In her debut novel, Underspin, E.Y. Zhao evokes a rare feeling of incessant hope combined with profound despair through the narrative of table-tennis prodigy Ryan Lo.
An array of perspectives tells the story of Ryan's table-tennis journey, which starts at the age of eight. His relentless but exceptional coach and his menacing training schedule unveil his potential for greatness. Childhood teammates, competitors, and lovers share how Ryan's competitive nature and charismatic personality shine through practices and matches. He has a budding romance with another table-tennis star, Anabel Yu, who does not know how to separate her life from the all-consuming world of table tennis, similar to Ryan. Their viewpoints reflect his growing hardships of intense competition and adolescent stardom. But among the poignant difficulties, joyful wins, and tender human connection, the beauty of table tennis is applauded and ultimately, celebrated.
As narrators bounce from one character to the next, Ryan goes from competing at the pinnacle of his sport to quitting competing altogether. Zhao captures the suspense of a table-tennis match in prose that illuminates small moments, conversations, and actions, slowly revealing what turned immense excellence into a tremendous tragedy. Zhao's finest victory is encapsulating both the highest highs and lowest lows of Ryan's life with the same amount of complexity, nuance, and detail. Underspin showcases the pressure, isolation, and loneliness of high-level sports. Table tennis, often underappreciated, is at the forefront of the narrative as each character circulates around the game, love, and loss. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer