Ten

February 15, 2017
A funny, heartwarming story about a young girl who learns to manage (other people's) expectations and make her dreams come true. Ten-year-old Maya believes she's found her calling. She's going to be a professional soccer star (never mind that she's never even kicked a ball) or at least marry one! However, the odds are stacked against her. She lives in a conservative seaside town in Malaysia. She's born to a mother of Indian descent and a white English father, solidifying her status as a misfit. And her grandmother is always harping on her to be a good Indian girl--and good Indian girls don't play soccer. Although her schoolmates at her all-girls convent school reject soccer as a boy's sport, Maya perseveres and eventually recruits enough players to make a team. However, she realizes that playing soccer is the least of her problems. One day, Maya's parents drop a bombshell, devastating her. To bring her family back together, Maya comes up with an outrageous plan that involves London's Wembley Stadium, the Brazilian soccer team, and all the courage she can muster. Aside from the multiple metaphors only an ardent soccer fan could love, Flint injects humor effortlessly into her prose. Add the antics of a spunky main character and short and sweet chapters for a fast-paced, entertaining read. Universal themes of grappling with race, fitting in, and dealing with divorce help this story transcend cultural boundaries. (Fiction. 8-12)

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