The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

Hardcover, 216 pages

English language

Published Dec. 30, 1999 by BCA.

(1 review)

Trisha McFarland has only veered off the trail to get away from the bickering of her brother and recently divorced mother. She doesn't think there's any chance of losing her way.

Except, in her panic to get back on the path, Trisha takes a turning that leads into the tangled undergrowth. Deeper and deeper into the terrifying woods. At first it's just the midges and mosquitoes, hanging around her ears like helicopters, trying to drink her blood and sip her sweat. Then the hunger. For solace she tunes her Walkman into broadcasts of the Red Sox baseball games and the performances of her hero Tom Gordon. And when the reception begins to fade, Trisha imagines that Tom Gordon is with her.

As darkness begins to fall, Trisha begins to give up hope of being found. Alive. And as she struggles for survival and a way out, She realises that she's …

Trisha McFarland has only veered off the trail to get away from the bickering of her brother and recently divorced mother. She doesn't think there's any chance of losing her way.

Except, in her panic to get back on the path, Trisha takes a turning that leads into the tangled undergrowth. Deeper and deeper into the terrifying woods. At first it's just the midges and mosquitoes, hanging around her ears like helicopters, trying to drink her blood and sip her sweat. Then the hunger. For solace she tunes her Walkman into broadcasts of the Red Sox baseball games and the performances of her hero Tom Gordon. And when the reception begins to fade, Trisha imagines that Tom Gordon is with her.

As darkness begins to fall, Trisha begins to give up hope of being found. Alive. And as she struggles for survival and a way out, She realises that she's not. alone, There's something else in the woods •watching. Waiting...

A classic story that engages our emotions at the most primal level„ The Girl Who Loewd 7bm Gordon explores our deep dread of the unknown and the extent to which faith can conquer it. Aglow with a girl's indomitable spirit, it is at once powerful fairytale, an astounding allegory, and brilliant contemporary portrait of a girl and her sports hero. --front flap

48 editions

Thom reviewed The girl who loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

Review of 'The girl who loved Tom Gordon' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Baseball metaphors and survival skills combine in this story of a nine year old who is "big for her age." It has been described as a psychological horror book, but it is really a confrontation with the self and the scary things in our own heads - or are they?

I liked the main character, though she seemed way more capable than nine-year-olds I have known. The story is believable, with some fantastic elements. The baseball metaphors may require some explaining - Tom Gordon was the "closer" for the Red Sox, and would come in late in the game to "save" the win. So in this book, the girl who loves Tom Gordon is looking for the "save" - in this case of her own life. All of these elements combine into a smash ending (the chapter is labeled "bottom of the ninth") which satisfies.

It has been said that …

Baseball metaphors and survival skills combine in this story of a nine year old who is "big for her age." It has been described as a psychological horror book, but it is really a confrontation with the self and the scary things in our own heads - or are they?

I liked the main character, though she seemed way more capable than nine-year-olds I have known. The story is believable, with some fantastic elements. The baseball metaphors may require some explaining - Tom Gordon was the "closer" for the Red Sox, and would come in late in the game to "save" the win. So in this book, the girl who loves Tom Gordon is looking for the "save" - in this case of her own life. All of these elements combine into a smash ending (the chapter is labeled "bottom of the ninth") which satisfies.

It has been said that King was angling towards "Lord of the Flies" with this novel, but to me it felt more like "The Old Man and the Sea". A lot of King fans were likely disappointed, because what horror is here is subtle, or perhaps non-existent. What we learn of the main character is first person train-of-thought, but this reverie is broken at times to describe what was going on the in real world - the hunt for a kidnapper, etc. Would it have been better without, or would fans have been screaming about no way the search would find nothing after a week?

So, I liked it, but I didn't love it. It was more than just OK, but quite a bit short of stellar. The writing is good, the survival stuff is accurate and the baseball is apt, but some spark was lacking.