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Mike
MEET FLOYD.
He’s a tennis star. Possibly even good enough to win Wimbledon one day.
MEET MIKE.
He’s . . . different. Apart from anything else, Floyd seems to be the only one who can see him.
But Mike must have appeared for a reason and finding out why is perhaps the most important thing Floyd will ever do . . .
He’s a tennis star. Possibly even good enough to win Wimbledon one day.
MEET MIKE.
He’s . . . different. Apart from anything else, Floyd seems to be the only one who can see him.
But Mike must have appeared for a reason and finding out why is perhaps the most important thing Floyd will ever do . . .
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2018
18 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
December 28, 2017
The premise was interesting, but I think it could have gone a lot deeper. I was hoping for a big twist or for Mike to turn out to be something else, but he didn't. He was exactly what the psychologist suggested very, very early in the book. So from there this book is really about finding out what Mike wants to do with his life... only it was obvious from page 140 what his passion is and the exact profession he would end up pursuing. The last 50-100 pages where something exciting could have happened just ended up being predictable and cheesy.
It was an easy read, I flew through it in on sitting. But that's down to the simplicity of both the story and the writing itself. At first I thought it was a middlegrade due to the writing style and language, but it turned out to be YA.
Overall a bit of a miss for me.
It was an easy read, I flew through it in on sitting. But that's down to the simplicity of both the story and the writing itself. At first I thought it was a middlegrade due to the writing style and language, but it turned out to be YA.
Overall a bit of a miss for me.
November 30, 2024
2,5⭐️ Pierwsza połowa była ciekawa, ale potem historia straciła dla mnie cały zapowiadany potencjał. Minusem jest też bardzo chłodny styl narracji. Zero tu emocji i czytając tę książkę czułam się jak robot na zimno czytający słowo za słowem zamiast mieć jakieś uczucia przy kolejnych wydarzeniach w książce.
Pomysł na tytułowego Mike’a jest świetny, ale moim zdaniem całość to stracony potencjał.
Pomysł na tytułowego Mike’a jest świetny, ale moim zdaniem całość to stracony potencjał.
April 8, 2018
Long-time readers will know that I am a bit of a fan of Andrew Norriss: you can read my reviews of his previous books here. So I was delighted to receive his new book - or I would have been, if my wife hadn't grabbed it off me and declared her intention to read it first. Luckily, one feature of his writing is its narrative zip: you pick up the story, intending to read the first chapter, and two hours later you realise you're past half way and you really rather wouldn't stop now so, sometime around 3am, you finish the book and promise yourself that you really won't do that the next time. Only you do. My wife did it first, which at least meant that I didn't have to wait too long to get my hands on Mike, and then, despite my every resolution, I did it too. So, it's your fault, Andrew, that I had a sleep-sore head for the next two days!
Andrew Norriss is unusual, possibly unique, among writers in writing dramas of the good. In his books, there are almost always no bad people, just decent folk trying to do what is right. So where's the story in that? Stories require conflict, right? Well, yes, but conflict can come from conflicting ideas, between good and honourable people, of what actually is the right course, and this is the dramatic seam that Norriss has been mining in his recent books. In Mike, a deceptively simple book, he goes even further in his exploration as to what constitutes the good. The story is straightforward. Floyd, a teenage tennis prodigy, realises that he simply doesn't want to play tennis any longer. His parents, tennis professionals, want him to succeed at the sport to which he's devoted most of his young life - but they are not the coaching monsters of news headlines, but decent parents wanting to do what's best for their son. Floyd, for his part, is desperate not to let down his parents. That is the seed of the story, but from that sprouts surprisingly deep roots, for in his desperation to find a solution to his situation, Floyd meets a friend, Mike. But no one else can see Mike. And Mike isn't going to let Floyd play tennis any longer, taking increasingly direct action to stop Floyd when he gets on the tennis court. To try to get to the bottom of this, Floyd sees a psychologist (the one character in the book I didn't like, since he bore far too close a resemblance to the most irritating character in history, Counsellor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, to whose face of simpering empathy the natural human response is a swift slap).
At this point, I must admit, I was getting a little worried. Mike was beginning to seem like a personification of the sort of 'be-kind-to-yourself' self sentimentalisation that bedevils us today: a reification of the self and its desires into a good in and of itself. That advertising slogan, 'Because you're worth it,' sums up the attitude: no, you're not - and neither am I. Was Mike going to slip into a platitudinous hymn to finding yourself in some nebulous satisfaction of selfish desires?
I should have known better.
Norriss knows his Aristotle far too well to fall into this modern-day trap. Mike is, in fact, an examination of what is good as lived in daily life. As Aristotle said, and Thomas Aquinas amplified, all men act for the good - the evil supervillain announcing his evil masterplan to destroy the world is a fantasy of simplication. Even history's most notorious monsters acted towards ends they considered good - the evil lay in the ends they had convinced themselves were good. To that end, the good life consists in that which makes each of us most completely what we are: for we are born as sketches, and painted through time to our completion. But in our lives, we can either complete the picture, or deface it. Mike is about the making of the human picture, and the right discernment of that which makes our pictures complete.
All this in a story about tennis and fish.
Andrew Norriss is unusual, possibly unique, among writers in writing dramas of the good. In his books, there are almost always no bad people, just decent folk trying to do what is right. So where's the story in that? Stories require conflict, right? Well, yes, but conflict can come from conflicting ideas, between good and honourable people, of what actually is the right course, and this is the dramatic seam that Norriss has been mining in his recent books. In Mike, a deceptively simple book, he goes even further in his exploration as to what constitutes the good. The story is straightforward. Floyd, a teenage tennis prodigy, realises that he simply doesn't want to play tennis any longer. His parents, tennis professionals, want him to succeed at the sport to which he's devoted most of his young life - but they are not the coaching monsters of news headlines, but decent parents wanting to do what's best for their son. Floyd, for his part, is desperate not to let down his parents. That is the seed of the story, but from that sprouts surprisingly deep roots, for in his desperation to find a solution to his situation, Floyd meets a friend, Mike. But no one else can see Mike. And Mike isn't going to let Floyd play tennis any longer, taking increasingly direct action to stop Floyd when he gets on the tennis court. To try to get to the bottom of this, Floyd sees a psychologist (the one character in the book I didn't like, since he bore far too close a resemblance to the most irritating character in history, Counsellor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, to whose face of simpering empathy the natural human response is a swift slap).
At this point, I must admit, I was getting a little worried. Mike was beginning to seem like a personification of the sort of 'be-kind-to-yourself' self sentimentalisation that bedevils us today: a reification of the self and its desires into a good in and of itself. That advertising slogan, 'Because you're worth it,' sums up the attitude: no, you're not - and neither am I. Was Mike going to slip into a platitudinous hymn to finding yourself in some nebulous satisfaction of selfish desires?
I should have known better.
Norriss knows his Aristotle far too well to fall into this modern-day trap. Mike is, in fact, an examination of what is good as lived in daily life. As Aristotle said, and Thomas Aquinas amplified, all men act for the good - the evil supervillain announcing his evil masterplan to destroy the world is a fantasy of simplication. Even history's most notorious monsters acted towards ends they considered good - the evil lay in the ends they had convinced themselves were good. To that end, the good life consists in that which makes each of us most completely what we are: for we are born as sketches, and painted through time to our completion. But in our lives, we can either complete the picture, or deface it. Mike is about the making of the human picture, and the right discernment of that which makes our pictures complete.
All this in a story about tennis and fish.
January 21, 2026
I just got a random book from the library to do my January independent reading 😂. Turned out to be just the book I needed. It’s an easy read but contains so much meaning and stresses the importance of mental health!
April 3, 2022
so cute, so wonderful and one of the best summer books i’ve read. it really touches on topics that are so important: - self help, -self confidence, -taking care of yourself and mental health as a whole. it was such a lovely fictional yet realistic book, absolutely amazing. however, it was a bit short and cut off 😕😕 would’ve like to see more.
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November 24, 2018
Loved this! Review will be posted in School Library Journal in December 2018/January 2019
August 12, 2018
This is an interesting little book and one that I read at the right time of the school year. I’d recommend this for all Year 12 students and those at the coal face of making life decisions.
Floyd is a junior tennis champion, living his parents’ dream of making it to Wimbledon when he starts seeing Mike in his peripheral vision distracting him from his game. He enlists the help of a psychiatrist to help sort through these hallucinations. It’s suggested the Mike is a projection of Floyd’s true feelings- that he doesn’t want to actually play tennis at all. However, Mike doesn’t just fade once Floyd does give up tennis. He begins appearing when Floyd needs him- when he’s in danger, when he needs something, or when he’s unsure of what to do next.
I think this was maybe a little too obvious and lacked subtlety and nuance but the psychology was interesting and it was a great reminder to trust the inner voice we have that’s sometimes silenced by external pressures.
Floyd is a junior tennis champion, living his parents’ dream of making it to Wimbledon when he starts seeing Mike in his peripheral vision distracting him from his game. He enlists the help of a psychiatrist to help sort through these hallucinations. It’s suggested the Mike is a projection of Floyd’s true feelings- that he doesn’t want to actually play tennis at all. However, Mike doesn’t just fade once Floyd does give up tennis. He begins appearing when Floyd needs him- when he’s in danger, when he needs something, or when he’s unsure of what to do next.
I think this was maybe a little too obvious and lacked subtlety and nuance but the psychology was interesting and it was a great reminder to trust the inner voice we have that’s sometimes silenced by external pressures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2019
Floyd is a star upcoming in the junior tennis world however when he starts seeing and hearing Mike, a guy whom isn't real his parents help him to uncover what's happening to him.
As he meets with a psychologist during the week around his training he soon discovers whom Mike really is, what he wants and what Mike's been trying to tell him all along.
This leads him to discover a passion he's had all his life and chance meetings set him on his future path and to meet the girl of his dreams.
This was an interesting psychology based read as Mike is personified yet he's essentially an imagined form of Floyd. A form of his subconscious trying to guide him through life where as I first assumed he was possibly developing schizophrenia. He was a complex character but the book is cleverly written to real he's just a regular guy but with various passions in life he has to discover to know his life path like we all have to determine.
As he meets with a psychologist during the week around his training he soon discovers whom Mike really is, what he wants and what Mike's been trying to tell him all along.
This leads him to discover a passion he's had all his life and chance meetings set him on his future path and to meet the girl of his dreams.
This was an interesting psychology based read as Mike is personified yet he's essentially an imagined form of Floyd. A form of his subconscious trying to guide him through life where as I first assumed he was possibly developing schizophrenia. He was a complex character but the book is cleverly written to real he's just a regular guy but with various passions in life he has to discover to know his life path like we all have to determine.
December 19, 2018
I liked the premise of the story, but it seemed to fall flat. There just wasn't emotion or depth to the characters. As my boss said the story was written by a therapist who wants to write a book for teens, but can't express the emotions. I didn't like the way the time jumps were handled. It was all of the sudden 3 years had passed, and I was like wait what? If Mike was a figment of Floyd's mind then how could Charity see him as well? Why was she the only one? At the end there seemed like there was some sci-fi element to it, but it felt like more was needed to explain the ending. It's a good book for reluctant readers, but it misses the mark as an overall story.
September 18, 2022
Absolutely wonderful, and overall a very sweet book that I’d 100% read again.
January 31, 2023
I gave Mike by Andrew Norriss 3 out of 5 stars. If possible I would have given 3.5 stars instead, but there is no I would've given the book 4 stars, but that wouldn’t have felt correct, because I had some problems with the story.
The first and most noticeable issue to me was the dramatic shift of the story's focus. I’ll try to explain this one without giving major spoilers. Floyd, the main character, is a highly talented tennis player at 15 years old. He worked his whole life to be ahead of the game and destroy the competition. He was casually enjoying winning tournaments and training until the relative peak of his career, when the story completely switches subjects. I won’t explain why or how, but the reason for the sudden change is terribly unrealistic in my opinion. I can’t imagine anyone I know doing what Floyd did in this situation. I wouldn’t mind as much if he stopped playing tennis for a sensible reason, but I found the whole situation lame.
While the shift in focus does make the book worse for me, I think it is because I enjoyed the tennis-focused chapters so much. I wouldn’t have been bothered by the plot twist if I didn’t recognize the attention-grabbing mood of the tennis scenes. I related to the character in how he and his parents care so much about sports. Even though physiological forces are at play, when the book moved away from sports, I couldn’t agree with the decision. This book will still be enjoyable for most people to read, just not me at the moment.
The first and most noticeable issue to me was the dramatic shift of the story's focus. I’ll try to explain this one without giving major spoilers. Floyd, the main character, is a highly talented tennis player at 15 years old. He worked his whole life to be ahead of the game and destroy the competition. He was casually enjoying winning tournaments and training until the relative peak of his career, when the story completely switches subjects. I won’t explain why or how, but the reason for the sudden change is terribly unrealistic in my opinion. I can’t imagine anyone I know doing what Floyd did in this situation. I wouldn’t mind as much if he stopped playing tennis for a sensible reason, but I found the whole situation lame.
While the shift in focus does make the book worse for me, I think it is because I enjoyed the tennis-focused chapters so much. I wouldn’t have been bothered by the plot twist if I didn’t recognize the attention-grabbing mood of the tennis scenes. I related to the character in how he and his parents care so much about sports. Even though physiological forces are at play, when the book moved away from sports, I couldn’t agree with the decision. This book will still be enjoyable for most people to read, just not me at the moment.
April 24, 2019
Mike is the heart filling book of a partially true story. This book would be considered the realistic fiction genre and is for ages 7 and up. Mike is filled with mystery and wonder, taking place in the present day, mostly around overseas areas and places the main character travels. It has an wonderful storyline, where Floyd is questioning his life choices and who he is. It even has many twists, that will leave you think “why is this happening to him.” Its characters, Floyd, Dr. Pinner and Mike all are amazing in their own way! Floyd is the fit, funny, and wondering character that questions who he is because of Mike. Mike is a imaginary person that only Floyd can see at first, that always seems to know more than Floyd will ever. Dr. Pinner is the curious psychologist that helps Floyd through this whole story. By the time you finish reading this book, you will be wishing you knew why Mike knew so much about what Floyd really wanted, when Floyd did not! The author of this book has created a masterpiece and something that would make a spectacular movie!
Reviewed by Ryan B, age 13, Broward Mensa
Reviewed by Ryan B, age 13, Broward Mensa
December 1, 2017
Floyd is a star of under-18's tennis. Since he was little, all he's ever known is the routine of training, of the matches, of trying to be the best. But something strange is happening. A boy called Mike has started turning up - a boy no one else can see. He keeps appearing whenever Floyd is playing tennis and making him lose his game. Floyd needs to discover what Mike wants - and what that will mean for him, and where his life is headed. Floyd is at the start of a journey that will lead him into a headlong collision with his family, girls, friendship, and self-discovery.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. I would describe it as a crossover book. It is a wonderful young adult title, but can also be appreciated by adults as well. I found the synopsis of the invisible friend intriguing. Particularly in the way it enabled the discussion of mental health issues in a non threatening way. The clincher for me was the powerful message that you should listen to your inner voice – it may have something very important to tell you.
Poignant and Sweet.
4 stars
This was a quick and enjoyable read. I would describe it as a crossover book. It is a wonderful young adult title, but can also be appreciated by adults as well. I found the synopsis of the invisible friend intriguing. Particularly in the way it enabled the discussion of mental health issues in a non threatening way. The clincher for me was the powerful message that you should listen to your inner voice – it may have something very important to tell you.
Poignant and Sweet.
4 stars
February 1, 2022
Floyd is a tennis prodigy who finds himself in therapy when a guy named Mike starts appearing at and interfering in his tennis matches. Isn’t that something the authorities should handle? In this case, no, since Floyd is the only one who can see Mike. With the help of his doctor, Floyd learns that Mike is a projection of a part of himself, and that Mike will probably go away once Floyd figures out what he wants. It takes some time to get Mike to talk, but when he does, his revelation completely floors Floyd – Mike (some part of Floyd) really isn’t that into tennis. When Floyd really thinks about it, he realizes that Mike is right. Tennis isn’t fun anymore. But what can he do? His parents’ happiness is contingent on Floyd’s turning pro.
Tennis is just where this all starts. This book is really about how your inner voice can guide you to make choices that will lead to happiness, love, success, and…treasure! A quick, uplifting story that will encourage readers to look for their own Mikes.
Tennis is just where this all starts. This book is really about how your inner voice can guide you to make choices that will lead to happiness, love, success, and…treasure! A quick, uplifting story that will encourage readers to look for their own Mikes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2019
What an odd little duck this book is. Floyd's tennis is interrupted by Mike, who turns out to be a 'person' that only Floyd can see (well, apart from one other person). We follow Floyd as we discover that Mike has a message - a series of messages, in fact - all with Floyd's best interests at heart. Everyone, we're told, has a Mike - the trick is learning to listen to them. A sweet story about being true to yourself.
I'm not quite sure who I'd give this book to to read - Floyd is 15 at the start of the book and married at the end of it, but the style of writing doesn't seem quite sophisticated enough for YA. I'd originally thought readers of Lisa Thompson's excellent 'The Light Jar' would like this, being on the theme of imaginary friends, but while I think they might like the beginning I feel that they might lose interest as Floyd gets older.
I'm not quite sure who I'd give this book to to read - Floyd is 15 at the start of the book and married at the end of it, but the style of writing doesn't seem quite sophisticated enough for YA. I'd originally thought readers of Lisa Thompson's excellent 'The Light Jar' would like this, being on the theme of imaginary friends, but while I think they might like the beginning I feel that they might lose interest as Floyd gets older.
January 14, 2018
Mike is one of those books that arrive at my house from the publishers without warning and without me knowing anything about it before it arrives. I have come to learn that books like that from David Fickling Books tend to be little gems and this was definitely the case with this book.
Mike was an enjoyable and quick read for me. Mike is the story of a young tennis player who is destined for big things and his imaginary friend Mike. Except aren't you supposed to have grown out of imaginary friends by your teens. Over the course of the book this imaginary friend enables the author to discussed mental health and well being in a thoughtful way which I thought was really well done.
A real enjoyable read which is well worth a look.
Mike was an enjoyable and quick read for me. Mike is the story of a young tennis player who is destined for big things and his imaginary friend Mike. Except aren't you supposed to have grown out of imaginary friends by your teens. Over the course of the book this imaginary friend enables the author to discussed mental health and well being in a thoughtful way which I thought was really well done.
A real enjoyable read which is well worth a look.
January 27, 2021
“I want to make my parents’ dream come true.” Floyd is a promising young tennis player, who is hoping to win the under 18 National Championships. One day, during a match, play is interrupted by the appearance of a stranger on court who can only be seen by Floyd. Floyd’s parents worry he is under too much pressure, but there turns out to be a very different reason for Mike’s appearance, and it’s a problem that only he has the answer to. Can he manage to be true to himself without feeling he has let his parents down?
This gentle story deals with the subject of mental illness and explores how it feels to have parents who try to live their dreams through the talents of their children, with Floyd finally concluding that he can only achieve happiness by being who he wants to be.
This gentle story deals with the subject of mental illness and explores how it feels to have parents who try to live their dreams through the talents of their children, with Floyd finally concluding that he can only achieve happiness by being who he wants to be.
March 8, 2019
Quirky is a word I'm wary of in book reviews but it absolutely applies to this wonderful, unusual and charming book. Easy to read and very hard to forget, this is not like anything else I've ever encountered in youth literature!
Breezy and conversational in tone, a matter-of-fact account of an extraordinary series of encounters with Mike- who is what? At first the explanation of projection of unconcious wishes or needs seems accurate but then the encounters shift toward something else much more difficult to define.
I absolutely loved this sweet and totally satisfying story. I have never read anything by Andrew Norriss before but I am going to remedy that immediately.
Breezy and conversational in tone, a matter-of-fact account of an extraordinary series of encounters with Mike- who is what? At first the explanation of projection of unconcious wishes or needs seems accurate but then the encounters shift toward something else much more difficult to define.
I absolutely loved this sweet and totally satisfying story. I have never read anything by Andrew Norriss before but I am going to remedy that immediately.
May 29, 2020
I absolutely loved this one. It was just so heartwarming, thought provoking and had a story that went outside the box. Sometimes you think that your life is headed on the life track but your instincts take over and lead down a different one. This YA novel had a great uplifting message towards the end that will touch anyone's heart of different ages.
July 17, 2024
Bardzo dobra książka ale nie wiem co powiedzieć
Książka o chłopaku który grał w tenisa i myślał że to kocha, zdaje sobie sprawę że osoba która go obserwuje nie istnieje, wizyty u psychologa itp. praca nad znalezieniem tego co chcę robić w życiu, powiedzenie rodzica którzy mają jak najszczersze intencje prawdy o tym że nie chce spełniać ich marzeń,
Może stać koło powrót orfeja
Książka o chłopaku który grał w tenisa i myślał że to kocha, zdaje sobie sprawę że osoba która go obserwuje nie istnieje, wizyty u psychologa itp. praca nad znalezieniem tego co chcę robić w życiu, powiedzenie rodzica którzy mają jak najszczersze intencje prawdy o tym że nie chce spełniać ich marzeń,
Może stać koło powrót orfeja
May 11, 2020
It felt a bit rushed and the beginning could have had a bit more development, but overall I really enjoyed the story.
September 2, 2019
Floyd’s white, affluent parents are passionate about tennis; the family business is building tennis courts in Sheffield, England. Unlike Floyd, his dad started late on the path to becoming a tennis pro only to have an injury permanently end his career. After spotting Floyd’s coach about to hit another child in training, his dad took over coaching Floyd himself. He’s a good coach and loving father, and Floyd is acutely sensitive to how invested both parents are in his career. When Floyd, age 5, won his first tournament, his parents rewarded him with a tropical fish. A decade of wins later, his collection takes up five tanks. Floyd’s puzzled by Mike, a strange boy who shows up occasionally. Only when Mike distracts him during a match does Floyd discover that only he can see Mike.
Floyd is a very good young tennis player who has worked very closely with his supportive parents to do well. However, he starts seeing a young man hanging around when he plays, and at one point, "Mike" walks onto the court during a meet and stands right behind the referee. At this point, Floyd realizes that only he can see Mike, and his parents help him get some psychiatric counseling. Dr. Pinner is very understanding, and helps Floyd see that Mike is a part of him and trying to tell him things about his life. Floyd realizes that even though his parents haven't pressured him into playing, and have even said that he can stop if it isn't fun anymore, that he's not enjoying the sport and wants to quite. His parents ask that he compete in one more tournament, and he trounces his opponent but is still intent on quitting.
He starts to actually apply himself in school a bit, and spends some time on the shore with his grandmother, where he meets Charity, the daughter of an American marine biologist. Oddly, Charity is able to see Mike. Upon returning home, he follows Mike and ends up working at a small local aquarium. Mike only shows up at pivotal moments, when Floyd needs some prompting, and at one point even saves Floyd's life. (Whilst scuba diving, Mike appears and leads him on a 20 minute swim and pulls him away from a ferocious shark. In fact, Mike leads him to a button in a crevice and this turns out to be the exact location of a multi million treasure find from the 1700s.) Floyd never regrets giving up tennis, although his parents were more invested than he thought, and his father ends up coaching other students. In the end, we see a completely different version of Floyd than would have existed had he not had the input of another side of his personality.
Soon, with psychologist Dr. Pinner as guide, Floyd embarks on an urgent journey: to learn who Mike is, figure out what he wants, and realize that, when choosing our path through life, who we listen to matters. If the omniscient narrative voice, psychic distance, and a plot spanning years defy YA norms, what results has the enigmatic resonance of parable.
I found the ending very unrealistic. Floyd and Charity marry, the marine biologists find the treasure and they create a new science and exploration centre.
Floyd is a very good young tennis player who has worked very closely with his supportive parents to do well. However, he starts seeing a young man hanging around when he plays, and at one point, "Mike" walks onto the court during a meet and stands right behind the referee. At this point, Floyd realizes that only he can see Mike, and his parents help him get some psychiatric counseling. Dr. Pinner is very understanding, and helps Floyd see that Mike is a part of him and trying to tell him things about his life. Floyd realizes that even though his parents haven't pressured him into playing, and have even said that he can stop if it isn't fun anymore, that he's not enjoying the sport and wants to quite. His parents ask that he compete in one more tournament, and he trounces his opponent but is still intent on quitting.
He starts to actually apply himself in school a bit, and spends some time on the shore with his grandmother, where he meets Charity, the daughter of an American marine biologist. Oddly, Charity is able to see Mike. Upon returning home, he follows Mike and ends up working at a small local aquarium. Mike only shows up at pivotal moments, when Floyd needs some prompting, and at one point even saves Floyd's life. (Whilst scuba diving, Mike appears and leads him on a 20 minute swim and pulls him away from a ferocious shark. In fact, Mike leads him to a button in a crevice and this turns out to be the exact location of a multi million treasure find from the 1700s.) Floyd never regrets giving up tennis, although his parents were more invested than he thought, and his father ends up coaching other students. In the end, we see a completely different version of Floyd than would have existed had he not had the input of another side of his personality.
Soon, with psychologist Dr. Pinner as guide, Floyd embarks on an urgent journey: to learn who Mike is, figure out what he wants, and realize that, when choosing our path through life, who we listen to matters. If the omniscient narrative voice, psychic distance, and a plot spanning years defy YA norms, what results has the enigmatic resonance of parable.
I found the ending very unrealistic. Floyd and Charity marry, the marine biologists find the treasure and they create a new science and exploration centre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2019
I agree completely with another reviewer who wrote that this book starts out in a promising way but then becomes all too-predictable. The ending and resolution had been suggested early on by Dr. Pinner, Mike's psychologist, and I became a bit bored during the last 80 or so pages of the book since I was looking for a more dramatic conclusion. Still, I'm glad I read this one, and I would expect that it will hold some comfort for teens or even adults struggling with the expectations of their parents when they want to follow their own path. The teaser saying that this is a true story and then that it isn't was rather annoying, but I understood the author's point. Floyd is a teen tennis phenomenon, good enough to win Wimbledon some day. But during a crucial point in a match, he sees Mike and loses his concentration. Of course, there is nothing physically wrong with Floyd, but when he visits a psychologist and begins to talk, Dr. Pinner points out that Mike represents his repressed feelings. As it turns out, Floyd might be a great tennis player, but he doesn't love it and is living his father's dreams of reflected tennis glory. It's hard for his parents to accept that their son and tennis must part ways. I enjoyed the descriptions of Floyd's fondness for fish and how hard he struggles to find a way to please his parents and retain his own equilibrium. I sort of felt lost when Mike appeared later in Floyd's life in order to save him from disaster at sea and wasn't sure how that could be explained. Parents of talented youngsters might want to read this book as a reminder that once something that once brought joy no longer is fun, then perhaps it's time to take a break and review whether the activity is right for their children. But oh, how hard it is to take a different path than the one charted for someone or one that might seem to indicate that all of those years of training were wasted. I don't see them as a waste, but just as a preparation for something else. Isn't life more enjoyable because of the detours, peaks and valleys, and breaks we take?
January 24, 2025
Andrew Norris does something very clever by prefacing this story of his with the common “This is a true story.” As the main character is followed around by an imaginary character, Mike, the reader is left to wonder how this could be a true story. Floyd, one of the best under-18 Tennis stars in the UK, seeks understanding of this strange imaginary character, and he soon realizes that it's a projection of himself. Floyd deep down realizes he wants to do more than hitting tennis balls all of his life, and Mike helps guide Floyd to his true passion.
At first when I read this book, I thought it was quite corny and the theme wasn't present. Only after finishing is it ties back to the real world. It's not entirely a true story, the true story part is surprisingly, Mike himself. It's that the presence of an imaginary character when someone is overworked isn't baffling, it happens to the best…literally.
One thing I was very confused about which wasn't really explained was the girl Floyd meets who eventually becomes his wife; throughout the entire story, Floyd was the only person who could see his imaginary friend (which was very confusing for Floyd when he was first starting out seeing this random guy follow him around and talk with him,) but then on a trip, a girl he met for the first time asked about Mike right in front of Floyd. I think it doesn't make sense that she can see Mike. On one hand, it would make sense that she can see Mike because well in the end, she becomes Floyds wife. However this only makes sense if Floyds entire reality is a figment of his own imagination. I learned from this line: parents, with the best of intentions, could sometimes project their own desires onto their offspring. I had never thought about parents doing that to children.
Overall I am glad I read the book, I would rate it a 4.2 stars out of 5. It could of gone more in depth in some topics and some areas, and less in others.
At first when I read this book, I thought it was quite corny and the theme wasn't present. Only after finishing is it ties back to the real world. It's not entirely a true story, the true story part is surprisingly, Mike himself. It's that the presence of an imaginary character when someone is overworked isn't baffling, it happens to the best…literally.
One thing I was very confused about which wasn't really explained was the girl Floyd meets who eventually becomes his wife; throughout the entire story, Floyd was the only person who could see his imaginary friend (which was very confusing for Floyd when he was first starting out seeing this random guy follow him around and talk with him,) but then on a trip, a girl he met for the first time asked about Mike right in front of Floyd. I think it doesn't make sense that she can see Mike. On one hand, it would make sense that she can see Mike because well in the end, she becomes Floyds wife. However this only makes sense if Floyds entire reality is a figment of his own imagination. I learned from this line: parents, with the best of intentions, could sometimes project their own desires onto their offspring. I had never thought about parents doing that to children.
Overall I am glad I read the book, I would rate it a 4.2 stars out of 5. It could of gone more in depth in some topics and some areas, and less in others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2018
Engrossing imaginary friend/tennis story.
Up-and-coming tennis star Floyd is seeing someone on the court that nobody else can see. In order to banish his demons, he and his father agree on therapy. But what Floyd uncovers about Mike isn't cut-and-dried and leaves a lot of questions for Floyd to answer.
The slightly fantastical elements of the story reminded me of the Paul Bettany 'Wimbledon' film. I have read books on imaginary friends and not come across any like Mike, Mike shows up occasionally with cryptic statements and directions that give Floyd pause, that make him question where his life is going.
I wasn't quite convinced with the supernatural elements of this, it's something I don't subscribe to, but as I was enjoying the story I let that go - it wouldn't have worked otherwise.
This is a book in which the title character has a minor role in proceedings, but has a huge effect on the young man at the heart of things. I loved the directions Floyd took, though coincidence played a big part in the plot. The therapy sessions were interesting to me, as a former student of psychology, the tennis quite exciting.
I liked Floyd and actually, I liked seeing his character develop, as we read along, I could see Floyd finding his own voice and mind as he was able to look back at his life and begin to make his own way.
Norriss has a very easy-to-read style about him, as always. Like Jessica's Ghost, this is ideally for slightly older readers, secondary school students, because of the maturity of the themes.
The story has closure and will satisfy, and has wide appeal I would say. There is a lot here for groups to discuss, in libraries and schools. There is no content making it unsuitable (no mature language or sexual content).
Recommended to ages 14 and older.
Up-and-coming tennis star Floyd is seeing someone on the court that nobody else can see. In order to banish his demons, he and his father agree on therapy. But what Floyd uncovers about Mike isn't cut-and-dried and leaves a lot of questions for Floyd to answer.
The slightly fantastical elements of the story reminded me of the Paul Bettany 'Wimbledon' film. I have read books on imaginary friends and not come across any like Mike, Mike shows up occasionally with cryptic statements and directions that give Floyd pause, that make him question where his life is going.
I wasn't quite convinced with the supernatural elements of this, it's something I don't subscribe to, but as I was enjoying the story I let that go - it wouldn't have worked otherwise.
This is a book in which the title character has a minor role in proceedings, but has a huge effect on the young man at the heart of things. I loved the directions Floyd took, though coincidence played a big part in the plot. The therapy sessions were interesting to me, as a former student of psychology, the tennis quite exciting.
I liked Floyd and actually, I liked seeing his character develop, as we read along, I could see Floyd finding his own voice and mind as he was able to look back at his life and begin to make his own way.
Norriss has a very easy-to-read style about him, as always. Like Jessica's Ghost, this is ideally for slightly older readers, secondary school students, because of the maturity of the themes.
The story has closure and will satisfy, and has wide appeal I would say. There is a lot here for groups to discuss, in libraries and schools. There is no content making it unsuitable (no mature language or sexual content).
Recommended to ages 14 and older.
May 22, 2020
I was super intrigued by a couple reviews of this book, but whoa, it really did not work for me. Two stars because the author can put sentences together and the premise was promising. First (and worst) strike: I'm just not on board with the whole "if you work hard and follow your dreams and are above all true to yourself, everything will come up roses and unicorns and you will not only find true love and be happy, but hey, you'll be super rich too!" philosophy of life, which this book adheres to like glitter to .... everything. I sure WISH life were that way, but it's just not, and selling that story is akin to telling people whose life isn't fantabulous that it's all their fault and that THEY, not the world, are screwed up. Not shockingly, this book is written by a white man. (And don't give me trouble about white men. I like a lot of books by white men. And remember, I was EXCITED to read this book.) But I find this kind of philosophy is most often espoused by people at the top of the privilege pyramid, who are sure that everything they have, and have achieved, is due to their own efforts. Anyway, that's strike one. Strike two is that we find out way too early who Mike is--all the fun promise of suspense and fantasy is spoiled almost immediately and the story slowly but surely devolves into a mundane, boring, and didactic (treatise? parable? fable?). Strike three--the last quarter of the book is AWFUL. I could barely read it (truth be told, I skimmed a bit); it's one long extended epilogue that wraps everything up in an enormously elaborate and completely overwhelming bow. The pacing is terrible, there's no time for any character development or scene-setting, and the ending is one of the sappiest and most ridiculous I've ever come across. That's it--I'm out.
April 19, 2019
Floyd is a tennis star, destined to become one of the great British tennis players. At age thirteen though, something changes. He starts to see “Mike” a person whom only he can see. Mike first appears at tennis matches and gets steadily more involved, even stopping Floyd from playing physically at one point. Floyd’s parents, who are both very much supportive of his tennis, take him to a sports injury clinic where he is placed in therapy. Floyd learns that Mike is a projection of something that Floyd is repressing. To Floyd’s horror though, it seems that Mike won’t let him keep playing tennis and Floyd will need to admit his own deep desire to do something else. But what?
Norriss has created a short and focused novel that is entirely marvelous. He writes with a playful nature that allows readers to really cheer for Floyd as he navigates his own desires and figures out what will actually make him happy. Nicely, Norriss allows the entire story to be told and readers stay with Floyd and Mike for some time, experiencing all of the times that Mike appears in Floyd’s life. By the end, Mike is the hero of the story, or is it Floyd all along!
A great main character gives this teen novel real heart. Floyd is a tennis prodigy, but completely at the mercy of his destiny when we meet him. He isn’t questioning what he really wants to do, whether tennis is still fun, or why he works so very hard to be the best. The pace of his training is beautifully offset by the slow pace of Floyd’s therapy and navigating life afterwards. Still, that rich sense of humor keeps the book moving and the unique perspective of who Mike really is offers a refreshing take on life.
A fresh sports novel filled with fish, invisible friends, and frankness. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
Norriss has created a short and focused novel that is entirely marvelous. He writes with a playful nature that allows readers to really cheer for Floyd as he navigates his own desires and figures out what will actually make him happy. Nicely, Norriss allows the entire story to be told and readers stay with Floyd and Mike for some time, experiencing all of the times that Mike appears in Floyd’s life. By the end, Mike is the hero of the story, or is it Floyd all along!
A great main character gives this teen novel real heart. Floyd is a tennis prodigy, but completely at the mercy of his destiny when we meet him. He isn’t questioning what he really wants to do, whether tennis is still fun, or why he works so very hard to be the best. The pace of his training is beautifully offset by the slow pace of Floyd’s therapy and navigating life afterwards. Still, that rich sense of humor keeps the book moving and the unique perspective of who Mike really is offers a refreshing take on life.
A fresh sports novel filled with fish, invisible friends, and frankness. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
December 6, 2018
Floyd, a teenage British tennis prodigy is unbeatable. He is absolutely dedicated to his game, supported by loving parents. Floyd has everything going for him. During a competitive match he sees Mike walking in the stands. He has seen Mike quite often, usually observing him during practice, never during a match. Mike walks down the stands, opens the gate and walks on to the court. Floyd tells the umpire to ask Mike to leave. The umpire is confused. Floyd's father (also, his coach) comes on to the court to find out what's wrong. Floyd explains, that Mike must leave. His father is confused as well. When Floyd tells Mike that he must go, his father, equally frustrated, says, "but I can't see anyone..."
The pressure and the stress of the constant practice and competition are starting to affect Floyd. As Floyd enters therapy, his therapist, Dr. Pinner, works to peal away the facade and get to the root cause of what Floyd is experiencing. What Floyd discovers has a ripple effect on those that love and care about him, as Floyd begins to question who he is, and what he wants out of life.
Andrew Norris's text is clear, a bit sparse, but pulls you right into the story. While character development is not detailed, which for me in this instance, was fine, you do see Floyd change and grow. While the plot was predictable, it was a pleasure to see it unfold. The ending is neat and tidy, which for many young readers is the way they like it. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Note: This review is from an advanced readers copy. The book is not available until February 26, 2019.
The pressure and the stress of the constant practice and competition are starting to affect Floyd. As Floyd enters therapy, his therapist, Dr. Pinner, works to peal away the facade and get to the root cause of what Floyd is experiencing. What Floyd discovers has a ripple effect on those that love and care about him, as Floyd begins to question who he is, and what he wants out of life.
Andrew Norris's text is clear, a bit sparse, but pulls you right into the story. While character development is not detailed, which for me in this instance, was fine, you do see Floyd change and grow. While the plot was predictable, it was a pleasure to see it unfold. The ending is neat and tidy, which for many young readers is the way they like it. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Note: This review is from an advanced readers copy. The book is not available until February 26, 2019.
May 27, 2020
Floyd has been playing tennis for 13 years...and he's only 15 now. And he's amazingly good, not just for his age. But one day, at an early morning practice, he sees a guy watching him. He later speaks to him and finds out his name is Mike. It's not until Mike walks onto the court at a match that Floyd realizes that he's the only one who can see him.
This is not a book I would have picked up on my own. I do love YA, but this subject matter just isn't something I'm drawn to. However, it's a #tomecon book for next year and I'm reading all of them, so there ya go. The writing here was incredibly simplistic, feeling like it was written more on an elementary school level. The giant font size didn't help that feeling. The actual story didn't really have a lot to it. It's exactly what you think from reading the synopsis. There is little nuance to the story. The characters aren't well fleshed out either. Floyd plays tennis and he likes fish. There's not really much more to him.
And for Tome: the main character is a straight, white, cisgender male. There are no POCs or LGBTQIA.
This is not a book I would have picked up on my own. I do love YA, but this subject matter just isn't something I'm drawn to. However, it's a #tomecon book for next year and I'm reading all of them, so there ya go. The writing here was incredibly simplistic, feeling like it was written more on an elementary school level. The giant font size didn't help that feeling. The actual story didn't really have a lot to it. It's exactly what you think from reading the synopsis. There is little nuance to the story. The characters aren't well fleshed out either. Floyd plays tennis and he likes fish. There's not really much more to him.
And for Tome: the main character is a straight, white, cisgender male. There are no POCs or LGBTQIA.
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December 6, 2023O spełnianiu cudzych oczekiwań (rodziców) i poszykowaniu siebie opowiada “Mike” Andrew Norrissa (tłum. Anna Klingofer-Sztostakowska). Floyd jest gwiazdą tenisa, gra od dziecka (jego rodzice też to robią zawodowo) i wszystko się układa dopóki nie pozna Mike’a i nie zrozumie, że wcale nie chce grać. I nie jest tu tak, jak się wszystkim może wydawać, że rodzice nie słuchają słów dziecka - jest odwrotnie, rodzice Floyda są uważni i chcą dla syna, jak najlepiej, ale to on ma wielkie wyrzuty sumienia, że zmarnował ich starania - nie chce grać, ale chce, by jego wieloletnia praca nie poszła na marne.
I jest tu jeszcze Mike, który pojawia się za każdym razem, gdy Floyd ma dosyć, Mike, który mówi mu, by sobie odpuścił, bo jest tego wart. Pojawia się na wszystkich meczach, ale okazuje się, że poza Floydem nikt go nie widzi.
To opowieść o presji i stresie, o życiu w nieustannej rywalizacji. Bohater trafia na terapię, gdzie uwolni dawno skrywane myśli. Nie ma tu wielkich wydarzeń, nie ma fajerwerków, jest próba zrozumienia własnej psychiki. To historia nie tylko o presji, ale również o poszukiwaniu odpowiedzi na pytanie: czego tak naprawdę chcę w życiu, co mi przynosi radość.
I jest tu jeszcze Mike, który pojawia się za każdym razem, gdy Floyd ma dosyć, Mike, który mówi mu, by sobie odpuścił, bo jest tego wart. Pojawia się na wszystkich meczach, ale okazuje się, że poza Floydem nikt go nie widzi.
To opowieść o presji i stresie, o życiu w nieustannej rywalizacji. Bohater trafia na terapię, gdzie uwolni dawno skrywane myśli. Nie ma tu wielkich wydarzeń, nie ma fajerwerków, jest próba zrozumienia własnej psychiki. To historia nie tylko o presji, ale również o poszukiwaniu odpowiedzi na pytanie: czego tak naprawdę chcę w życiu, co mi przynosi radość.
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