for middle grade readers!
From the first page to the last page this book taught strength, perseverance, determination and great courage.
From the first page to the last page this book taught strength, perseverance, determination and great courage.
April 22, 2021
What a great idea, presenting a fast-paced, easy-to-read sports story that just happens to have a character who has been suffering from depression. Bravely, Chris attempts a comeback, and bravely, he stands up in front of his teammates to explain what exactly depression is and why it should not stop him from doing his best at soccer in the coming season. Nor, he emphasizes, should it prompt them to treat him with kid gloves.
Of course, not all his fellow players get it or accept it, and one in particular harasses, bullies, spreads false rumors and turns others against him. Also, Chris has lingering struggles, both physical tiredness and the habit of letting discouragement get to him. But he battles this with “self talk,” or giving himself silent pep talks at key moments – and it works. Which means, readers gain important insight into tackling mood or bullying issues they may have.
Passing by Chris, Trent snarled, “I hope you’ve taken your happy pill. We can’t afford to lose.”
“I told you,” said Chris. “I’m not on meds.”
“Oh, well, maybe you should be,” said Trent. “Remember, field goals don’t count in soccer.”
He doesn’t care that I set up his winning goal last game, thought Chris. All he remembers is one bad shot. I’m not going to let him get to me. This game’s too important.
The story is perhaps nine-parts sports, and one-part mental-health issue, so it’s not the kind of novel a skeptical preteen will instantly reject as too weird, too touchy-feely, too agenda-laden. On the other hand, the depression aspect is introduced very early on, so there’s nothing being snuck in, either.
The writing is as ideal for struggling readers who appreciate short, crisp sentences, easy vocabulary and lots of action. As for the sports portion of the plot, it’s fast and authentic with highlights of humor.
The Hotspurs didn’t give up. Quinn passed to Reo. Reo dribbled while Chris fought to get open. Reo sent Chris a lead pass that Chris ran to meet. He dribbled down the side. He saw Luca heading towards the goal. Chris timed a perfect cross. His kick sailed to the far post. Luca raced in and headed the ball into the net.
It’s great that the characters are diverse. And cool that readers learn such things as the fact that medication isn’t always a part of recovery, and depression is different than just feeling sad. Perhaps most impressive is how Chris doesn’t just remind himself to not let berating teammates get to him; he literally talks the talk when it comes to showing how he’s fighting three things at once: the need for self-talk to avoid the danger of a return to depression, the physical tiredness that lingers as he comes out of it, and the prejudice and misinformation he must counter amongst his teammates.
What’s unrealistic is how two different coaches instantly embrace his condition and actively encourage him, and how 99 per cent of his teammates do the same. But maybe this is tomorrow’s real world -- if important, well-written books like this circulate amongst today’s readers.
Of course, not all his fellow players get it or accept it, and one in particular harasses, bullies, spreads false rumors and turns others against him. Also, Chris has lingering struggles, both physical tiredness and the habit of letting discouragement get to him. But he battles this with “self talk,” or giving himself silent pep talks at key moments – and it works. Which means, readers gain important insight into tackling mood or bullying issues they may have.
Passing by Chris, Trent snarled, “I hope you’ve taken your happy pill. We can’t afford to lose.”
“I told you,” said Chris. “I’m not on meds.”
“Oh, well, maybe you should be,” said Trent. “Remember, field goals don’t count in soccer.”
He doesn’t care that I set up his winning goal last game, thought Chris. All he remembers is one bad shot. I’m not going to let him get to me. This game’s too important.
The story is perhaps nine-parts sports, and one-part mental-health issue, so it’s not the kind of novel a skeptical preteen will instantly reject as too weird, too touchy-feely, too agenda-laden. On the other hand, the depression aspect is introduced very early on, so there’s nothing being snuck in, either.
The writing is as ideal for struggling readers who appreciate short, crisp sentences, easy vocabulary and lots of action. As for the sports portion of the plot, it’s fast and authentic with highlights of humor.
The Hotspurs didn’t give up. Quinn passed to Reo. Reo dribbled while Chris fought to get open. Reo sent Chris a lead pass that Chris ran to meet. He dribbled down the side. He saw Luca heading towards the goal. Chris timed a perfect cross. His kick sailed to the far post. Luca raced in and headed the ball into the net.
It’s great that the characters are diverse. And cool that readers learn such things as the fact that medication isn’t always a part of recovery, and depression is different than just feeling sad. Perhaps most impressive is how Chris doesn’t just remind himself to not let berating teammates get to him; he literally talks the talk when it comes to showing how he’s fighting three things at once: the need for self-talk to avoid the danger of a return to depression, the physical tiredness that lingers as he comes out of it, and the prejudice and misinformation he must counter amongst his teammates.
What’s unrealistic is how two different coaches instantly embrace his condition and actively encourage him, and how 99 per cent of his teammates do the same. But maybe this is tomorrow’s real world -- if important, well-written books like this circulate amongst today’s readers.
March 25, 2020
I received a physical ARC of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. This was an accessible, informative read for ages 10-13 (reading level 2.1 according to the publisher) that demystifies depression and mental health challenges for children/preteens. The book covers topics such as therapy, anger management, medication, sports effect on mood, and navigating peer relationships/stigma of mental illness.
I love that it is written by a Canadian author and takes place in Ontario, and that it normalizes mental health struggles - as a frontline Mental Health support worker in Toronto, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of talking openly about the topic. Hopefully this book makes it into many school classrooms and libraries!
I love that it is written by a Canadian author and takes place in Ontario, and that it normalizes mental health struggles - as a frontline Mental Health support worker in Toronto, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of talking openly about the topic. Hopefully this book makes it into many school classrooms and libraries!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews