The Comeback

Chris used to play hockey in Parry Sound, Ontario, but he quit the team in part due to an injury, but his departure was mainly because he had become depressed. The Comeback begins as Chris watches his old hockey team win a championship. The mean character, Trent is introduced, and he immediately begins to chide Chris. Chris’ best friend, Keiko, checks in with Chris and encourages him to play soccer. Chris explains his depression to Keiko and that he has had therapy with a doctor. The doctor also believes that Chris should play sports as part of his growth in living with and overcoming depression. It helps that Keiko’s little brother (by a year) is also playing on the soccer team so that Chris will at least have one familiar person on the team. Trent also plays on the soccer team and immediately continues to bug Chris, calling him names like ‘quitter’ and using other generally negative terms.

Chris immediately likes soccer. He battles with depressing thoughts throughout the book and demonstrates his technique in correcting such negative thoughts. Chris has a terrible game where his anxiety and depression affect his team play and attitude to the point of his new coach taking note and talking to him. Chris and the coach decide it would be best to tell the team about Chris’ depression. The coach is very supportive and helps Chris feel accepted. This support is shown when Coach Dave sits Trent for his continuous negativity towards Chris. The rest of the team accepts Chris, but not without some difficulty. Chris has to tell the team not to treat him differently when he makes mistakes or plays poorly. The teammates were worried about what might happen if they spoke to Chris about this sort of thing and believed it might cause Chris to do something unexpected. Once these issues were dealt with, the team goes on to play very well together. Trent, however, is still mean to Chris. The team loses in their league semi-final, but a higher level coach scouts this game and picks five of the kids to tryout and play for the regional team.

The story repeats itself here, but in a very good way. Chris’ soccer skills had improved a lot, but this new coach has a reputation for throwing temper tantrums and yelling at the kids on the regional team. Chris also recognizes that he is a rookie and believes he is less skilled. Chris thinks he will be able to handle it and decides not to let this new coach and team know about his depression right away. It is only after Trent spreads nasty rumors about Chris’ condition to the new members of the team that Chris takes this action. Coach Ron turns out to be very supportive as well (see excerpt above). Once the new team is informed by Chris with the truth about depression (specifically his), the team’s fortunes change too. The teammates no longer avoid talking or passing to him. Coach Ron consistently supports Chris as a determined player who never gives up. Trent eventually comes around to be a good teammate as well. Although Chris can never really tell if Trent is joking, he comes to realize that Trent no longer targets him with nasty verbal attacks. This story culminates in this team of kids winning the Ontario Summer Games.

I was initially worried and skeptical about this book. Was Alex O’Brien going to be able to write a story that was an interesting sports story and also tackled a topic like depression? Did he ever! The Comeback is a beautiful story that should be read by kids and those adults who work with kids. Oh sure, there’s parts where you think, “Wouldn’t it be nice if kids responded like that?” And there are a couple times where you might think, “How did Chris wind up with two coaches who were so supportive? How lucky!” But if you’re a young person struggling with depression, this book is going to give you a feeling that things are going to get better. It may not be easy, but, with effort and support, things will improve. I wish there was more about Chris’ parents, the doctor, and the journey that they were on together, but there really didn’t need to be. The parents were around, and they were supportive. The doctor was in the story, cognitive behavioral therapy was described, and she was very supportive. There were some character traits in Chris that you wish every child could have. Resilience and a determined positive attitude were present in Chris from the start to finish, but, just like depression, despite overall progress, Chris couldn’t keep it up. There were parts where Chris desperately did not want to feel worried, or negative, or like the weight on his body and mind was too much. Chris still had a few occasions in the book where he really struggled and suffered. Of course, the story has a happy ending and may not reflect the journey facing every young person struggling with mental health. The Comeback should be part of our own learning in understanding what it might be like experiencing depression as a youth.