SuitabookLong jump high
Malachy Doyle
- Reading
- Before reading, explain the triple jump only if helpful. Afterwards, invite the reader to compare Pete’s flying ability with the ordinary pressures of competing and being judged.
- Themes
- Exceptional ability and difference: Pete has always been different because he can fly. The unusual ability is part of Pete’s identity, but its meaning and the story’s attitude towards difference are not clear.
- Ambition under pressure: At thirteen, Pete is due to compete in the triple jump at the Olympics and expects to win gold. The situation foregrounds ambition and performance pressure, but does not show whether the book celebrates winning, questions it or reaches another conclusion.
- Rivalry and age: Edgar Winter refuses to lose against Pete because Pete is so young. The rivalry creates conflict, but its fairness, tone and development cannot be determined.
- Worth knowing
- Competition and nerves are central features. A reader who finds sporting pressure or direct rivalry difficult may appreciate discussing how Pete responds to both, though the intensity is not clear.