Customer Reviews

Going for the Record

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Friday, June 20 is the best and worst day of Leah Weiczynkowski's life. Having just made the Regional Olympic Development Program's soccer team the summer before her senior year, she is on top of the world. Soccer is not only her life, it's the map to her future. But it all comes crashing down when her dad arrives late to pick her up from development camp and tells her the bad news -- he has pancreatic cancer. He has three months to live. He's dying.

Up to that point in her seventeen years, their family life has always revolved around Leah and her incredible athletic talent and drive to be the world's best women's soccer player in the world. Her dad has always been her biggest supporter, chauffeuring her to practices, games, and camps. But that summer it all changes. By necessity the family focuses on Dad, helping him cope and finding a way to cope with the cancer that brutally takes over their lives. And to further complicate her life, he wants to die at home. At first Leah feels angry and confused. How could this happen when her goals of a college scholarship and the Olympics are just coming together for her? She figures no matter what happens, she's going to need a miracle to get through this one.

When Leah's student coach Clay, out of genuine concern, gets a little too close, she pushes him away. As her dad's condition deteriorates, Leah gradually pushes everyone and everything away, including soccer. Her discipline and determination to be the best fades. Which is a blessing in a way because, as she soon realizes, dying has a way of taking the life out of, well -- life. She is consumed by helping her mother care for her father as he grows weaker. Yet as she learns about cancer and hospice care, and spends precious hours with her dad reading to him and playing cards, she discovers his faith and courage. Even though she loses her self in the process of her dad's death, she reaches down deep and finds her own soul.

While Leah's story is a real kick-in-the-guts and Swanson pulls no punches in the gritty telling, at the same time she offers readers a guide for coping with the suffering and the hope of life after death. This is a beautiful saga of love, loss, and the triumph of the spirit. Warning: you'll need a box of kleenex handy to get through this one!

Copyright (c) 2004 by Peggy Tibbetts

I originally checked this book out a year or two ago at my local library in a rush to leave. Normally I would see the cover of a book like this and think it would be boring since it was "Obviously about Soccer"(Not a favorite or remotely interesting topic of mine) But I could not have been more wrong. This book really brings you in and causes extreme emotion and realness of the story. You feel for the character and what is happening, its very powerful and just an amazing read. I can honestly tell you I broke out in tears throughout half of this book but my overall experience was very positive. After reading this novel My view on what was important to me and how I looked at things totally changed. I recommend this book to anyone. 5+ one of my all time favorites(:

Angie

Going for the Record is a book about a really driven high school girl to become an amazing soccer player. There is a twist in the road when something bad hits close to home and stops her dream, the question is will she ever love soccer again after this eye-opening experience she sees her life long dream in a different light. I think this is a really good book and recommend it to any young adult reader.

way to go and tell the entire book's plot and details.

good book, quick to read

Going For the Record
Julie A. Swanson


Leah is a very good soccer player with a promising future, but when her dad picks her up from soccer camp; her whole life gets turned up side down. Leah finds out that her dad has cancer and only has about three months left to live. Her mom starts scheduling reunion after reunion so that the family can say their last goodbyes. Unfortunately one of them is on the date of the most important weekend of Leah's soccer career. Her mom doesn't want her to go but her dad insists on it. When Leah calls to check in with her family, her dad is worse and she is forced to come home early. "Going For the Record" by Julie A. Swanson is great book filled with emotion, making choices, and building relationships.

This book has lots of emotion throughout the book. Leah starts off as being happy when she is accepted onto the Regional team. After finding out her dad has cancer she is angry and sad. Towards the end of the book she is angry at herself because the only reason she wanted her dad to get better was so that she could play soccer. So she wanted him to die so he wouldn't have to suffer any longer. This odd pattern of emotions is strung throughout the book and makes each situation interesting.

Making choices is another big part in this book. Leah has to choose between many things. She is faced with choosing what college to attend. Leah has to decide whether soccer is really worth all the time she has put into it. Her family has to settle on whether or not she should go to the National Team tryouts or stay home for the reunion. These are just a few examples of all the life changing decisions Leah has to make in a few months.

Leah's mother is convinced that Leah and her friend are meant for each other and that they should go out. Leah constantly says that he is just a trainer and friend. When he tries to comfort Leah, she yells at him and their friendship is over. He tries and tries to get her to like him but it takes a while for her to become friends with him again. Leah also builds a different kind of relationship with her father as she watches him become helpless and frail.

"Going For the Record" is an outstanding book that deals with everyday issues and some not so everyday issues. It's a book worth reading and it gets you interested in the main character and her well being.

A. Coffin

This journal type book is written by a young girl who sees her whole life change before her eyes when her father gets sick with cancer.

The main character enjoys soccer and has potential for scholarships. Her dad gets very sick and this book is about her fears, hopes and eventually what is really important to her.

A very touching and personal story. I thoroughly applaud the author for having the courage to write this book and I recommend to all to read it.

Going for the Record takes you straight to the core of Leah Weiczynkowski's heart as she struggles to reconcile her love for her dying father with her dreams for her own future. Her gritty, courageous questions about life, death and what really matters will resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one at a tender age. Leah is so real, so true that you can't help but laugh when she laughs, cry when she cries and cheer when she finds the answers she's been searching for. This poignant and moving story is a gift to all young people who have grappled with big questions about the meaning of living.