Title: Gaels on Three
Author: Donald Schlenger
Publisher: Ink Start Media
ISBN: 978-1-961254-37-4
Pages: 318
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Jason Lulos
Hollywood Book Reviews
Author Don Schlenger’s Gaels on Three is an inspiring novel readers will find remarkably satisfying because it is one of those classic tales of how a sports team can unite a local community. Plot-driven by “Jersey, Girls, and Basketball,” the narrative is set in the 1980s and highlights the storybook season of the St. Ethel Junior High Girls’ basketball team. Gaels on Three is a heartwarming sports story but also a romantic comedy with an edge. That unique combination and Schlenger’s playful writing style will appeal to a wide range of readers and ages.
When young Will Edwards (mid 20s) accepts the task of coaching junior high basketball, he is not exactly qualified. But he is wise enough to seek out help. His first move is to reach out to his childhood and high school sweetheart, Ramona (Ray) Voytek. They were both local basketball standouts and she inevitably agrees despite their acrimonious breakup more than six years ago when they were seniors. That unresolved tension and their mutually competitive spirit intimates an undeniable chemistry, both romantic and in terms of their collaboration as coaches. They make a formidable team. They are aided by the ever-wise Sister Mary, a Dominican nun with Navajo roots, and a “rez ball” legend in her own right.
The players on the team reflect the community’s ethnic and cultural diversity. They are endearing and determined. It makes readers want to root for them. Although it is a cliché, Will and Ray learn just as much from them: not just from their loyalty to each other and their rugged determination to win. When facing a racist opposing coach, Will gets a window into the African-American experience, particularly in how it affects two of his own players and their families. Sister Mary and the Atticus Finch-like Monsignor McEntee, provide just the right amount of wisdom and parental guidance for Will, Ray, and the girls, helping them learn from each other and achieve a remarkable season.
Gaels on Three is a great, feel good book. Schlenger’s writing style is fluid, quick-witted, with realistic dialogue. Even the first-person narration feels conversational. The characters are well-drawn, charming, yet realistic. The book is also packed with humor, most notably seen in the witty banter and the Eastern European English that Will and Ray use with each other like it’s a secret language. Plenty of ‘80s references nostalgically set the tale firmly in that era. There is a lot to like in this book. I recommend it to all readers yearning for a compelling story that is uplifting and plausible.