The State League
From the book
More than a goal, this was release. Release from grief and loss. From humiliation and isolation. From being doubted and discarded. It had been a brutal few months. That single strike had broken the shackles.
MY THOUGHTS
If you have read The District Cup by Mallika Ravikumar, you know this sequel was much awaited! The District Cup came into our lives a little after COVID and instantly became a favourite in our football-obsessed home. When the State League came home, we had to pick lots to see who got to read the book first!
Read review of The District Cup here
The State League takes place a few years after The District Cup. The protagonist, Prithvi, is now part of Elite Sports FC, a sports-focused school where he balances studies with intense football training. Even though the boys dream of playing football professionally, they must understand the state of Indian football in the country and the national team’s standing in the world. Soon, there is talk of a new youth league, and the boys begin dreaming of professional scouts, playing in Europe, and a chance to achieve everything IPL players have! But before that, author Mallika Ravikumar introduces the dark side of football. A place where officials and leaders prioritize earning money illegally over player welfare and where young footballers are groomed to be pawns in high-stakes betting and match-fixing. In the midst of all this, Prithvi’s best friend on the team, Thangboi, a boy from Manipur, finds himself at the center of a nationwide trolling campaign after he has an outburst over the law and order situation in Manipur. Can Prithvi and his friends put sport above everything else and pull off a win, or will they get pulled down and buried by the system?
This book is waiting to be adapted for the screen, and when that happens, we will have the next hit, feel-good sports movie on our watchlist! What I loved about the book is how author Mallika Ravikumar seamlessly weaves in so many elements into the story. She tackles age fraud, match-fixing, the symbiotic relationship of corrupt officials and team owners, the stress players experience when things are not safe back home, team dynamics, and the constant pressure to achieve and prove your worth because you have chosen to be a sportsperson. Through it all, the reader is riveted, never once feeling the book sag under the weight of the heavy issues. This book is a treat for football lovers because of the detailed terminology the author uses and the trivia she peppers throughout the story. But it is also a beautiful story for those unfamiliar with football because she layers drama and emotion with such tenderness that your heart goes out to these teenagers desperate to prove their worth.
There are many characters in the story, and it took me a few pages to familiarise myself with them. But once you do, you realise how real and relevant the characters are — those corrupting Indian sports from within and getting away with it. I also loved how the WhatsApp conversations, newspaper clippings, and emails make the book a lot more exciting to read. Reading the final match between Elite Academy and Delhi Warriors had my heart racing as I eagerly followed every kick and pass, hoping Elite would win. I even teared up during the final pages, sheepishly realising a book had taken me through the same range of emotions as a fast-paced sports movie with music and special effects!
If you are trying to raise a reader, the easiest way to do that is to provide your child with books related to their area of interest. This book comes close on the heels of the Football World Cup, and if your child is still obsessing over goals, penalties, and offsides, this is the book to get them. Perfect for tweens, teens, and young adults, get your copy today!
If you think your child would enjoy this book, you can buy it here →
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