I was totally surprised by this book -- I was assigned to read it for class, and was not very enthusiastic; I've never liked sports books, and the book looked like it was going to be just another "After School Special." But I was surprised and completely hooked after reading just a couple pages. The sports stuff is well-written and action-packed, but the book's not so much about sports as it is about growing up and rising above the petty everyday concerns to focus on the future. Well-written, and inspiring without being preachy. The only down point is that it's pretty old -- it was written in 1967, so some stuff might not ring quite as true to young people reading it today. It's still well worth reading, though, as are the sequels The Brave and The Chief.

Many readers who have reviewed this book have complained that it is boring, but I did not find this to be the case. Instead, I found myself continually drawn to the book, snatching time to read it on the bus, during my break at work, even in line at the bank.

The Chosen is a novel for those who don't require constant action, who are just as interested in the surroundings and culture of a fictional world as they are in the story. Other reviewers have complained about the density and complexity of detail, but to truly understand the plight of the protagonist and those around him, one must understand the structure of the world he is living in. In this way, the novel is much like Frank Herbert's Dune or the works of Samuel R. Delany, in particular Stars In My Pocket Like Grains of Sand and Dhalgren.

So, this novel is not for those who like their fantasy novels with lots of swords, sorcery, and battles. But if you enjoy a novel with imagery that will continually tug at you, then check this out.

The amount of depth in such a slim volume is amazing. Clement's language and rhythm put me in mind of a folk tale that draws one in easily but lets go hard. I picked this up because I thought it would be a fast read, and it was, but it's stuck with me and I find myself thinking of it at odd quiet moments. Read it, savor it, but be careful if you read on the subway -- I kept missing my stops.