The Field

The Catalysts #1

by Tracy Richardson

Eric Horton has been having disturbing nightmares of explosions and fire and someone screaming. The dreams keep him up at night, but during the day, as a goalkeeper on his high school's varsity soccer team, he has been unbeatable, saving shot after shot with what feels like a supernatural awareness of where the ball is headed. He also shares an uncommonly strong connection with Renee, the attractive new French exchange student. The wild visions and synchronicities pale in comparison to the strange experiments Renee's father is carrying out in the physics lab at the university, however. He has asked Eric to take part in the tests, which makes Eric question whether what he is seeing and hearing is reality or something far beyond it. When his friend Will develops a drinking problem and Renee starts flirting with other guys, Eric loses his confidence on the soccer field and in himself. If he is going to pull it all together, he will have to tap into a part of himself that he never knew existed.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Tracy Richardson lives in Indianapolis and spends her free time reading - almost any genre, cooking, dancing and making things - usually from yarn or fabric.

Reviews

[Lili Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually pretty good. :)

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book actually surprised me because sometimes sci-fi/paranormal books are hit and miss with me.  But this story of a young man's ability to absorb the energy around him and see or sense things intrigued me.  Since this is a YA book, it wouldn't be complete without the usual teenage drama and young love.

This story follows Eric, an up and coming goalie for the high school he attends.  He has a younger sister and brother with whom he has a good relationship.  Actually, he has a good relationship with all of his family which is refreshing to see considering what we see in the news.  The drama or angst comes from his friends and their shenanigans, which is not uncommon for a teenager.  Eric has some strange dreams and has no idea what they could possibly mean until events prove his dreams to be a reality and not just some weird dream.  

I enjoyed the science aspect of this story and the explanations of matter, energy, and harnassing it for the betterment of mankind.  I think that all of this could be possible one day, perhaps sooner than we think.  I also appreciated that the science in this book was thoroughly explained and not just glossed over.  The author definitely put her degree to good use in this book.

There is romance between several of the characters and of course northing runs smoothly as is usual with teens.  However, I felt that the advancement of the various relationships felt solid and realistic.  The relationships were subdued and did not progress too much more than kissing. 

We give this book 4 paws up and if you enjoy YA with a sci-fi or paranormal flair, you might want to pick this book up for your next read.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book about soccer and tapping into hidden abilities. Eric makes the high school Varsity team as a goalie. He is able to predict where the ball will end up which really puts him on his game. He also meets the new girl, Renee, an exchange student from France, who he feels connected to. When Eric's dreams begin to haunt him and his best friend turns against him, he is left feeling hopeless and not connected. Can he tap back into the zone and get his life back in order?

You don't have to be a fan of soccer to like this book. I felt that the characters were credible. I enjoyed the psychic experiments that Eric works on in the lab. I also like the connection between Eric and Renee. I like Eric's character. He is genuine and really cares about everyone, especially Will, even after he is mean and disrespectful to him. I also really like Renee. She is a down to earth girl who continually supports Eric. I enjoyed this book!

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Vandana ▪️ Whats on my bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot revolves around a high school student Eric Horton of the Monroe High school. He is on the soccer team as the goal keeper. The story starts with Eric been selected for the Varsity Team and becoming friends with his new classmate Renee. She is a transfer from France and her father is a scientist as well as a guest lecturer in their school.

The story then move forwards to what Renee’s father is up-to. He is doing experiments with the Dark Energy and Dark Matter and connecting it with The Universal Energy field. We know that Eric has some influence in this aspect as he has a strong sense of knowing what might happen and even have foreboding dreams about accidents and explosions.

As he partakes more and more in Dr. Auberges experiments he begins to hone his skills better but is still unaware how it works or if it really does. The rest of the story is about Eric’s relationship with his best friend Will and their gang and his budding romance with Renee. His dreams finally helps in saving his friends life’s too.

I found the book to be interesting for sure. The characters are really mature and not too stereotypical. The storyline makes sense and the dialogues too are believable. It’s a good slice of life mixed with a bit of sci-fi thrown in. I don’t know what the author was aiming for but to me the book felt a bit dull as it was not what I was expecting. I expected more suspense or a more ‘serious’ subject but this is a typical YA slice of life story and perfect for the younger audience. It felt a bit underwhelming for me.

for more visit www.bibliogyan.com

[Nai · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a long week, and this book really was what saved me this weekend. I've had a pretty crazy busy November and December isn't looking much less busy though I do very much look forward to a week of vacation around the holiday season. I haven't had time off like that, well, ever. So, YAY time to read! I felt rushed reading The Field, and was so happy that the lovely Emlyn gave me some extra time to post my review. It's the first time I've missed a date for one of my tours, and I feel really awful, because this was such a good book, and so worthy of praise. On to the review, and to give Tracy Richardson some much deserved feedback on another simply fantastic novel!
The Review
I'd call this book the perfect weekend read. I didn't read it all in one shot as the weekend was busy with a number of other things, but found that in three short sittings I got the relaxation and comfort I needed all while reading a great story. The synopsis was perfectly in line with the rest of the book, and I loved reading a YA novel that had a male character as the lead. The whole book reminded me of watching my brother grow up in so many ways. He didn't play soccer, and he really wasn't an A student, or the kid that appplied for internships (that was totally me), but the emotions and actions and way he came into the house after school were so much like my brother. Richardson did a terrific job of portraying this young male, and it really felt like I was inside a teenage boy's yead for the entire story (which was a little scary at times!). I loved hearing about how intrigued Eric was by girls, or one specific girl, and all the implications that had on his school and sport life. Which brings me to my next point. I'm not a fan of sports, and in fact, some of the exact situations and details of the try-outs are exactly why I'm not 'into' sports. I'm not a very competitive person, which is sometimes ironic given how perfectionist I can be. Again, loved, loved, loved the male perspective on this, and it pretty much remedied all the questions I had as a young adult myself about why guys love sports. :P So, even though sports are not my forte, nor my passion even in a spectator sense, this book had so many good things about it. It wasn't all about the ball, there were academics, YA love interest and well rounded characters (including some great dogs) to get to know. I'd highly recommend this book to any male young adult reader, and all the parents wondering about just WHAT is going on in their child's head. It was a great read, and much MUCH better than Eric's mom's parenting book.
About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!
Welcome to another exciting publishing house spotlight tour from Novel Publicity. Join us as two new titles from Luminis Books--we're calling them the Luminis Dyad--tour the blogosphere in a way that just can't be ignored. And, hey, we've got prizes! About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of The Field by Tracy Richardson, or an autographed copy of its tour mate, Second Verse by Jennifer Walkup. Here's what you need to do...

Enter the Rafflecopter contest
Leave a comment on my blog

That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found HERE . The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Luminis Duo tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck! About the book: Eric Horton finds himself plagued by terrible nightmares of explosions, fire, and someone screaming. The more they occur, the more real they seem, causing him to question whether they're just harmless dreams or foreshadowing of a dark and devastating future. And that’s not the only strange thing happening. On the soccer field, he's been in the zone, saving shot after shot with what feels like a supernatural awareness of where the ball is going to go next. Then there's the connection he feels with Renee, the hot new student from France. It's as if he's known her forever. Still, all these wild visions and synchronicities pale in comparison to the strange experiments Renee's dad is cooking up in the University physics lab. When he asks Eric to serve as a test subject, Eric must again question whether what he's seeing and hearing is reality—or something far beyond it. When his best friend Will starts drinking way too much and Renee has eyes for other guys, Eric loses the edge he’s always had in the goal, and confidence in himself. If he’s going to pull it together, Eric must tap into a part of himself that he never knew existed, and that might just be the part that connects us all. Pick up your copy of this Young Adult/ Paranormal/ Mystery through Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble. About the author: Tracy Richardson wasn’t always a writer, but she was always a reader. Her favorite book growing up was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. In a weird way that book even shaped her life through odd synchronicities. She has a degree in Biology like Mrs. Murry and without realizing it she named her children Alex and Katie after Meg’s parents! Tracy uses her science background in her writing through her emphasis on environment issues and metaphysics. When she’s not writing you’ll find her doing any number of creative activities – painting furniture, knitting sweaters or cooking up something in the kitchen for her vegetarian, carnivore and no-carb family. She lives outside of Indianapolis with her husband and two children and their Jack Russell terrier, Ernie. Connect with Tracy on her website, Facebook, or GoodReads. Luminis Books was launched in January, 2010 by husband and wife team Tracy Richardson and Chris Katsaropoulos with a mission to publish thought-provoking literary fiction for children and adults. We publish what we love: Meaningful Books That Entertain. Our award-winning books engage and inform readers and explore a wide range of topics from love and relationships, teen sexual assault and homelessness to string theory, consciousness, and the Universal Energy Field. Luminis Books is a proudly independent publisher located in Carmel, IN. Learn more at www.luminisbooks.com.

Learn more about The Field's tour mate HERE.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grand mix of genre and plot lines

Richardson pens a great story in The Field, which is written for the YA reader, but I enjoyed it as well. I haven't read anything from this author before, and I really enjoyed this story. The characters were relatable and very well-developed. This story includes soccer, but also characters that have more than normal abilities. The author's writing style is works for this story, and brings the stories to life. Mixing science with sci-fi, and mixing in the family and high school dynamics. It just works, and I liked it. I liked it a lot. I look forward to reading more by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.

[Aidan Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Horton is not your typical high school athlete. He seems to know things before they happen, to sense things he can't see. Will Eric's work with a renown physicist visiting from France help him tap into these abilities? Is Eric falling in love with the physicist's daughter, Renee, a beautiful young artist? And Can Eric find a way to help his old friend and team mate Will as he starts to make bad choices and the friendship fractures.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the science and I liked the idea of collective consciousness.

I would strongly recommend to high schools students who like science fiction and romance.

[Mike Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. Interesting combination of current cosmology and philosophy.

[Anthony Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[R3id Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good summer read, and you may very well find yourself reading several chapters at a time. I finished the book in about a week; the plot is easy to follow, the characters relatable, and each word positively absorbing.
Whether you're on the soccer field with Eric and Will during each thrilling play, or on top of the mysterious rock watching the stars with Eric and Renee, or just kidding around with Cole, (with whom I feel a deep emotional resonance,) every scene is at once thrilling, thoughtful, and absorbing. Middle and high school students will find "The Field" exciting and easy to read, and parents will be fascinated to know what a day in the life of a high schooler is like nowadays.
However, the appeal of "The Field" is not limited to any demographic-- readers needn't be soccer fans, workers for clean coal, or cosmic energy field enthusiasts to get into every part of this story.
On a side-note, Richardson's simple, accessible writing style contrasts well with her husband's bold prose in his work "Fragile", and reading both books is an interesting experience: Two very different writing styles from under the same roof! Not to mention that their talented son did the cover art for "The Field". To connoisseurs of art, I say to expect great things from this family. And to readers, I say, "Bon appetit!"

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. This book starts out with Eric and his best friend Will trying out for the soccer team. Eric has an uncanny ability as the goalie of knowing just where the ball is going to go. He doesn’t understand why he gets these feelings, he just accepts them. He and his best friend are both taking an AP science class. This is where he meets Rene, the new student and learns that her father, a French scientist is going to guest teach some classes and offer an internship. After his first guest class he has forms for students to fill out if they want to be considered for lab experiments. Naturally Will and Eric are pulled in to this. Eric and Will have some issues. Eric must use his new found abilities to help get things back on track with his friends. I was hooked on the premise of this book the minute I first read it. If you are a science nerd and really like science fiction then you will really like this book. However, you don’t have to be a fan of science or paranormal to like this book. Those things just make it really enjoyable. It is a quick easy read because it grabs you, pulls you in and you don’t want to stop reading. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be adding it to the science fiction section in my classroom. This is one I will recommend to our school librarian.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Field" by Tracy Richardson is a first-reads due out in October of 2013, and it is an amazing combination of a clean cut, coming of age soccer athlete with a hint of a precognition type trait mixed in with educational science, scietific experimentation based in factual past practices mostly during war times, and a little magic and mysticism all rolled into one.

Eric can ofter see what move is coming in his position of soccer goalkeeper and save the day for his team. He also falls for the new girl in school and becomes her science researching father's new test rat. Not to worry; he's totally into it. Subsequently the story is filled with plenty of science details that make learning an appealing proposition. Eric also starts having nightmares, of explosions and people screaming, that are disjointed enough that he cannot understand exactly what he is seeing.

Overall, I really liked The Field by Tracy Richardson and enjoyed so many different aspects of the story, even the fact that I can say that the cover on the ARC copy of the book is derived from page 154. That is so awesome.

[Jennifer Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I hate writing bad review because it makes me feel like a horrible person, but I won this book in a First Reads giveaway so I feel obligated to review it. I did not like this book at all. It was so boring that I really struggled to finish it. The teenagers in the book were very unrealistic and the author completely failed at making them sound like real teenagers. She tried way too hard to add a bunch of cool phrases to the teenagers conversations and it just came across as cheesy. I'm not really sure what age group this book would appeal to. I think high school kids would make fun the dorky teenagers trying to sound cool and because of the f-bombs, I don't think it would be appropriate for younger kids. I thought the scientific parts of the book were really boring and unrealistic. I just did not get this book or enjoy it at all. I appreciate the author sending me an advanced readers copy in the giveaway and that is the only reason I gave the book 2 stars instead of just 1.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book that has soccer and hidden abilities which sound like they won’t work well together but it does. Eric makes the varsity soccer team as a goalie and with his hidden ability he can tell where the ball is going to go and can block it every time. He also falls for the new girl Rene so everything seems to be going his way. That is until his dreams start to haunt him and his best friend turns against him can Eric get back on his game and make everything right again.

I am a huge soccer fan so I was excited to read a book that has soccer in it. But you don’t have to enjoy soccer to like this book as the characters are very likeable and you will find yourself rooting for them. I loved the connection between Eric and Rene they are very sweet but Eric is defiantly my favorite character in this book. He is a really stand up guy who genuinely loves and cares about the people in his life and even his best friend when he turns on him. I just really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Tracy in the future. 4/5 Bloody Fangs

[Gina Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Field by Tracy Richardson is a wonderful young-adult novel. However, I truly don’t believe this story is only for young adults. I found it highly entertaining and I am far from young.

The storyline has a lot of soccer and science in it. You don’t have to be knowledgeable in either to enjoy The Field. The author captures the feelings of high schoolers very well. I bet we can all remember those days of angst, indecision, joy, and every other emotion that encompasses the passage from youth to adult. Relationships are a major theme throughout the book. It’s interesting to see how the changing of family & friend dynamics have lasting effects on people.

Richardson creates a world that is entirely believable. Whether you consider this book sci-if, metaphysical, or fiction, I’m certain you will enjoy reading it. It is very well-written and the characters come alive while you are reading.

I would recommend this book to readers from teen on up. Lovers of soccer, science, physics, and excellent fiction will enjoy The Field by Tracy Richardson.

[allineedisbooks_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book revolves around a high school student Eric Horton of the Monroe High school. He is on the soccer team as a goal keeper. He has been selected for the varsity team and became friends with his new classmate Renee. ERIC got quite influenced by the work Renee's father used to do.
The thing that I didn't like about the book is the suspense part. It could have been more better and make the story more interesting to read.
The characters portrayed are well developed. The characters, you can actually feel them and their emotions. The characters are really mature. I really appreciate the writing style of the author which made this book interesting to read. The language used is simple and easy to understand.
This is a science and fiction. It is fast paced. I really found the book interesting. It will took you to another level of imagination and creativity. The book is all about the universal FIELD that surrounds us.

[Manali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it. Imagine reliving your childhood and taking over the world together. But sometimes life throws curveballs at you and the best thing one can do is be yourself and hold on tight for the ride.
There's another important and special thing about the protagonist, he is very intuitive. He can literally give his thoughts wings. That part of the story really caught my attention, many a times I guess how a story ends. So color me very happy, I am uber cool special. Now all I need to do is tap in my mind and make things happen.
Another important thing about the story is that the guy is very much like a true superhero. He knows that with great powers come great responsibilities. I mean what's there not to like here. A cute love story, a good friend with power to do well. It was amazing and awesome.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Field can be considered a form of science fiction. The author, a biology major, includes environmental issues and metaphysics in her story. Eric, the protagonist, can tell what others may be thinking, which can help him excel at his goalie position in his high school soccer team. He becomes involved with a collective energy experiment being conducted by a visiting scientist. Although he gets bothered by his abilities, he works things out by discussing events with his family and girlfriend Renee. His abilities not only help him in his sports but also in helping others survive. I really enjoyed this book. High school students interested in soccer and the phenomenon of "seeing" would love the book.

[Muskaan Premchandani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Mystery/ YA

A love story that revolves around Eric Horton, plays the role of protagonist, a football lover, a junior high schooler, and a mediocre student who loves studying about Environmental- Energy Field; Renee, a new student that has come to his class. Will and Cole are two of Eric's friend and in same class.

This book is quite intriguing, as it did not end the way I expected. Every chapter had a different perspective on building connections, maintaining and balancing relationships with friends, family and lover.
I loved the fluency and flow of narration in the book, not forgetting the cover page, which seems very attractive also, making one ponder about it the relevancy of title and the cover page.

3.5/5

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not an expert in this genre but thought the author did an excellent job!! Already have shared the book with my nieces and nephews. I was able to find a few copies but a release is scheduled for April.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to read an ARC of this. THE FIELD has an absorbing plot with well-defined characters who are realistically portrayed and interesting to follow. An excellent read!

[Cara]

Soccer, science, friendship, and romance make this a book any gender and readers from teens to adults could enjoy. Eric Horton is the kind of boy you want your daughter to date.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly unique storyline with likable characters. Fast enjoyable read that I recommend to YA Sci-fi lovers!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to come April 9th

[Elizabeth Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite intriguing.
A novel that plays with the string theory.
Entertaining and thought provoking

[JUSTINE KINCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story to explain a theory that might seem a little out there to some. Very well written. The characters were very relatable and interesting. I enjoyed the book very much.

[Uday Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sci-fi genre is something that keeps surprising me with unexpected plots and I guess, that’s the best thing about it. This book was no exception to that fact.

Let’s save the details for later and start with the plot in which we get to follow the story of Eric Horton, he is in high school and has made to the football/soccer team, as a goalie. He is joined by his companions Will and Cole. Then there’s finally Renee, another understudy that has come to America with her father who’s a researcher. This young lady’s relation to our protagonist Eric is something that you will enjoy seeing in this book.

Her father is the part where the story actually begins. That’s the part when he involves Eric in one of his research and he starts getting nightmares. And since problems come in groups, he additionally begins having issues with his companion, and individual soccer partner, Will, and Renee. I can go on about the story but that might ruin the fun out of the book.

Tracy’s writing style is quite interesting with fast-paced narration and in between thrilling turns of events. I love the efforts made by the author to make the book feel like it’s coming out of a high-schooler and consists of parts expressing days of school life combined with the tension of soccer matches. The other thing that made it enjoyable was how the characters were made up of characteristics unbound by any prejudices and of realistic desires, assumptions and reactions. That proof of good research and observation is always a delight to find while reading.

I don’t know how you may react towards it, but since I loved the genre and the merger with sports in it, it was a delightful read to me. And that’s going to make me come back to the author for more.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but takes a while to become an urban fantasy. Much of the book is just a contemporary - guy into football and trying to get with a girl

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out more reviews at Laura in Bookland

This book follows around Eric Horton. He is a junior in high school and has made the varsity soccer team, as one of two goalies. Eric seems to be a pretty average student, though he does take a couple AP classes, one being AP Environmental Science. His friends Will and Cole are also in this class. This class is also where he meets Renee, a new student that has come to America with her scientist father. This girl becomes Eric’s love interest throughout the book.

Renee’s father is a famous scientist who has come to America to do some research. He is offering an internship with for one student in the class. He is also looking for some participants for some research he is doing. Will, Cole, and eventually Renee all are included in this research. Eric learns some fantastic things about himself.

All while this is going on, we have Eric’s soccer games. He has been having weird nightmares and has started to sense things during his games. Such as where the ball is going to be hit and when he should jump to block it. He thinks this is all his focusing that he has been practicing but he starts to question it. As the research continues, his abilities are getting stronger. He also starts having problems with his friend, and fellow soccer teammate, Will, and Renee.

Now I have to admit that I was a tad bored throughout the first half of the book. There were some exciting parts, such as his soccer games, and few heated scenes with his friends but other than that there is a lot of science talk and nothing really exciting happens. I am not that big on science, or soccer really, but I pushed through it. I am glad I did because the ending was really exciting. (No spoilers of course). This is where his dreams and all the research he has been included in really come into play. The ending was what bumped it up a star rating.

I had no problems with the writing style of the book. However, it sort of seemed like the author tried a little too hard on trying to sound like high school kids. There were some phrases and texts that didn’t really sound like anything a high school kid would actually say. Also, Eric did seem to be a little full of himself when it came to his soccer games but what high school athlete isn't.

If you enjoy science and soccer then you will enjoy this book.

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Wolfie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writer Person

I find it funny how I read two soccer books back-to-back. Right after The Romeo Club, I jumped right into this one. I mention this because I was in the right sort of mind for the soccer references. It's not that I have anything against soccer, it's just that I personally haven't played in so long, I sort of forget what it's like. But now I'm digressing.

What I meant to get at was this: I've never seen quite a combination like this. A mix of soccer, physics, and.... a French girl. I never would have come up with all of that. But I like how Tracy Richardson made it all work somehow. It was a lot of info in a fairly short book, but I didn't feel overwhelmed or anything. The present tense narration was a bit of a shocker, but I got used to it. It just... worked somehow.

This is one of those rare cases where I don't love the male MC, but I still felt a connection to him. He had a voice that I could easily relate to and understand. When he was scared and confused about the dreams, I felt that, too. When he was pissed off at Will for drinking, you better believe I was pissed off, too. As for the whole Renee thing, I think the synopsis exaggerates quite a bit. I almost hated her for most of the book because of that one sentence. But as I read on, I found myself liking her a bit.

The love thing wasn't the main focus. It was mostly about the strange experiments and "the field" (I'll let you figure that out. I love how she made that work, too.) I'm personally a fan of that kind of physics. The super abstract kind that involves space and time (basically anything other than the physics class I'm currently taking). It has always intrigued me and I doubt that will ever stop. So I really did enjoy reading this. I'll have to look into those ideas a bit more. It's certainly not new, but the way she approached it was.

Overall, it was a great, quick read. I easily finished it in a day. And I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.


Recommendation: anybody who likes sci-fi and perhaps a bit of mystery