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Offsides: A Novel
Kerry Madden-Lunsford's fresh, often hilarious, debut novel presents a bittersweet and unforgettable tale of adolescence. On the surface, the Donegals seem the picture-perfect norm of a nuclear family in the 1970s. But seen through the eyes of Liz Donegal, her world teeters on the brink of disintegration. Liz's father, an assistant college football coach, uproots his family annually with the motivational compassion of "Get your ass in the car." Her brothers Joe-Sam and Leo, whose first words are "hut, hut, hike," and sister, Peaches, a wannabe cheerleader, pick apart their lives and tentatively pull together in whatever town they land in, whether it's Bobcat Country or Shark Territory. While chaos reigns within the Donegal household, outside the family dog Halfback is busy digging up his predecessor Bear Bryant. At the center of this remarkable cast of characters, Liz creates a world for herself spun out of best friends, books, secret glimpses at sex manuals, and a few adults who actually understand what it means to grow up "offsides." Fostered by the creativity of her aunt Betty and uncle Peter, Liz first glimpses life beyond football games and Catholic school. When she isn't busy rebelling, singing Lou Reed songs, or transforming herself into Helen Keller or Anne Frank, Liz is falling in love, discovering herself, and learning that life also has some painful lessons.
- GenresNovels
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1996
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Madden
13 books50 followersKerry Madden writes under both Kerry Madden and Kerry Madden-Lunsford. She has written plays, screenplays, journalism (Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Birmingham News, Salon, Southern Women's Review, Shenandoah, Carve Magazine, and Sierra Club Magazine), and published seven books including OFFSIDES, a New York Library Pick for 1997, and now just out as an ebook with FOREVERLAND PRESS.
Her book, WRITING SMARTS, was inspired by the writing workshops she's led with young writers for years and is a guide to sparking stories for kids ( American Girl Company.)
In 2005 she turned her hand to children's fiction with GENTLE'S HOLLER, the first installment in what became the award-winning Maggie Valley Trilogy set in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia. It earned starred reviews in both Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly, was included in the New York and the Chicago Public Libraries' best books for 2005, and was the featured children's book of North Carolina at the National Book Festival in 2008.
"It is the genuine article," wrote Rosemary Wells of GENTLE'S HOLLER. "Its heroine is as bone-real and endearing as Opal in Because of Winn Dixie."
The next book in the trilogy, LOUISIANA'S SONG (2007) was equally well received, being named a Bank Street College Book of the Year and a finalist for several other awards.
The third book, JESSIE'S MOUNTAIN, was published in 2008 to strong reviews.
Her biography of Harper Lee, published in Viking's UpClose Series, was a Booklist and Kirkus Pick of 2009.
Her picture book, NOTHING FANCY ABOUT KATHRYN & CHARLIE, illustrated by her daughter, Lucy Madden-Lunsford was published by Mockingbird Publishers, and in the summer of 2013, Kerry and Lucy went on a book tour to rural Alabama libraries to do art and writing workshops with children across the state.
Kerry received B.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Tennessee and has been honored as a Tennessee Williams Scholar and a Walter E. Dakin Fellow at the Sewanee Writers' Conference. She has taught creative writing at Ningbo University in China, UCLA, and has visited schools across the country as a guest author doing writing workshops for young authors. She is an associate professor of creative writing at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and editor of PMS, Poem Memoir Short Story, at UAB.
Her new book, FIFTH GRADE, WEREWOLVES, HAMLET & ME is out with publishers for consideration, and she is at work on a new novel, HOP THE POND, drawing from her time in Manchester, England as an exchange student.
Her book, WRITING SMARTS, was inspired by the writing workshops she's led with young writers for years and is a guide to sparking stories for kids ( American Girl Company.)
In 2005 she turned her hand to children's fiction with GENTLE'S HOLLER, the first installment in what became the award-winning Maggie Valley Trilogy set in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia. It earned starred reviews in both Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly, was included in the New York and the Chicago Public Libraries' best books for 2005, and was the featured children's book of North Carolina at the National Book Festival in 2008.
"It is the genuine article," wrote Rosemary Wells of GENTLE'S HOLLER. "Its heroine is as bone-real and endearing as Opal in Because of Winn Dixie."
The next book in the trilogy, LOUISIANA'S SONG (2007) was equally well received, being named a Bank Street College Book of the Year and a finalist for several other awards.
The third book, JESSIE'S MOUNTAIN, was published in 2008 to strong reviews.
Her biography of Harper Lee, published in Viking's UpClose Series, was a Booklist and Kirkus Pick of 2009.
Her picture book, NOTHING FANCY ABOUT KATHRYN & CHARLIE, illustrated by her daughter, Lucy Madden-Lunsford was published by Mockingbird Publishers, and in the summer of 2013, Kerry and Lucy went on a book tour to rural Alabama libraries to do art and writing workshops with children across the state.
Kerry received B.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Tennessee and has been honored as a Tennessee Williams Scholar and a Walter E. Dakin Fellow at the Sewanee Writers' Conference. She has taught creative writing at Ningbo University in China, UCLA, and has visited schools across the country as a guest author doing writing workshops for young authors. She is an associate professor of creative writing at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and editor of PMS, Poem Memoir Short Story, at UAB.
Her new book, FIFTH GRADE, WEREWOLVES, HAMLET & ME is out with publishers for consideration, and she is at work on a new novel, HOP THE POND, drawing from her time in Manchester, England as an exchange student.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 13, 2025
This was a slow start for me, while I finished it I can't say it picked up much momentum later in the book. Each chapter started with a football play and I didn't find them worthwhile to even read. The main character Liz was the oldest growing up in the typical 70's household. As a Gen X'er myself I felt her pain in many areas.
Overall the book was a solid read, I did ding it for the rushed ending which didn't feel at all like it belonged with the rest of the writing style.
Overall the book was a solid read, I did ding it for the rushed ending which didn't feel at all like it belonged with the rest of the writing style.
September 3, 2007
Soooooooooo funny. Kerry is a friend, a playwright, and a stirrer-upper-of-trouble/activist. There is an L.A. Times article about the time she protested in Borders Bookstore because they wanted her to breastfeed in the bathroom instead of in the children's section where she might traumatize people. This book is about her growing up the daughter of a college football coach and not fitting into that lifestyle in any shape or form. Reminds me a bit of David Sedaris.
July 11, 2007
This book really captured my interest and kept me entertained and involved. It's about a girl growing up in a football family - they move from town to town and she tries to find her place in her family and the world.
January 14, 2009
Sweet, touching and funny...reminded me of my own father who was a rabid USC football fan.
December 23, 2014
Laugh-out-loud funny coming-of-age book; the ending brought tears to my eyes.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews