Adrian Beck (text), Adele K. Thomas (illus.), The Mix-Up (the Champion Charlies #1), Random House Australia, 28 May 2018, 176pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9780143791249
The Champion Charlies is set at Jindaberg Primary School where, because of the departure of a few families from the area, the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams have been disbanded! This causes much outrage and heartbreak amongst the remaining players, until Principal Swift comes up with a great idea! Instead of a girl’s team and a boys’ team – there’ll be a mixed team!
The writing here is dynamic and lively – constantly moving and tumbling, full of snappy dialogue and jokes. I particularly enjoyed CJ’s dad’s dance troupe’s antics.
This novel is told through the eyes of CJ – the top scorer of the boys’ team, and wannabe captain of the mixed team. Beck has really missed an opportunity here. This series is called The Champion Charlies – because the other wannabe captain is Charlotte from the girls’ team. Why not tell the story in alternating chapters, to get both points of view? It was disappointing that so many of the characters played into stereotypical gender roles – CJ really has nothing going for him as captain, he’s irresponsible, moody, lazy and unkind, and yet lauded as a wonderful soccer player. Charlotte is a typical “Type A” girl, with everything organised and tightly scheduled, while also practising her heart out for her team.
This gender stereotyping and disparity shows itself in the best friends of the two Charlies. CJ’s best friend Benji gets a side story and a delightful sense of humour, while Charlotte’s best friend Lexi is simply obsessed with selfies.
This series was developed in partnership with Football Federation Australia and features both Caltex Socceroos and Westfield Matildas players. I’d recommend teachers and parents read this alongside their soccer-mad kids, discussing and questioning the gender roles throughout.
Reviewed by Madeleine Crofts
