Goalkeeper in Charge

September 1, 2002
Gr. 5-7. Painfully shy seventh-grader Tina Esparza loves soccer, especially because it's a team sport; she can play well and still blend in with the other players. That changes when she is singled out to be the goalkeeper for her new team. With all eyes on her, Tina struggles to maintain her game, especially as she must assert herself with the other players. The after-practice trips to the mall with her new team members pose another social challenge. Gradually, with the encouragement of her outgoing best friend and an empathetic new neighbor, Tina successfully confronts her shyness and soars on the field. Hirschfeld continues Matt Christopher's tradition of solid, issue-driven sports novels with this new title in the Christopher Sports Series. Some of the voices, including Tina's, seem far too mature and articulate. But soccer players will love the abundant field action, including techniques and team strategies, and most middle-schoolers will relate to Tina's social anxiety and find relief in the straightforward ways she confronts her fears.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)