Travel team is a great story for anyone that likes sport book, or just sports in general. I have read a number of books by this author, his name is Mike Lupica. He has easily become my favorite author. Every book he writes has a great message that any sports player could relate to, all of his books are about sports. His writing style is easy to understand, but complex at the same time. The way he does this is by using easy to understand words and describes a number of things; but he also has hidden meanings in some things a character would say.
Travel team is well written and has a great message behind it that can be related back to anyone who really thinks about it and understands. This book is about a young boy named Danny Walker AKA double crossover. Double crossover is a term used in basketball which is Danny’s sport. Danny is a very talented young man when it comes to basketball; the only problem is that he is very short. His height gives him fast speed and great agility, his height also affects the way he can shoot and do other things in basketball. Danny was encouraged to try out for his towns travel team; at first he was hesitant but then after his friends and family talked to him about it he tried out. When he got to the try outs he looked around and everyone was way taller than him. Danny was cut from the team because the coach said that he was too short even though he was much better than some of the kids that were not cut. After Danny was cut he felt like quitting basketball for good. His father Ritchie Walker who used to be a professional basketball player came back to visit and ended up staying for a while. Up until this point Danny’s father did not stay for very long, he and Danny’s mom were divorced for many years. When Danny's dad finds out he was cut from the travel team and was willing to quit they both come up with the idea of making a team with just the people that were cut from the travel team and whoever else wanted to join, they were not going to turn anyone away. The only problem with this idea was that the coach Danny’s father has a drinking problem and has trouble focusing. The greatest part of this team is the mentality they have; they are the kids that are the underdogs, the ones who want to prove everyone wrong. The kids on the actual travel team now think they are the best and have to show nothing more, but the underdogs have nothing to lose only everything to gain. That’s only half of the story; I'm not one to spoil things for others so if you want to know what happened in the end you will have to read it yourself.
in my opinion this book could not have shown a better message for kids and athletes. I was reading about Mike Lupica and I read that this had some truth behind it because it is what happened to Mike Lupica’s son. This is interesting because it makes it more interesting and makes the message more powerful. The message that I'm talking about is don’t take criticism so seriously, if someone tells you that you don’t have the right height, weight, look or talent. Then don’t take it to heart, that is not written in stone and that is just someone’s opinion not a hard fact. The situation can always change. The book illustrated how weak someone can be when something goes wrong, but then everything is turned around and towards the end it shows how mentally strong one person can be and how important good friends and family are. This book is great for everyone because everyone has been told they were not good enough at least one time in their life and if they haven’t yet they will soon. It is part of life to be told you’re not good enough, that’s wrong the wrong this is actually listening to it and quitting at whatever you were trying to accomplish.
