Stress and Pressure in Sports
This inspirational book tells the story of the Arlee Warriors, the high school basketball team representing the Flathead Reservation in Montana. The Class C boys basketball takes the team to the state championship where they participated as underdogs the previous season. The 2017-2018 season comes with much more pressure than before with the nationwide attention and the new trials and tribulations. The stress of athletic performance accompanies the practice, injuries, and anxieties of whether the team is good enough to succeed. Streep tells their story in a remarkable way showing the hardships of sportsmanship beyond what the spectator might think.
Community Spirit
The overarching theme of the book is community and the power of solidarity in the small tribal town of Flathead Reservation in Montana. The game and competitions would draw family and friends which united the people as the team became a beacon of hope. As local heroes of the small town, the team found immense support from the community and in turn strived to make them proud. With big dreams that seem impossible in such a small community, the team showed community spirit straight to the top of the game. As such, the collective hope and pride in both the Warriors and the entire populace elevated the status of the town and people.
Depression and Suicide
With the high rate of suicide in Montana, the team began a suicide prevention initiative particularly for young people in the community. The effect of the high suicide rate has been felt in the community as many families are left devastated. Even directly impacting the team, their initiative intends to put focus on the depression among the youth and other members of society. They dedicated their games and videos to fighting depression making the community mindful of their mental health.
