Caught in the Haze

April 1, 2022
Tae attempts to fit in at a new school and on a new soccer team. When Tae's family moves, not only does he have to adjust to prestigious Westgate High, but he and his brother, both adopted from Korea by their White American parents, stick out in their ethnically homogeneous neighborhood. Previously the team star, Tae pushes through excruciating varsity tryouts, hazing, racist bullying, and an intense, self-inflicted personal training regimen. Tae's struggle to become a Westgate Warrior mirrors his need to fit in as a racial minority in a mostly White school. As the annual hazing ritual turns dangerous, Tae must choose between staying silent to protect the team and telling the truth. The terse, snappy narration from Tae's point of view is accessible and immersive. The frenetic soccer games will be best appreciated by fans who understand the sport's positions, strategy, and lingo. Tae's perspective enhances the straightforward depiction of hazing as he analyzes his own sense of self-worth as it is tied to membership in a team amid bullying and familial and social pressures. The quick pace keeps the action going for plot-oriented readers but prevents deeper relationship development. Similarly, subjects such as developing new friendships, adoption and family dynamics, racism and belonging, and others have potential but could have been handled with more complexity. A fast-paced sports novel for reluctant readers that sacrifices depth for action. (Verse novel. 12-18)

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