False Start

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are The Trouble with Liberty, Zee’s Way, and Chat Room.

Part of the Sports Stories series, False Start is much more than just a
story about sports. The novel is built around nine-year-old Caitlyn
Sinclair’s association with a swim club, but the story is really about
her struggles to control her temper, conquer her fears, and make sense
of her life.

Having survived her parents’ breakup, Caitlyn’s current obstacle is
a lingering ankle injury that keeps her from rejoining her soccer team.
Her mother and grandfather convince her to join a swim club instead.
Caitlyn hates it, and for quite a while the only thing that keeps her
going back is her grandfather’s encouragement. But one day the old man
suffers a stroke that partially paralyzes him and affects his speech.
Caitlyn is devastated. When her grandfather’s disability forces his
placement in a nursing home, things become even worse. The old man’s
will is broken, and so is Caitlyn’s. But she promised her grandfather
she would try, and even though he has given up, she does her best to
carry on.

Caitlyn’s story is simultaneously sad and uplifting. Though many of
her problems are part and parcel of being a kid—sibling rivalry,
fitting in with peers, and growing pains in general—Caitlyn also has
to deal with the aftermath of a broken home and with the failing health
of a loved one. That’s heavy-duty stuff, but Diersch handles it all
without being melodramatic. Her characters are credible and her story is
engaging—worth reading even for those who aren’t sports fans. Highly
recommended.