Dick Randall, the Young Athlete

"Dick Randall, the Young Athlete" by Ellery H. Clark is a youth novel following the experiences of Dick Randall as he begins his time at Fenton Academy, navigating the emotional challenges of being away from home and entering adolescence. The story highlights Dick's involvement in school sports, the forming of important friendships, and the overall social environment of the academy as he begins to define his place within it. Initially feeling lost and homesick, Dick finds an appealing distraction in the academy's enthusiastic focus on athletics, including the esteemed Pentathlon, which sets the stage for sporting rivalries and personal growth. A new spark of optimism alights in him through his budding friendship with the affable Harry Allen, as the two become entwined in the spirit of competition and school pride that defines Dick's initial experiences.