Middle Grade Review: Crushing It

 

Mel's the captain of her soccer team - and they are so close to going back to the championship game. Last year, they lost the game. It crushed Mel. She's not sure why the team made her Captain this year, but as the games get more intense, the team starts falling apart. It's up to Mel to get them back on track. But there's a lot going on with her team.

Tory's having a hard time at home. Her mother's remarried and barely has any time for her. Just when Tory thinks she's found an ally in her step-brother, he joins the Army. And she's crushing over a girl she met online. 

Tory's not one to share her feelings and it's clear something is very wrong with her. Her best friend Chloe is frustrated that Tory won't talk to her. 

Mel's having trouble with her best friend Rima. Rima's running for student-body President and she doesn't have time for Mel. She's so focused on the election that she doesn't see that Mel is struggling. Mel also doesn't like some comments Rima's been making about her lately. Is there a reason they are still friends?

Will all the drama off the field, can they come together on the field?

My Thoughts: This debut crushed it! There's so much in this sports book: all the DRAMA (friendship, family, romance, and school), a little romance, poetry, and public speaking. I didn't want this to end. Middle school friendships are hard, and this book captured all of it. I loved the sports parts and the question of what makes a good captain. I love how everything turned out. Looking forward to whatever Erin Becker writes next! 

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have sports book for your school and public library collection.

Tween Tuesday Review: Saving the Team

 * First in a series *

Devin loves playing soccer, especially with her friends. When she moves across the country to California, she's hoping to make the soccer team. She worried for nothing. Tryouts are a joke. Everyone makes the team. Everyone seems to get equal playing time, no matter how good they are.

And Devin is good.

She wants to win.She wants the team to be an actual team. She makes friends with a few girls on the team. Before long, she's co-captain. Can she make a difference and help change the team to become more serious?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this sports book - both for the fun of sports and the seriousness of playing because you love the game. I liked how Devin made new friends and helped out her teammates. I love the bond they had. I felt a little bad for Mirabelle, because I feel there's more to her story. But I do love how Devin stood up for herself and her teammates against bullies and those who spoke badly about the team. I love how she infected the team with her love for the sport. I love her ideas for her two friends who had trouble playing in front of people. I loved how annoyed Devin was at the soccer conditions for the girls team and how she worked to change it. An entertaining read with great messages. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great soccer book all about teamwork and friendship - perfect for any school or public library. Recommended.

Review: The Season

Megan's dream includes becoming a soccer Olympian, not starring in the Dallas debutante season.  That's her mother's dream But after her mother enters both her and her twin sister, Megan doesn't have much of a choice. She knows she's all wrong of the scene and her arrival at her first event proves it.

Now she has a month to prove her worthiness to the head debutante or she'll be asked to leave in disgrace. Megan attempts to learn the skills needed to become a debutante, but she's trying to juggle so much in her life right now, nothing is getting a priority.

But the she meets a guy - and he's funny and charming. Before she knows it, He sweeps her off her feet and she's starting to think being a debutante might not be terrible after all. 

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this Pride and Prejudice / Debutante/ Soccer mashup. I loved how Megan wasn't afraid to go after her soccer dreams. I didn't always love her interactions with her soccer friends. I like how she tried to juggle everything in her life. I loved her snarky ways. I loved how she constantly got into scrapes and had to talk her way out of them. I liked her honest moments with her sister.  I adored the moments with the 10 year old Debs. I liked the moments with the other Debs - even the not so nice ones. Clearly Megan wasn't your typical Deb, but she made it through and I admired that about it. I didn't like how the Julia scandal was handled. All in all, an entertaining read.

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: My Library
Age: New Adult
Library Recommendation: Purchase for your YA collections

Review: Defending Taylor

 * A Hundred Oaks novel *

Taylor had it all, until one little lie tore her life apart. Now, she's enrolled in public school, playing for a soccer team who doesn't want her help, friendless, and her parents are annoyed at her actions. So long perfect life.

Now, she's struggling to be noticed by her family and struggling with her relationships. Her old friends have no time for her and she's not making any new friends at the school.

But an old friend is hanging around town - an old friend that Taylor used to crush over. He too has chosen a different path than the one set before him. He too is a disappointment to his family. The more time Taylor spends with Ezra, the more she wants a different life.

My Thoughts: So first off, I Loved this book. I love returning to Hundred Oaks and seeing old characters. I really liked the political aspect of the book. I really liked how Taylor's life shattered and wasn't perfect anymore, inspiring her to find out what she wanted from life vs what was expected from her. I loved her moments with Ezra. I enjoyed her moments on the soccer team - both the snappy comebacks and how she helped other players. I felt bad for her - for the lie she told that changed her life, for her parents' anger at her, and for the way the press ate her up. But I like how she didn't deny everything after she found out the consequences. Another wonderful book from Miranda Kenneally that I couldn't stop reading.

Cover Thoughts: Cute!
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for all YA sections.

Tween Tuesday Review: Booked

More than anything, Nick loves soccer. But when his parents decide to get a divorce and his mom moves out - nothing seems right anymore. 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book.
I loved Mr. Mac - the librarian who was a former rapper
I loved April and her bookish ways
I loved the moments between Nick and his mother
I thought Nick being made to read his father's word dictionary was entertaining and interesting. 
I liked the blackout poetry and exploring expression. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for tween collections in all libraries.

And it's just perfect for this year's summer reading program theme.

Soccer Books

Do you have World Cup fever?

 Check out the video for some YA book suggestions for soccer fans.

Soccer Titles for YA