Champions of Women's Soccer

March 1, 2018

Gr 4 Up-Relive the most exciting moments in women's soccer in this in-depth collective biography of the sport's biggest stars. After an enthusiastic ode to the sport in the "Pregame" chapter, Killion relays the career highlights of 11 U.S. players for the "First Half." Providing only minimal information about each player's personal life and background, the focus is instead on achievements on the field. She goes on to profile 11 international players for the "Second Half." "Halftime" is dedicated to a history of women playing soccer and the impact the 1972 passing of Title IX had on women's athletic teams. Remaining sections cover top 10 lists of the best goals, the best events, the biggest upsets, and the biggest saves. A small section of photographs is appended, and a concluding section profiles the next generation of star players. While this text provides plenty of exciting statistics and blow-by-blow retellings of great moments in soccer history, it is not for the casual sports enthusiast. Killion knows the game and its history and writes for an audience already familiar with and fond of the sport. The focus on women athletes represents a much-needed perspective in sports books for tweens and will be a welcome addition. VERDICT A practical purchase for collections where soccer and sports books are in demand and books about women in sports are lacking.-Kristy Pasquariello, Wellesley Free Library, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2018
Grades 4-8 New Englanders cheer on the Boston Red Sox, while Texans call the Dallas Cowboys their home team, but the U.S. women's national soccer team gets all Americans cheering. Whether new to the sport or a devoted fan, readers will find an overview of recent and current stars in professional women's soccer in this enthusiastic guide. Its arrangement resembles a soccer match with the Pregame section offering a quick history of the U.S. women's national soccer team and its growing popularity. The best part of the book, however, kicks off in the First Half, which features profiles of such influential soccer champions as Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, and Hope Solo. The Second Half follows the same format with profiles of international soccer champs. Other sections include a Halftime history of women's soccer (including the importance of Title IX in the U.S.), top events in women's soccer, and a look at the next generation of soccer superstars. A concluding photo section of champions in action will score more readers for this high-interest volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2018
With nimble writing and meaty quotes, Killion's collective biographies target "the most important players--not necessarily the best but the ones with the biggest impact" in America and internationally. She doesn't skirt tough topics (e.g., alcohol abuse) as she briefly profiles past, present, and up-and-coming athletes. A broad-strokes history of men's and women's soccer, top-ten lists, and action photos are included. Ind.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from March 15, 2018
Empowerment. Goal-setting. Positivity. Oh yeah, and sports too. Killion has distilled the best of the best moments and biographical information into an easy-to-read and exciting look at the players and moments in women's soccer. Inspirational quotes from the players start each chapter, and it's not difficult to imagine readers taking them to heart. The book goes beyond the basic statistics of the players (presented at the end of each chapter for easy reference) to introduce readers to their stories, both highs and lows. Although the tone of the book is positive, it does not shy away from the darker moments in players' lives. Abby Wambach's substance-abuse issues, Brandi Chastain's family losses, and Bri Scurry's brain injuries are examples of the realism injected into story and are openly acknowledged and discussed. The final quarter of the book examines the history of women's soccer and serves as the perfect hook to pull readers into watching a few games. Young readers will love this action-packed, uplifting look at the women of the National Women's Soccer League and the moments that turned the league into the nation's obsession so much they will leave this book dog-eared from repeated readings. Sports fans will be overjoyed, but the superhero-comics crowd might also be pleasantly surprised by these modern-day wonder women.A must-have for any biography section. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

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