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Wonderkid
Keith Ferguson is a scout for a middling Italian soccer club. He and his boss are in jeopardy of losing their jobs when Keith discovers Remigio, a once-promising Brazilian player who mysteriously refuses to play for his Russian League club. Watching Remigio in practice, Keith is astounded by his abilities. Remigio strikes a deal with Remigio will transfer to Keith’s club and play if Keith locates and retrieves Remigio’s lost younger brother.
With help from his boss, a Caltech analytics expert, a Classics professor turned translator, and Keith’s new girlfriend, Keith uncovers a criminal syndicate taking vulnerable boys from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and raising them to become professional soccer players. Keith travels from Sonoma to the Amazon jungle, Corsica and Rome in an attempt to keep his promise to Remigio and outmaneuver those intent on harming them both.
With help from his boss, a Caltech analytics expert, a Classics professor turned translator, and Keith’s new girlfriend, Keith uncovers a criminal syndicate taking vulnerable boys from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and raising them to become professional soccer players. Keith travels from Sonoma to the Amazon jungle, Corsica and Rome in an attempt to keep his promise to Remigio and outmaneuver those intent on harming them both.
402 pages, Paperback
Published May 17, 2022
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 7, 2022
WONDERKID by Robert S. Ross is one of those novels that stays with you long after you've read the last paragraph and closed the book. It may even pull you into rereading. It is a complex tale filled with memorable characters, witty dialogue and humor, dramatic tension - even terror at times - heart-racing action, and late adult romance - all framed by a heart-wrenching back story.
Nutter-Butter eating Keith Ferguson is a soccer scout always searching for the sport's next star - the wonderkid who will elevate the game to its pinnacle. When he makes contact with a gifted soccer star who refuses to play the game until a single condition is met, Ferguson is drawn into the shadowed world of child trafficking and abuse. A well-developed ensemble cast joins Ferguson in his quest over three continents. As pieces begin to fill the twisted puzzle, the reader hopes for the best outcome possible, but also fears that it may be impossible to obtain.
The writing is crisp, and Ross is a skilled scene setter. He creates an urgency that demands you must know what comes next. Although soccer is a central theme, you don't have to be an aficionado to enjoy the story. WONDERKID is a captivating adventure enlivened by love, loss, and the hope for redemption.
Nutter-Butter eating Keith Ferguson is a soccer scout always searching for the sport's next star - the wonderkid who will elevate the game to its pinnacle. When he makes contact with a gifted soccer star who refuses to play the game until a single condition is met, Ferguson is drawn into the shadowed world of child trafficking and abuse. A well-developed ensemble cast joins Ferguson in his quest over three continents. As pieces begin to fill the twisted puzzle, the reader hopes for the best outcome possible, but also fears that it may be impossible to obtain.
The writing is crisp, and Ross is a skilled scene setter. He creates an urgency that demands you must know what comes next. Although soccer is a central theme, you don't have to be an aficionado to enjoy the story. WONDERKID is a captivating adventure enlivened by love, loss, and the hope for redemption.
May 5, 2022
A dangerously thrilling globe-trotting novel where little to no prior knowledge of soccer is necessary to appreciate the beauty of the game. The main character, Keith, is jaded and complex, charming and slobbishly relatable — in desperate need of the life-altering adventure that he finds himself on. Ross brilliantly plays into the “simple” tenets of soccer to reveal eye-opening aspects of life’s darkness, disparity, and hope amidst survival. Such a great read — you won’t want to put it down!
May 15, 2022
This book was a lot deeper than what I was expecting. At least the flirting with his girlfriend kept things light. And some of the translation joking… As well as the good-natured ribbing between guy friends.
But in all seriousness, this type of “story” is all too real for many people in this world. May they all find a Keith Ferguson et al in their corner and soon.
But in all seriousness, this type of “story” is all too real for many people in this world. May they all find a Keith Ferguson et al in their corner and soon.
June 10, 2022
Everything I look for in a great book - good character development, fascinating plot line, and an urgency to keep reading, while at the same time not wanting it to end! The author obviously invested time to research all the details, from the soccer world, to the traveled locations, to the intricacies of the food and how it was made, I was accidentally learning as I read! You won’t want to put this one down!
December 7, 2023
This novel is very well written & I was hooked from the start. I’m not a soccer fan but I still very much enjoyed reading this book. The character development was one of the best I’ve experienced in a long time. There’s a mix of action, suspense, adventure, crime & even romance.
You can tell the author did a lot of research to make this as realistic as possible. Highly recommend.
You can tell the author did a lot of research to make this as realistic as possible. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews