Caught in the Haze

I like the darker coloured cover and how the book title is set within a soccer ball, as it really fits with the content of the book. The genres listed for this book are Sport, Teens & YA and is written in the Hi-Lo style, making it ideal for reluctant readers, or those that struggle a little with reading.

The main character is Tae who is originally from South Korea and was adopted when he was a baby. Tae loves soccer and is a revered and popular player at his current school, so he is worried for his sport playing future, when his parents announce they are moving which means a new school and soccer team. Tae goes from being a big fish in a little pond to being one of the smallest fish in a much larger, in a difficult to navigate pond. Tae decides to try out for the Varsity team however this team is quite notorious for its hazing practices. Tae really wants to be part of the team but worries a lot about being the new guy, being the only person of colour too. Tae initially feels relief when he see’s someone who he knows from years before. Tae and his family, met Luke and his family through the adoption group they all belonged to. Luke is a well-established member of the soccer team but seems to be going hot and cold on Tae. Luke encourages Tae to keep going when the going gets tough during training, but at the same time doesn’t openly show he is an old friend. Luke has worked hard to be part of the team, to be seen as the same as everyone else on the team and doesn’t want the other players to know he was adopted. The hazing rituals are as much part of the soccer team process as the training sessions are. Nicknames are given to each player. The prospective new team members submit to demanding training with the coach and then the extra gruelling drills combined with hazing from the rest of the team too. It’s when a hazing ritual goes horribly wrong that Tae has to make an important decision, keep the team secrets or come clean and possibly face the wrath of the team.

I did really enjoy reading this book. The characters and plot were so believable. The book is written from the alternate point of views of Tae and Luke. This book would be an ideal conversation starter about the practices and dangers of hazing. I think hazing is more of a US practice than a UK one but it still felt a very relevant read. Tae had to do quite a lot of soul searching and assess whether the place on the soccer team was worth all the hassle of the hazings. Tae seems to think on each individual hazing that its ok he can do it, everyone else is. Then comes the next and the next with him thinking he has come this far, so he can’t quit now and that once he gets a place on the team things will be much easier. However, there comes a time, with one particular hazing ritual that has Tae drawing a line.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading this book were that I had really enjoyed it. It’s a Hi-Lo style book, that covers sport and the issues surrounding new schools, new soccer teams and fitting in with the crowd. How far will you be pushed into doing things you don’t really want to do to “fit in” before you draw a line and refuse to remain quiet about it all too.

Summing up, the book was a fast read, I read it in just one reading session. I would definitely read more by this author. The main character of the book deals with some important issues throughout this short book.

I really enjoyed this book! We follow the main character Tae, who is from South Korea and has been adopted. He now lives with his parents and younger brother Aaron. They decide to move right before Tae is set to start high school. Tae plays soccer and tries out for the team at his new school. He's heard all about the hazing that goes on at Westgate (his new school) and he's prepared to go through it. But when something goes wrong, Tae has to decide if he's loyal to the team or if he's willing to rat everyone out.

Overall, I really liked this book. I love anything written in verse and this book was no exception! I related to Tae and his struggle to either stick with the status quo or tell the truth. I'm really looking forward to reading more by this author!

Caught in the Haze is a novel in verse about Tae, a high school freshman whose family has just moved to a new school. At his old school, he was a star soccer player, but now as a freshman he'll need to work hard to make it onto the varsity team. Tae was adopted from South Korea as a baby, and on the team he reencounters Luke, a childhood friend he knows was also an adoptee. Meanwhile, rumors about hazing practices make him nervous and build tension throughout the book.

I devoured the book in about an hour and the format certainly contributes to this: each poem is so short, and often leads into the other so you find yourself pulled along across the pages. My favorite parts had to be the scenes where Tae describes himself playing soccer; the poetic format really captured the beauty of the sport and I felt like I was on the field with him, caught up in the excitement. This would be a great book to teach to have discussions about moving schools and being the new kid, adoption, complicated friendship and team dynamics, fitting and standing up for yourself in tough situations (think peer pressure). This book is great for what it is and will meet its purpose for its readers: it is compelling, relatable, and accessible. As an older reader, I did want a bit more from the ending and development of the side characters - since it's short, the book's focus is mostly on the plot of trying out for varsity and Tae's internal conflict over standing up against the hazing. I'd love to have a physical copy for my classroom, and I'll definitely be recommending this to my students who are interested in sports stories, novels in verse, or other themes addressed in this book!

This is a compelling and enjoyable one-sitting read that explores hazing, an issue that definitely needs more coverage. The book also effectively portrays Tae's desire to fit in versus finding the courage to do what is right. Despite being a quick read, I found the characters to be likeable and sufficiently developed.

This is my third Sandi Van book and I can't wait to read more from her! She has such a knack for highlighting difficult topics through engaging stories and realistic characters.