The New Football Coach is the third book in The Adventures of Miss Charlotte series by Dominique Demers. I have recently reviewed the first two in the series, ‘The New Teacher’ and ‘The Mysterious Librarian’. They are a cross between Roald Dahl’s wacky books and Mary Poppins.

In this book, Miss Charlotte is taking on the role as a Football coach as two rival schools go head to head to win the award to change their school name. The two school Black Duck Brook and Blueberry Bay are run by twin headteachers Paulette Pesky and Yvette Pesky. Miss Charlotte has arrived to coach Black Duck Brook football team.

At first, the students are not sure of Miss Charlotte’s teaching techniques especially when their first lesson is how to lose, plus she also talks to her football which she has named Anatole. The children soon learn that although they want to win the game they must first learn to enjoy themselves and work as a team, but the best footballer on the team isn’t happy and so he leaves and joins the rival team.

Can Miss Charlotte help the team to win their most important game?

Being the third book in a series I have the two previous books to compare this book to and whilst it was fun and enjoyable I don’t think it was as good as the previous two. Miss Charlotte didn’t seem her usual eccentric self in this book. Yes, she might have taught the children to talk to their footballs and give them a name and to drink a made up potion called Smalalamiam but she was mainly completely normal and I’ve come to love the wacky side of Miss Charlotte.

Once again, like the previous books, the author does a great job at teaching children life lessons through her fictional stories. This time it’s about friendship, working together and getting along. Lessons all children need to learn.

Up to now, there are no more books in the series which is a shame as I have been enjoying them. Hopefully, more will be written and published in the future.

About the Author

Dominique Demers is a doctor in youth literature, an author and screenwriter who has lived in Quebec for several years. She is best known for the children’s novels she has written for several years.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University. She then obtained a certificate in teaching at the University of Montreal, which she will follow a master’s degree in children’s literature at the University of Quebec in Montreal. She completed a Ph.D. in children’s literature at the University of Sherbrooke in 1994.

For twelve years, she was a journalist for the magazine Châtelaine and the magazine l’Actualité, and she writes for the newspaper Le Devoir. She has also produced various documents for television and radio.

For fifteen years, she taught children’s literature at the Université du Québec à Montréal and the Université de Sherbrooke.

The novels of the Charlotte youth series were used to develop the screenplays of the films The Mysterious Miss C. and the Incomparable Mademoiselle C. Moreover, in 2005, she put in scenario A winter of turmoil for a televised soap opera.

What did you think of the book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!