For Soccer-Crazy Girls Only

January 1, 2015

Gr 3-6-This upbeat, enthusiastic treatise on everything soccer is aimed primarily at girls and written by an obvious fan of the sport. The text is organized into short vignettes with chapter titles such as "Becoming the Best," "Getting Ready for the Game," "On the Field: Let's Play," and "Play Safe: Preventing Injuries on the Pitch." Each piece is about a page long, with bright two-color computer graphics in black and vibrant green. Full of factoids and anecdotes, this book will appeal to girls with little time to pore over a heavy text. In addition to game rules and strategies, the title also shares material on how much money players earn, stories of inspirational teams, and an extensive listing of prominent players, male and female. While the graphics are attention grabbing, the two-color theme muddles the black-and-white photographs, making some unappealing. Profiles of several players, male and female, as well as a series of lists finishes out the text, with several pages for readers to add their own notes. The style of text and simple graphics will appeal to the younger middle school or upper elementary readers, as will the straightforward instructional information; older readers will find it more entertaining than enlightening. A good gift for young fans.-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2014
Grades 4-7 Modern fonts and retro graphic illustrations make this a mature, contemporary soccer guide for girls wanting to take their game to the next level. Rather than technical instruction, the focus is on developing a healthy sense of community and passion for the sport, with sections devoted to team play, nutrition, and conditioning, just to name a few. Short chapters make jumping between topics easy and keep the content accessible to the young; however, the condensed text and modern design suggest an older readership. Downing provides ample examples of female players and women's teams and tournaments to serve as inspiration to girl athletes. The hard work of being a soccer player isn't glossed over, but it is always framed within the context of being driven by one's passion. Stats and suggestions for soccer-related careers and soccer-themed parties make this book both fun and practical. More a launch pad for serious players than an introduction to the game, older elementary- and middle-school girls with soccer in their blood with go wild for this book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)