Whisper Nelson hates soccer. She hates sports in general, but the first and last time she played anything was in third grade when she kicked a goal on her own team’s net, humiliating herself and turning her off of sports. Flash forward to Whisper’s seventh grade year, and she’s slightly overweight and a complete outcast. The only person who might be her friend is a nerd named Jess Kirby, and he gets teased more than Whisper does. When a fluke drawing makes her the winner of an ad contest, the prize is a chance to kick a goal past a professional soccer player and win a million dollars, and Whisper has to decide if she’s willing to face down soccer again. When others begin to doubt her ability, she becomes resolved to prove them wrong and enlists the help of her soccer-crazed younger sister, a high school soccer player, and none other than Jess Kirby, whose computer simulation of the kick might be the key. Gutman’s description of the gauntlet of a middle school social life, and his observations about sports will appeal to young teen readers, as will the story of one girl learning that self-confidence is something you create for yourself. This is a great book to recommend to the odd girl who asks for a sports book. Not many feature female characters at all, much less those as independent and resilient as Whisper.
"Gutman paints a sharp, funny portrait of middle-school society. The dialogue rings true and the various cliques and subgroups will strike a familiar chord with adolescent readers. This is an exciting sports story with a compelling message about individuality and self-confidence, as well as a touch of romance.” - School Library Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment