The Great Teeth of the Young Lions
Fiction & Literature, Drama, American, Nonfiction, Entertainment, Literary
| Author: | Mark Squires | ISBN: | 9781452421407 |
| Publisher: | Mark Squires | Publication: | July 5, 2011 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | Mark Squires |
| ISBN: | 9781452421407 |
| Publisher: | Mark Squires |
| Publication: | July 5, 2011 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
Someone is vandalizing Mr. Batty’s mailbox at night. It’s probably one of his students, but which one? Batty, who hates his students as much as they hate his harsh methods in class, is the high-school English teacher in the small town of Lizard Bump, Arizona. Once a caring teacher, Batty is now burned-out and haunted by a student suicide years before. When the principal insists that Batty coach the junior-high track team, Batty, who knows nothing about sports, is further annoyed by a fist-swinging, mentally-handicapped boy named Cage who joins the motley track team and provokes ongoing trouble at the practices and track meets. But despite Cage’s disruptions and Batty’s poor coaching, the team has natural talent and proves competitive.
As Batty’s wife and children begin to question his pessimism, Batty sees the dull-witted Cage get abused at school by Luke, the Hispanic high-school jock. Batty blackmails Luke into acting as Cage’s personal coach. And suddenly winning the championship track meet seems possible—in fact, winning becomes the only way for Batty to justify his otherwise failed life. But a twist of fate places clumsy Cage as a key athlete to win the championship. That night a tragedy threatens Batty’s rebirth.
The Great Teeth of the Young Lions explores the peculiar world of defiant teenagers, teacher burnout, and dignity for the mentally disabled. The story appeals to educators, young adult readers, and all who have had the public-school experience, conveying the true feelings that many educators suppress and deny in the face of rising public expectations.
Someone is vandalizing Mr. Batty’s mailbox at night. It’s probably one of his students, but which one? Batty, who hates his students as much as they hate his harsh methods in class, is the high-school English teacher in the small town of Lizard Bump, Arizona. Once a caring teacher, Batty is now burned-out and haunted by a student suicide years before. When the principal insists that Batty coach the junior-high track team, Batty, who knows nothing about sports, is further annoyed by a fist-swinging, mentally-handicapped boy named Cage who joins the motley track team and provokes ongoing trouble at the practices and track meets. But despite Cage’s disruptions and Batty’s poor coaching, the team has natural talent and proves competitive.
As Batty’s wife and children begin to question his pessimism, Batty sees the dull-witted Cage get abused at school by Luke, the Hispanic high-school jock. Batty blackmails Luke into acting as Cage’s personal coach. And suddenly winning the championship track meet seems possible—in fact, winning becomes the only way for Batty to justify his otherwise failed life. But a twist of fate places clumsy Cage as a key athlete to win the championship. That night a tragedy threatens Batty’s rebirth.
The Great Teeth of the Young Lions explores the peculiar world of defiant teenagers, teacher burnout, and dignity for the mentally disabled. The story appeals to educators, young adult readers, and all who have had the public-school experience, conveying the true feelings that many educators suppress and deny in the face of rising public expectations.
