Military.com Columnist Tom Miller Releases New Novel
Tom Miller
Dec 03, 2007
Editor's Note: Freshman Sensation, Military.com Entertainment Columnist Tom Miller's new novel for young adult readers, is available from the publisher at http://www.ccjournal.com/. Freshman Sensation follows the fortunes of fourteen-year-old Bonnie Clark as she tries to make the cross-country varsity as a high school freshman. Standing in her way is a troubled senior teammate whose parents recently split up over her Army-officer father's frequent deployments. Follow the action and intrigue as the embattled harriers look to overcome dissension and qualify for State. Written primarily for middle school and junior high readers (Ages 11-14), Freshman Sensation would make a great holiday or birthday gift for the young reader on your list.
Sneak Preview: Read Chapter One of Freshman Sensation
Freshman Sensation, by Tom Miller. IDEA, Inc., $12 (120p) ISBN 0-9701566-4-2
Publication Date: December 3, 2007
The book's primary audience: Freshman Sensation is intended for the junior high/middle school reader: Grades 6-9/Ages 10-14.
Brief Description: Fourteen-year-old Bonnie Clark has big dreams. After high school, she hopes to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and become the first woman SEAL. But, first, she and best friend Mandy Clark have their sights set on making the Cross Country varsity as high-school freshmen. As their dream moves closer to reality, a troubled senior teammate, whose father is deployed to Iraq, plots to derail the freshmen's rise. Follow the action and intrigue as the embattled harriers look to overcome dissension and qualify for State.
Author Bio: A former college professor and an entertainment columnist for Military.com, Tom Miller is a life-long runner. He is the author of several novels for juvenile readers including Full Court Press (2000).
About the publisher: IDEA, Inc. (http://www.ccjournal.com/) is a Minneapolis-based publisher that specializes in books about the sport of Cross Country and boasts an impressive backlist. IDEA, Inc. also publishes "Cross Country Journal," a bi-monthly magazine for Cross Country coaches and runners.
Advance Praise for Freshman Sensation:
"Freshman Sensation is a truly delightful reading experience that offers insight into the way young people grow through sports. Several of my runners read the story and found that it paralleled their own experiences." - Richard Washburn, Past President, Iowa Assoc. of Track Coaches, IATC Hall of Fame
"In Freshman Sensation, Tom Miller blends his knowledge of prep cross country with the everyday drama of life as a teenager. Young athletes will feel as if they are racing along with the Indian Bluff harriers as they work their way through another exciting season." - Eric Belby, Head Cross Country & Track Coach, Pleasant Valley (Iowa) High School, Two-time State Cross Country Champions
"[Tom Miller] has written an entertaining novella worthy of interest from coaches and their young athletes." - Paul O'Shea, Cross Country Journal
Tom Miller
563-332-8967
Bonnie Clark stood on her tiptoes and peered across a sea of bobbing heads toward the starting line. Without thinking, she sneaked a peek at the steep hill that stretched out beyond the start.
Why did I do that?
She slowly shook her head. She had promised herself that she wouldn't think about - or even glance at - the dreaded hill that framed the starting line of the Ranger 7-Mile race. Named for the famous Ranger School at nearby Ft. Benning, Georgia, the race attracted thousands of runners and walkers every July.
This was Bonnie's first road race ever, and her dad had suggested that she try something shorter and less difficult, but her friends were running today and she didn't want to be left out. Anyway, she liked a challenge.
Now, as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet, she was having second thoughts.
"Come on," she whispered, "let's get going."
"Will you relax?"
Bonnie stopped abruptly and smiled weakly at her closest friend and running partner Mandy Barfield.
"Sorry," she said. "But I'm trying to relax. I'll be okay once we get started."
Bonnie crossed her fingers.
I hope I'll be okay, she thought.
The truth was she didn't know what to expect. Her longest race before today was 1500 meters, and that was on a flat track.
This, she concluded, is going to be an adventure.
"Hey, don't worry," Tony Hernandez joined in, "just take it easy and you'll be okay."
Jamal Jackson, who was standing behind Tony, winked at the girls. "Yeah, listen to the pro," he laughed.
Bonnie smiled weakly. Tony ought to know, she reminded herself, he ran the race last summer.
The four friends had driven over that morning from their home in Indian Bluff, a pretty town perched on a high bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee River. All were fourteen and would enter Indian Bluff High School in another month.
Mandy's dad was the basketball coach at Indian Bluff Junior High, and Mandy had started tagging along on his runs when she entered seventh grade. It wasn't long before her best friend Bonnie joined them. Both girls had run track at the junior high and were looking forward to going out for Cross Country in high school.
Jamal and Tony had taken up distance running the year before, and both quickly exhibited a talent for the sport. Much to the regret of the football coach, Jamal planned to give up football for Cross Country and track in high school.
Tony decided to ignore his friend's teasing. "You're in good enough shape to finish easily," he assured the girls. "Just don't start off too fast."
Bonnie and Mandy nodded in tandem. They had talked about all of this before, but always in the future tense. Now, in the present tense, it didn't sound so simple.
"Runners," a voice suddenly boomed from the front of the pack.
The throng of runners fell quiet as each focused on the task ahead. Bonnie leaned forward slightly and stared at the heels of the runner in front of her. Mandy looked straight ahead, her index finger poised over the timer button on her watch.
"Take your mark," the voice continued.
The runners strained forward.
"BANG!"
The horde surged forward - the elite runners at the front pulling the long train of runners up the steep incline.
Bonnie and Mandy matched strides with Jamal and Tony until the tight knot of runners began to unravel a bit, and the boys raced ahead. They were a quarter-mile up the hill, and Bonnie was surprised to find that her pre-race jitters had vanished in the initial spurt forward.
She sneaked a quick peek at Mandy who flashed a wide smile in return. Soon, they reached the crest of the hill and turned onto a broad tree-lined boulevard. They recovered quickly from the long climb and settled into a familiar pace.
Bonnie wanted to shout she felt so good. I can go faster, she thought. Much faster.
The two friends had run track at the junior high, and while both were good, Bonnie was faster and stronger.
Mandy seemed to sense what her friend was thinking. As they slowed for a water stop, she fell in behind Bonnie.
"You don't have to wait for me," she shouted. "Just meet me at the finish."
Bonnie tossed her cup aside as Mandy pulled up beside her again.
"No," she said. "We're going to do this together."
Mandy knew better than to argue with her headstrong friend so she nodded and settled into a slightly faster pace. That's the least I can do, she thought.
Up ahead, Jamal and Tony were racing. The two were fast friends, but they had agreed beforehand to compete. Neither knew what to expect although they had been running together for nearly two years. Jamal was faster over short distances, but that might not matter much over seven miles. Both were in excellent shape.
"Twenty-six, fifty; twenty-six, fifty-one."
Tony glanced at his runner's watch as they passed the four-mile mark.
Almost twenty-seven minutes, he thought. Not bad. I don't know how much longer I can keep up this pace though.
He looked up at Jamal's back. The boys had run side-by-side for three miles, but Tony had let Jamal take the lead on the steep incline near the half-way point. For the past mile, he had focused on keeping up with Jamal's pace, but he was beginning to tire.
Darn, he thought. I've got to stay close.
Just ahead, Jamal sensed that Tony was falling back. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that his friend was several strides behind. The thought of slowing a bit crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
That's not what Tony would want, he decided.
Jamal kept up the pace, and the gap separating the two boys slowly widened. By the time Jamal turned back onto the long descent to the finish line, Tony had fallen a block behind.
Jamal tried to relax and let gravity pull him down hill. He was surprised that he could still run so fast. Soon, he reached the bottom of the hill and charged to the finish and beyond into the crowded chute. The big clock over the finish line read 48:12.
Jamal hurried through the chute and turned to watch for Tony. He didn't have long to wait as Tony dashed across the finish line in 49:48. Jamal was waiting for him when he emerged from the chute.
"Great job," Jamal shouted.
Tony beamed. "How'd you do?"
"48:12."
"Great!"
They slapped palms and positioned themselves to watch for Bonnie and Mandy.
"There they come," Jamal shouted as he pointed toward two figures about fifty yards away.
As the girls drew closer, he and Tony began to shout encouragements. As they slipped side-by-side under the race clock, it showed 53:11.
Coach Barfield had been watching the race from the corner and hurried up. He hugged Mandy and slapped the others on the back.
"Great job, everybody," he beamed.
"Bonnie could have done better," Mandy announced, "but she stayed with me."
"Hey," Bonnie responded, "I just wanted to finish and have fun."
Coach Barfield nodded. "There'll be plenty of time to see how fast you can go this fall." He paused as he surveyed four smiling faces. "Have any of you set any goals yet for the Cross Country season?"
"As a matter of fact," Jamal answered for the group, "we have."
"Well?"
"We'd like to make varsity as freshmen!"
Coach Barfield shook his head slowly as a mischievous grin spread across his face. "So that's why you gave up football? So you could get a varsity letter as a freshman."
Jamal acted surprised. "Coach, you've got it all wrong," he stammered. "I only want to do what's best for the team and the school."
"How about the community?" Coach Barfield joked.
"Yeah, that too," Jamal agreed.
"Seriously," he tried again, "I'd like to get into West Point and some of the stuff my dad got says that cross-country is one of the best ways to prepare for the Military Academy."
Jamal's dad was an instructor at the Ranger School at Ft. Benning across the river from Indian Bluff on the Georgia side. Sergeant-Major Jackson, who had risen through the enlisted ranks, thought that it'd be something if his son could qualify for West Point. When Jamal first mentioned it, his dad had joked that he'd have to retire from the army first. Otherwise, he'd have to salute his own son—not to mention call him sir. But, secretly, he was as proud as it was possible for a father to be.
The others shook their heads in agreement.
"That's right, dad," Mandy said. "Jamal's been talking about it all summer."
"Good for you, Jamal," Coach Barfield said. "But, you have to keep up with your studies too. West Point has the highest standards."
"I know, Coach, but that's my goal, and I'm going to make it."
"I'm sure you will," Coach Barfield said. "I'm sure you will."
He looked at the others. "Anyone else?"
All three looked at Bonnie who ducked her head.
"Bonnie?" Coach Barfield said.
"Bonnie's thinking about the Naval Academy," Mandy informed him.
"Well, that's great Bonnie," Coach Barfield said. "What brought that on?"
Bonnie shuffled her feet before saying anything. "Did you see GI Jane?" she asked.
"The movie?" Coach Barfield replied with a question of his own.
"Yes, sir. The one where Demi Moore shaves her head and wants to join the Navy SEALs."
"Yes, I did, but you know that in real life, the SEALs don't allow women?" Coach Barfield said gently.
"Yes, I know," Bonnie continued. "But, I figure that if I run cross-country and swim and finish at the top of my Academy class, they'll have to let me try."
Coach Barfield smiled. "Hey," he said, "anything can happen. Twenty years ago, women couldn't even attend the service academies. Now, they can do just about anything in the military."
"Bonnie's going to change that 'just about anything,' " Mandy spoke up.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she does," Coach Barfield admitted with a broad smile. "How about you Tony?" he asked.
"Oh, no," Tony sputtered. "I just want to run varsity."
"Well," Coach Barfield continued, "based on your times today, I'd say that all of you have a good chance."
"Do you really think so?" Bonnie asked.
"I certainly do, but you'll have to keep working hard. Then, you'll have to prove yourself when the season begins. But, it's possible."
He didn't want to go too far, but he suspected that it was more than possible. It was likely.
Especially Jamal and Bonnie, he thought. Those two could be state champs before they graduated.
"Anyway," he went on, "go grab some water and fruit and let's head back home. Mrs. Barfield has some chores waiting for me."
They laughed at that and scurried off to help themselves to the free water and fruit set up beyond the finish area. All four were thinking the same thing: Varsity. Now wouldn't that be something?
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Copyright 2008 by Tom Miller
