The Underdogs

Review Will’s two letters. What do these snapshots of first-person perspective show the reader about Will that they may not glean from the rest of the narrative? How does the second letter illustrate the character development that Will experienced after he wrote the first letter?

What facets of Will’s character are revealed through his relationships with different characters, especially with his father, Tim, Hannah, and Kendrick? How do each of these people shape Will’s eventual emergence as a leader? What leadership lessons does he take away from his interactions with them?

What mistakes do Will and other members of the team make early in the season? How does learning from these mistakes contribute to improved skills and performance later in the season? Contrast their response to failure with that displayed by antagonists like Kendrick.

In modern middle grade novels, the focus is typically on middle grade characters. How does The Underdogs’ focus on Joe and his character arc as a coach compare to the treatment of similar adult characters in other middle grade works?

How does Lupica’s writing style convey pace and suspense during the games, especially the crucial last game of the regular season and the championship game? How does Lupica use pace and suspense to highlight key symbols, motifs, and themes?

What does Shea Stadium symbolize in the context of this story? Consider its physical condition and Will’s opinions of it throughout the novel. What changes occur there, and what do they represent? How does the revitalization of Shea Stadium become a metaphor for the revitalization of Forbes as the novel unfolds?

How do Hannah’s actions, skills, and demeanor defy the stereotypical beliefs that many have about girls playing “rough” sports like tackle football? Does the author demonstrate any stereotypical characterization of Hannah in the novel? If so, how might this impact the reader’s impressions or conclusions of this character?

How do the cultural allusions throughout the story—such as references to team and player names and mentions of moments or figures in sports history—impact its authenticity? What additional impacts on the reading experience do these allusions have?