{"product_id":"underspin","title":"Underspin","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"In its competing love and critique of the sport, \u003ci\u003eUnderspin \u003c\/i\u003eis as zippy as an Olympic file.\" --\u003ci\u003eThe Financial Times \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"An eruption of a debut.\" --Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, author of\u003ci\u003e Chain-Gang All-Stars\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eStay True\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eHeadshot\u003c\/i\u003e in this intimate, bruising coming-of-age novel about the short and tumultuous life of a charismatic and enigmatic table tennis prodigy, as seen through the eyes of those pulled into his orbit. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRyan Lo begins playing table tennis at age eight, under the tutelage of his brilliant but ruthless coach Kristian, who sees talent in him that might be nurtured into greatness. Throughout an adolescence circumscribed by Kristian's demanding behavior, Ryan forms jealousy-fueled and mutually adoring friendships with his teammates and competitors, falls in love with fellow table tennis star Anabel Yu, and above all, wins championships. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBy twenty-one, Ryan ascends all the way to the German Bundesliga, the highest echelon of international table tennis, just as he was supposed to, but he doesn't stay there. It is clear to all that Ryan Lo was meant to be the greatest in the world. Instead, he abandons competition and is dead before his twenty-fifth birthday. What happened? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn crisp, evocative prose, \u003ci\u003eUnderspin\u003c\/i\u003e masterfully delves beneath the relentless pressure that forges a champion, considering adolescence, estrangement, and the great injustices committed within our closest relationships. A love letter to an underdog sports circuit and a tender exploration of love, loss and abuse, \u003ci\u003eUnderspin \u003c\/i\u003eis a bildungsroman and literary puzzle for readers of Rita Bullwinkel, Hua Hsu, Susan Choi, and Brandon Taylor.","brand":"Astra House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41927037026389,"sku":"9781662603266","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0617\/0211\/1317\/files\/imageloader_de7e9247-2683-4df9-922b-694959377226.jpg?v=1764635875","url":"https:\/\/shopchapterbookstores.com\/products\/underspin","provider":"Chapter One","version":"1.0","type":"link"}