Choose to Matter

May 15, 2017
Foudy, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and former captain of the U.S. Women’s National soccer team, offers a leadership-focused book aimed at teenage girls. Foudy divides the book into subsections that correspond with five concentric “EmpowerRINGS,” with “self” at the center, followed by “team,” “school,” “community,” and “life.” Excerpts from Foudy’s interviews with 10 women and girls from a range of backgrounds—including Good Morning America cohost Robin Roberts, Lean In founder Sheryl Sandberg, soccer stars Mia Hamm and Alex Morgan, and Afghan teenage activist Fahima Noori—appear throughout, along with activities, writing prompts, and profiles of young leaders. Despite the visually varied format, diverse voices represented, and approachable tone, the book can feel dense and repetitive. But motivated readers will find plenty of ideas for ways to take action in their lives. Ages 12–up.

March 15, 2017
Foudy, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in soccer, channels her connections and unfaltering positivity into a guide geared toward female athletes. With a breezy, conversational tone and lots of cheerful doodles and eye-catching changes in type, Foudy introduces her -empoweRINGs,- a set of ideals represented as nested concentric circles. The core of these is -self,- followed by -team,- -school,- -community,- and, finally, the largest, outer ring of -life.- Each of these areas is then further broken down into chapters, explored, and followed by a short activity for readers. Foudy calls upon an impressive list of successful and notable women, including Robin Roberts, Mia Hamm, and Sheryl Sandberg, and also some lesser-known but equally captivating figures such as teen scientist Sophie Healy-Thow and Taliban survivor Fahima Noori to share their stories, struggles, and personal insights. In addition, Foudy adds an abundant smattering of quotations, personal musings, and peppy slogans (like -So choose to Lead. Because you can- and -Bring it AND sing it-) designed to inspire young girls. However, those not involved with sports may have a difficult time relating to both her optimism and anecdotes; for example her portion about school focuses largely on team dynamics in an athletic setting, only superficially examining such weighty issues as bullying, and offers little to help those grappling with other situations. Foudy's unrelenting sunniness may not illuminate everyone, but young athletes may find some empowerment here. (Nonfiction. 12-16)

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April 1, 2017
Gr 8 Up-Olympic medalist and soccer star Foudy founded a sports academy to help girls develop leadership skills through soccer. It is from this program that Foudy mined her source material. She begins with an examination of self and moves outward to team, school, community, and life. Along the way, the author taps friends and colleagues to share their personal stories of leadership. These voices are quite varied and include a young Paralympic star with cerebral palsy, an Irish teen who did not become defeated when leading scientists told her that her experiments wouldn't work, journalist Robin Roberts, and soccer star Mia Hamm. Foudy offers easy exercises for readers and asks them to develop a -choose to matter- plan as a way to improve their community. The book is eye-catching, with whimsical design elements, and the text is written in an unaffected style that will not intimidate. VERDICT Large collections could use this title to foster leadership skills.-Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2017
Grades 7-9 Julie Foudy spent 13 seasons as the captain of the U.S. women's national soccer team, won two Olympic gold medals and two World Cup championships, and is now an accomplished reporter with ESPN and a mother of two. Her professional and personal successes make her an ideal resource on the topic of leadership for young women just finding their own voices. Foudy organizes her strategy for achievement into concentric circles, beginning with the reader themselves and moving outwardly into team, community, and the world at large. Each topic has its own section in the book, and Foudy taps the advice of other highly accomplished women from a multitude of backgrounds, such as the famous Robin Roberts and Sheryl Sandberg to lesser-known individuals, like teen scientist Sophie Healy-Thow and cerebral palsy advocate Amy Liss. The book delivers a powerful message to young girls: be loud, excited, and assertive about your goals and take decisive steps to achieve them no matter where you are or what circumstances you are handed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)