The Prodigy: A Novel (2024)

Golf loving teens will enjoy that story of Frank Baker's rise to fame. Frank is a golfing phenomenon and his father is eager to cash in on his son's future. He wants Frank to turn pro out of high school. Frank wants to go to at least two years of college before turning pro. On his side are his swing coach Slugger Johnston and Slugger's college friend Keith Forman who now writes about golf.

Both Slugger and Keith were college golfers who gave the pro circuit a try but weren't able to make it to the pro tour. Keith, at least, should be able to give Frank unbiased advice since he doesn't have a financial interest in his future. On his father's side is Ron Lawrensen who wants to be Frank's agent and who is filling Frank's father's ears with dreams of riches.

This story is filled with golf action and the dropped names of many of the stars of the game. The detailed play-by-play of various rounds of golf might be more than most non-golfers can handle. I played some as a kid and teen and found them interesting. I also liked the insight into some of the big names in the golfing world. I thought that Frank's dad using Tiger Woods's dad as a role model was a realistic vision for parents who want to live their lives through their kids. I also liked that Slugger and Keith were quick to point out that Tiger's life off the course wasn't anything most parents would want for their child.

While I enjoyed this story, I didn't find the characterization of Frank to be completely realistic. I thought he was too mature and too media savvy for even an extraordinary seventeen-year-old. I had trouble believing that he could handle the pressure of the media interviews after his great performances on the course without a falter.

Golf fans won't want to miss this feel-good sports story about a phenomenal young athlete.

I'm a golfer, and I picked this book up because it was the only YA book on golf I've ever seen. I expected it to be a cheesy/corny 2-star read. Surprisingly, I found myself rooting for the main character. Maybe it's because I play golf, but I was on the edge of my seat once the tournaments started. The ending was also a really nice touch.

Listened to the audio book. Loved having the author read his story. I enjoy golf and the Masters is my favorite tournament. When I started the book I didn't know it would end there. I found the book riveting and did not want to stop listening. Feinstein hit a home run with this enjoyable and compelling book. Highly recommend to anyone who loves golf.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I find the lives of young, elite athletes fascinating, and was eager to meet Frank, the star of The Prodigy.

What I Liked

This book really pulled me into the world of golf. Feinstein took us on tours of world famous courses and stacked the deck with appearances by a ton of major PGA players. I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the courses, and appreciated the way Feinstein wove the "stars" into Frank's story. They were his competition, but also his mentors, and these interactions showed why this is called the gentleman's sport.

With that said, there was a ton of golf in the book too. We follow Frank through a few practices, the Ams, and the Masters. As someone, who only knows a bit about golf, I enjoyed learning a lot more about the game, which owns my father. I was also sort of impressed, that Feinstein was able to convey a bit of excitement when describing the tournament play scenes. Golf is not known as a fast-paced, exciting game, but I found myself eager to see if Frank was able to get his head in the game and pull out the wins.

Not only was there sports, but there was lots of drama too. Frank's dad was pushing him to go pro, but Frank really wanted to keep his amateur status and attend college. From there, we follow Frank on his emotional journey as he tried to stay present in the game, but also navigate the soap opera, that his life has become. There are villains, cheating scandals, and nefarious plots with a really shocking reveal towards the end.

What I Didn't Like So Much

I have to admit, I am so exhausted with politics creeping its way into every nook and cranny of the world. If I elect to read a book, which involves politics, I make that choice, but even when I read a book which is far removed from politics, it seems to work its way into the story in some unnecessary and irrelevant way, and unfortunately, Feinstein did that in The Prodigy. Sometimes, I just want to read a book, watch a game, see a TV show without having to be subjected to judgement and hatred associated with most political outpourings. This is my current pet peeve, and the inclusion of any political commentary in this story sort of tainted it for me.

I also wanted a little more from the ending. I guess I would have liked to know how it all played out. Some things, major things, were left up in the air. As someone, who grew to like and care about Frank, I would have liked to have gotten a little more closure regarding certain issues.

Overall: This was a surprisingly entertaining and interesting look into the life of a young, elite golfer.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSggJ...

Frank Baker is a golfing prodigy. At seventeen he has his picks of scholarships to any college in the country and is on the cusp of being able to play in national professional tournaments. However, Frank's golf dreams may be destroyed by his father who only seems to worry about Frank's earning potential.

I had a hard time with this book. I read it because of Feinstein's popularity but I honestly didn't understand 90 percent of the golf part. The story of Frank and his dreams was engaging however Feinstein chose to have that take the back seat to many pages describing the golf tournament which was difficult for a non-golf like me to follow. The focus of the book felt like it was more on the adults then Frank with a large chunk of the book being the interactions of the adults in Frank's inner circle which seemed like an odd choice for a teen book. Also, the dialog felt dated and the book felt very much like a teen book from the 90s. However, the storyline about the NCAA did feel very relevant. I know that Feinstein's hardcore fans will really enjoy this book but I had a hard time getting through it.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Prodigy is an outstanding read. It may be labeled as a young adult novel, but I found topics and themes that would be compelling for any reader. I would say that someone should have some knowledge of golf, yet the author does provide good background info throughout. Very fun read, with great commentary on the game and the roles parents and others should have in the development of young athletes. Highly recommended.

For the full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2018/07/30/th...

For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog

The Prodigy, John Feinstein’s realistic fiction novel explicates the fierce nature of participating in a professional tournament and provides pragmatic and down-to-earth characters whose personalities and beliefs can clash against each other and can invoke numerous different emotions in the reader.
The book takes place in the United States in the late 2010s. In the beginning of the book, Frank Baker, the 17 year old golf mastermind and protagonist, is introduced to the reader, who is aplomb when faced with a tough challenge, but can easily fold when his father is involved in conflict. The reader then meets Slugger Johnston, the tritagonist as well as Frank’s golf caddy who gives him various tips and keeps him relaxed out on the course. Frank’s Father, Thomas, is presented shortly thereafter. His father can be understanding, but he lacks control over his eristic side, getting into discords and feuds over minute details. Keith Forman is the deuteragonist of the novel, who is Slugger’s old college roommate and ex-golfer turned journalist that helps Frank as he embarks on his golf trek. The reader learns that Thomas wants Frank to turn pro after he graduates from high-school due to being struck with different deals and sponsorships, but Frank thinks it is too early for that kind of decision, especially since he understands that his father is avaricious. One constant throughout the book is that Frank is stuck between a rock and a hard place; Should he go pro when it’s too early and face the consequences, or should he go to college and pursue a regular career but anguish his father in the process?
I believe that this novel was extremely well thought out and written. The psychological effects on Frank from the choice, as well as his fathers imprudence relating to Frank’s golf career and impudence towards Keith, who is steering Frank in the right direction, feels exceedingly realistic and could happen in the real world. Feinstein wrote in an informal way as to not lose the reader in overly dramatic situations, even throughout the rough times for Frank. The characters are memorable, each with their own personalities that shine one way or another. One thing I didn’t particularly enjoy was the filler-esque moments in between the matches being played. It felt long and drawn out, to the point where it became a little repetitive. Considering the book’s length, it could have been shaved off a couple pages if it was a bit more concise and stayed a bit more on topic. Another thing I didn’t like was the narration change between Frank and Keith, as it was quite random throughout the chapters, especially in the earlier ones.
John Feinstein's literary qualities are very interesting, and unlike any other realistic fiction novel. Instead of focusing on dialogue only, he uses descriptive language during the matches as well as includes dialogue to make the reader not only focus on the characters actions, but the surrounding events as well. He will describe how the characters feel, as well as describe what is going on currently in the book. It will keep the reader entertained and inform them on what is happening.
Any golf-loving young adult reader who wants to create connections between themselves and the book and learn different life lessons pertaining to the business world should give this novel a go. It is a page turner due to its language, impact on the reader, and emotion.

Before this year, Frank was just a nobody. But ever since his impressive performance at last year’s PGA tournament at the age of 16, Frank has been called the Perrington prodigy, the next Tiger Woods. Agents are lining up at his door and have caught his father’s ear, pressuring Frank to go pro and sign deals with big name companies. Frank has other plans --- including attending college.

With his father working behind his back with agents, it seems that there is no one Frank can confide in, until he meets one of his coach’s old teammates, Keith Forman, a renowned golf reporter. As Frank prepares himself for this year’s PGA tournament, he can’t help but feel that all eyes are on him, expecting greatness. Will Frank be able to face the pressure of being a teenage prodigy? And more importantly, on his road to fame, who can he trust and who will betray him?

Like most of John Feinstein’s books, it’s better if you know about the sport he’s writing about before you read the story. Although, as someone who knows next to nothing about golf, I thoroughly enjoyed THE PRODIGY. What I loved most about this book was that I felt like Feinstein actually taught me something useful while delivering a realistic and inspiring story. He masterfully incorporates explanations of golf terms and golf history so that it still seems like an engaging part of the narrative instead of an awkward, boring lesson.

Feinstein also perfectly captures Frank’s character. As a teenage athlete, I could often relate to the anxiety Frank felt about his future as well as the stress of competing. Thanks to Feinstein’s realistic portrayal, I could even feel the adrenaline rush as Frank beat some of his idols, even though I’ve never experienced this myself. Feinstein also skillfully captured Keith Forman’s concern for Frank to the point where I too was sitting on the edge of my seat, hoping for the best for Frank.

Especially at a time when it seems that the characters in many young adult books have a negative outlook on life, I appreciated THE PRODIGY’s likable characters and message of hope: dare to dream and take risks to achieve them.

Overall, I would highly recommend THE PRODIGY to golfers and non-golfers alike, especially those in need of a change of perspective and a hopeful message.

Reviewed by Alice D., Teen Board Member

Title of the book:
The Prodigy
By:
John Feinstein

The Prodigy was an amazing book about a 17-year-old sensational golfer Frank Baker. If I could be one character in this book I would be Frank Baker because he is an amazing golfer with full-ride scholarships to any school of his choice, and I can relate the most to him. I would recommend this book to any kid from the ages of 12 to 18 because it is about a teenage athlete facing adversity. Which could help you and the ways he handles adversity. I would totally read this book again because it had me hooked right from the first chapter, and books that don't usually do that are not my type. The point of the book was to show the audience that if you work hard you can do anything you want in life, but other people are going to knock you down, criticize you, and tell you what is good and what isn't. With that being said focus on your goal and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Something I learned from this book was to always trust your gut, trust people who care about you and always find a way through adversity. What I will remember from this book years from now is that do what makes you happy and not someone else happy. Something I would change about this book is how there sensory details because I really like imagining where they play or what it smells like. Overall I think it was an amazing book because I feel how the main character feels about his dreams.

The Prodigy is a book about a young golf sensation named Frank Baker. Frank is 17 years old and his father wants him to skip school and turn pro. Jordan knows he isn't ready and has to face the challenges of family and golf. The book is set in Los Angeles, California where Baker tries to get to Augusta National. Baker has to overcome the obstacles of his father and his family to try to achieve greatness. My Initial reaction to this book was wow this is awesome, Because I love golf and competition this book hooked me immediately.

The book The Prodigy is a lot about competition ¨Baker Yells,¨last chance to save a dozen if you quit now.¨pg 1 This quote starts the book by showing that they are competitive. Frank has a controlling father who wants him to go pro right after college. Frank gets help from friends and teammates to overcome his struggles and stay focused on golf. Frank's dad says ¨I thought it would be interesting for you to spend a little time with ron.¨pg 8 He says this when Frank has to go to school tomorrow and has to do homework. This shows how much Frank's dad pushes him and wants him not to go to college. Baker is smart and whats to go to school so he talks to his coaches and friends to help him become great at golf. Baker comes up on a major part in his golf career and has to overcome struggles and battles he faces.

This book can be slow at times because it is about golf and golfs slow but it's still a great read. I have not finished this book yet but I plan on finishing it this summer. This book was fun to read before golf matches during school because it would help me lock in for my match. This book is great for people who love golf and like reading competitive stories. I gave this book a four out of five because it being slow at times. Frank and his friends being competitive make this book amazing.

I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Frank is touted as the next Tiger Woods. He is a young golf prodigy and his father hopes to make money to set them up for life. However, Frank wants to go to college before turning professional. He enlists the help of his coach Slugger and Slugger's college friend, who is also a professional golf reporter, Keith. Some very shady things are going on around Frank and Keith is there to keep everyone honest and help Frank stay the good kid he has always been.

There is a select reading group for this book. The majority of the book revolves around golf and provides little to no background for it. If you do not understand golf, you will not understand most of this book. The rest of the plot focuses on adult relationships and interactions. The connection between Keith and Frank is not as developed as I would have liked (why does Keith go above and beyond for Frank).

“The Prodigy” drives straight down the fairway and delivers a hole in one. While this book’s target audience is likely YA, it will also earn applause from the Middle Grade crowd and is equally appropriate as a read-aloud for early elementary grade golf fans. Feinstein masterfully infuses fiction with elements of narrative nonfiction by spotlighting high-interest golf lore, exemplary golf etiquette and a supporting cast of well-known professional golfers. Seventeen-year-old prodigy Frank Becker serves as a stellar role model for readers, emulating perseverance, sportsmanship and unparalleled calm under pressure. Two mentors, Frank’s experienced coach and a dynamic journalist, offer a stellar support system as Frank faces challenges both on and off the greens. Tension runs high and foul-play unfolds propelling a powerful trajectory of action. The only thing missing from this book is a well-deserved Green Jacket. ~ Lisa Brennan, Middle School Librarian @noveltalk

I gave this book a 5 out of 5 rating because I can imagine what is going on in the book and create a good picture of what the author is saying. He uses great description, word choice, and voice to connect with the reader and keep them reading. I would recommend this book for teenagers and older because it is a longer book and there are some more difficult words in there. Some younger kids would be able to read it, but might struggle following a few words. People who play sports and know the sport of golf would love this book, but people that don’t know golf well would still like but not understand some parts. I liked how this author connects the made-up characters with real people and connects them to actual events that have happened to them. The length of the book made it difficult for me because I don’t like to read longer books, but once I picked it up I felt like I was in the story and I didn’t want to get out.

The Prodigy was a really good book. The story starts with Frank, a teenage boy and his father who is trying to push him into pro league golfing. Frank goes up the list and into the higher championship leagues. He just wants to enjoy the game and go to college, but his dad gets angry at him. He's up against people who are older, and maybe better than him, but he still stays determined. Frank's mom lives a happy life in Japan with her new family after his father and mother went their separate ways. Franks coach Slugger calls Keith, a reporter who helps Frank in his competitions. He also helps Frank's father to work things out, but that backfires and Frank's father begins talking to a businessman named Lawrenson who's only interest is money. In the end, Frank gets a high ranking in the golf competition, Franks' dad works things out, and Frank and Keith become good friends.

Who would ever guess that a book about golf tournaments would be so exciting? I'm a very poor golfer and only occasionally watch matches on TV but this story had me completely mesmerized. The sports itself was exciting but I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to be a player in a tournament.

The characters were engaging and while Frank might be a tad mature it was refreshing to have such a level-headed teen character to root for.

I listened to this on audio and the production was great. I listened a lot while doing therapy on a recovering broken arm and I found myself doing more exercises far longer than prescribed just so I could listen to the story! Thanks Mr. Feinstein ;-) Loved the book and the audio production.

This is a very good book in my opinion but I had a few problems with it. The first one is the pace is very fast for a book that's only 370 pages. In one chapter your in one setting then the next chapter is 7 months after the last chapter which made it very confusing and then the chapter that takes place 7 months after the previous would try and fill you in and it gets confusing at times. I think another thing would make the book better would be not taking up a whole page to describe golf terminology rather just put it in 1 paragraph and just understand the basics of that term. However, I that's the only problems I had, I thought it was a pretty good book,I would recommend it to anyone who likes sports themed books.

i thought this book was fantastically written and the relationship between frank and his father speak volume. My favorite character is frank baker because he is honest and true to himself as well as a humble athlete. My least favorite is his dad because he is in a way using his son for money and in some ways fame. My favorite event in the book is the first mastery he ever went to and its my favorite because it set a tone for him and let him know where he was as a golfer. I like his writing because everything is so much more clear to me and i like the plot and vocabulary. A connection i can make is how my dad is hard on me and doesn't always see eye to eye with me and has other plans for me in life that might rather benefit him.

This was really good! I admit I know little to nothing about golf, but the game of golf is merely the vehicle to tell a bigger story about a devoted father who gets blinded by his son’s bankability that he loses sight of his amazing kid. John Feinstein is such a great sports writer and this story has parallels with Tiger and Earl Woods but still I read and turned the pages. I loved it and I don’t really do sports books. This was in a Little Free Library and I thought I’d see if I liked it. The names sometimes got confusing. Like they’re such easy male names like Keith, Frank and sometimes I found the golf a tad difficult to follow but it’s not that bad. More like a 4.5.

This book is a great realistic fiction book about a teenage golfer named Frank who is a soon to be pro. The problem is that he doesn't want to go pro just yet, he wants to go to college and play golf. His Dad and Agent don't have the same plan. This book goes through his successes as a golfer and the problem he faces with his dad and the agents his dad likes, but he doesn't. Those two are more focused on the dollar signs over Frank and what he wants. I personally like the book because it is a good story with real life golfers such as Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth and many more PGA pros. It is a good plot that keeps you engaged and there's always a twist waiting to happen.

I have been looking for a clean sports book for school book clubs. This book is a lower reading level than I was originally looking for, but the main character is the right age for my high school readers. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. The ending was rushed, especially when a betrayal is revealed in the last chapter and you aren't given time to process it. However, I loved the comradery between the golf players, the joy the main character feels when playing the game, and the focus on going to college.

Content Warning
Except for a couple of hells and god damns, there was nothing of concern in this book.

For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSggJ...

Golf fans will probably enjoy this book but if you don't already have an understanding of the sport you may be lost through large chunks of the story. Plus, the focus seemed to be more on the adult than on Frank which made it difficult to connect with the main character. Feinstein's hardcore fans will probably enjoy this one but we had difficulty getting through it.

We received advanced reader copies of this book from the publisher in exchange for honest reviews.

It is pretty safe to say that I find golf to be extremely boring - yet somehow this title ends up being pretty exciting. I only know what a bridie and bogey are because I just looked them up on the duck duck go but it didn't matter at all for this non golf enthusiast - reading this was like watching the highlights of any sport - you get all the great bits without the boring (for me) filler. I read and listened to it and my first thought when I realized the author was doing the reading was this will suck - but it was actually kind of great.

I listened to the audible version. Feinstein does a great job reading his book.

Great story about a kid getting into competitive golf. I did find it a little self-serving that the "hero" of the story is a writer from Golf Digest. Also some of the shot by shot analysis about 3/4 in gets a little monotonous. Kind of like when your buddy describes his round in great detail. It could have been a great round, but nobody wants that much detail.

All in all a great story. I'm happy that I stumbled across it and would highly recommend if you love golf as I do.

this book is very interesting especially if you are a golfer and even more if you are a young golfer. being good at golf is something that many people try to do, but it's a hard sport. Golf is very mentally challenging and frank in this book does a good job of staying calm and that could be why he is so good. I like how john had the character in this book be just a 16-year-old kid. But still has him competing with college-level athletes, and winning. i also love how john shows how badly franks dad wants him to be successful and how he will do anything to help frank be succsessful

Something was missing. Either not enough character build up or description. Never read such a story a new narrative but is bland the right word? So I slept on it and I think the second book of the college years and him turning pro. What happens in college life? How are the deal put together, does he go Web.com or international. Who is the new caddy?

The Master's came down to the last hole. Frank missed the last putt and then it was Rory's turn. He had moved his ball marker because it was in the way of Frank's ball. If he took the shot then Frank would have won, but then Frank told him to move his ball back, so that he would lose fair and square.

Not a bad look into the what drives some of the business (and greed) in a young star coming up in the world. While it was a little far fetched at times, I thought the storyline and plot was a lot of fun and kept me interested in the outcome.

John Feinstein's background gives him oodles of insider info on the Masters, and I totally enjoyed getting all of the scoop on how the premier tournament is run behind the scenes. The plot was fictional, but who knows, could come true! Like the hole in one I hope to get someday. :)

Great introduction to the sport of Golf, but will also attract avid golfers.

Loved it! Great for anyone who golfs!