Spectacular Things

Spectacular Things advocates the idea that greatness comes in many forms and is less about fame and trophies than about overcoming hardship and approaching life with passion and love. The novel uses Cricket’s relationship with soccer to examine the motivations, strategies, and mentality needed to become great.

Willingly enduring the physically punishing demands of elite athletic training requires meaningful and lasting sources of motivation, which in Cricket’s case come from the people she loves. Her desire to be a star soccer player originates with her mother. Unable to realize her own dreams of playing soccer professionally, Liz pours her passion for the sport into Cricket and her time, skill, and money into Cricket’s training. Even after Liz’s death, her spirit appears to Cricket on the soccer field, mitigating Cricket’s grief and reminding her that through soccer, her connection to her mother is never lost. Cricket is also motivated by the sacrifices Mia makes to support her, including giving up playing soccer herself and leaving Yale. Only by achieving success at the highest level, Cricket feels, can she earn and repay these sacrifices. Coach Oliver’s mentorship is also a great source of motivation. His unwavering belief in Cricket inspires her to believe in herself and push past perceived limitations.