Caught Offside

August 1, 2017

Gr 3-6-The "Soccer Sisters" return with a story about putting one's values and self-worth before the callous opinions of others. Val and Makena are best friends. They come from different towns; Val from working class Highland Ferry and Makena from affluent Brookville. Many residents of Highland Ferry work for the families of Brookville, including Val's father. But Makena would never put her friend down for their differences in circumstance. Other team members like Jessie are not as considerate. Singling Val out for her Mexican heritage and financial differences, Jessie tells Val she's no longer welcome on the team. Val also wonders if Makena's newfound interest in the upcoming Snow Fairy Dance signals a change in their friendship. Montalbano's second series entry maintains the empowering tone of the first book while introducing more complex themes of social justice. The story remains full of soccer action sequences that are skillfully written to engage readers. The book is rounded out by a lengthy soccer term dictionary to bring unfamiliar readers up to speed. While geared towards a female readership, the engaging characters will appeal to a broad segment of middle grade readers. A recommended purchase for discussing racial stereotypes and microaggressions in a sensitive manner for younger readers. VERDICT A winning combination of sports, self-respect, and friendship. A strong purchase where realistic and accessible sports fiction is in demand.-Jessica Bushore, Xenia, OH

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2017
This sports story explores bullying on the Brookville Breakers, a girls soccer team in the New York suburbs. Protagonist Val Flores' Mexican heritage and lower economic status make her vulnerable in this second in the Soccer Sisters trilogy by Montalbano (Out of Bounds, 2017). The team's first outing focused on white, freckled Makena, who is Val's best friend and whose father owns the restaurant where Val's father, Miguel, is the manager. The two girls have been kicking the ball around since they were small, and though Val doesn't live in the same tony suburb as the other team members, she is definitely one of the team's big assets. Nevertheless, Jessie, a tall white girl and a good defender, begins to first hint and then outright tell Val she is not fitting in with the team. How Val handles the insecurities that result from these attacks is the main thrust of the narrative, and a blooming relationship with a teammate's brother forms a subplot. Val seems less interested than many of the others in boys but enjoys having a boy for a friend. Included in the backmatter is an endorsement by Brandi Chastain as well as a glossary and book-discussion questions. Solid sports fare for soccer aficionados with a look at how race and class affect kids' friendships. (Fiction. 9-13)

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September 1, 2017
Grades 4-7 Val Flores lives for soccer. She and her best friend, Makena, are Soccer Sisters who play for the Brookville Breakers, and the team has had an exceptional season. It's something of a shock, then, when their teammate Jessie confesses she doesn't think that Val belongs on the team anymore, now that Val goes to a different school from the rest of the girls. As Val tries to evaluate what to do, she accepts an invitation to practice with a team from her own school and really enjoys the experience. With the championship approaching, Val must decide whether or not to desert the Breakers. Second in the Soccer Sisters series, this fast-paced, action-packed story features well-rounded characters from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, interesting family dynamics, and enduring friendships, despite spats and jealousy. Montalbano, who founded the Soccer Sisters organization and captained the Harvard women's soccer team, knows the sport and brings her expertise to the page. Pair with Alex Morgan's The Kicks series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)