Quantum Insterstellar Sports League by J. Scott Savage

What worked:

Humor is embedded in the story as Wyatt must win a football championship to save Earth. His entire team lacks any football knowledge or skills and several strange aliens complete the roster. Strange is a subjective term when considering all the other players in the league come from different planets. Wyatt’s team is comprised of drafted players but it looks like they were chosen without any expectation of winning. Wyatt’s parents are champion athletes but Wyatt is happier reading a good book. That’s why his performance is abysmal and he continually tries to quit the team. His teammates remain supportive of him even though their football talents aren’t much better than his. Quake is especially encouraging as he always offers Wyatt comforting hugs and words of appreciation.

The gist of the plot is humans learn to quickly travel in space and return with objects from other planets. Aliens levy fines against Earth for stealing their stuff which leads to the football contest to keep Schnozly Grofsplot from taking over the planet. He’s a greedy, diabolical alien who’s willing to do anything to win control of Earth. His influence is felt during Wyatt’s football games so it seems like the championship is rigged for Earth to lose. Each competing alien team presents unique challenges and the football field is modified to make things more difficult. Flames shooting up from the ground can result in lethal consequences.

Wyatt suffers from self-doubt when compared to his MVP, superstar father. He focuses on things he can’t do and anticipates how he’ll fail and let everyone else down. His infatuation with his teammate Nova motivates him to stick it out plus she tries to help him discover his value to the team. Quake is a giant alien teammate who has an intimidating presence. However, he’s a gentle giant who always has the team’s best interests at heart.

What didn’t work as well:

Some readers may find the book overly silly. Wyatt is almost obsessed with a new drink he’s invented and he’s prone to throwing up when he gets nervous. The players make unusual moves during the games that aren’t always easy to follow. However, the silliness also results in non-stop humorous situations.

The final verdict:

The highlight of the book is how Wyatt’s team learns to work together and take advantage of their abilities. Abundant black-and-white illustrations help readers visualize the story and add entertainment value. It’s clearly an underdog story and I recommend you give it a shot.