Foul Play

Theresa Paltzat is the Smart Search librarian at the Edmonton Public
Library.

Remy O’Sullivan is a typical Grade 7 student who loves to play soccer
and hang with her friends. Remy used to be best friends with Alison,
until Alison suddenly went to a summer soccer camp in England without
saying goodbye. Now, Remy thinks Alison is a show-off. As an important
soccer tournament approaches, Remy begins to get suspicious of Alison,
believing that she is out to sabotage Remy’s “blue” team. Remy
overhears Alison talking to a teammate about her “plan” to beat the
blue team and their “secret weapon.” Subsequent events add to
Remy’s suspicions until she deliberately sabotages Alison’s team at
the big tournament. As a result of Remy’s tricks, her team is
disqualified and Remy herself is in danger of being banned from soccer
for the rest of the season. In the end, Remy finds herself forced to
deal with her mistakes and her underlying anger toward her former best
friend.

Scudamore gives us warm glimpses into Remy’s home life, with
anecdotes of Remy’s adventures with her rowdy and untrained puppy,
Tucker. The author also gives us a good portrayal of early teen years,
particularly among teenage girls. Remy’s flip-flopping emotions have
her distrusting Alison in one chapter and then happily preparing herself
for a reunion in the next. Most readers will like Remy and sympathize
with her, despite her flaws. Recommended.