sports and trauma

[iridescentglow]

What is it about sports and trauma in fiction? I was looking up sports-centric teen novels and, seemingly, in every single one, the decision to become an athlete is precipitated by HORRIFIC TRAUMA.

A selection of novel summaries (from here):

Comments

[aderyn]

After a tragic airplane crash that claims the lives of most of his family, sixteen-year-old Tate goes to live with his wealthy great-grandfather and his adopted black great-aunt Vidalia and he finds unexpected solace in the stories of her childhood spent travelling with a Depression-era Negro baseball team.

This one is easily my favourite! I'm trying to imagine the front cover. So far it includes lots of friendly black faces and the burning wreckage of a plane in the background!

[trundlebed]

I think writers just learn early on that sports are inextricably linked with trauma (why was I always picked last for dodgeball? why???) and things just spiral from there. Also, too much voluntary movement.

[andthatisthat]

Is it wrong that I quite want to read all of these, though?

Also, "Rob Washington" is an excellent name for a high school basketball star in a novel.