The Underdogs

The Underdogs (2011) is a middle grade contemporary realistic novel by Mike Lupica. A sports journalist for over 30 years, Lupica has written several books for young people that center on youth sports in plot or conflict. In The Underdogs, 12-year-old Will Tyler must rally his teammates and community to action when his football team’s season faces cancellation due to a lack of funding in his small, struggling town. The novel addresses themes of economic hardship, the power of teamwork, and the challenges and rewards of leadership.

This guide refers to the 2011 edition of the novel from Philomel Books (an imprint of Penguin Group).

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Will Tyler races for a touchdown in his community’s football stadium, then trips in a rut in the field surface and goes down just steps from the end zone. Luckily, no game is on the line; he is just practicing. The field’s condition, with its lack of maintenance and broken scoreboard, represents a much bigger loss than the imagined game in Will’s mind.

Will’s town of Forbes in Western Pennsylvania has struggled economically since the Forbes Flyer factory closed years before. Many families were forced to leave for better opportunities elsewhere.