If You Liked Keeper
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-- School Library Journal, 10/15/2008 10:55:00 AM
If You Liked Keeper
Keeping one eye on your sports passion and the other on the world around you can be challenging. In Mal Peet’s Keeper (Candlewick, 2005), readers learn about a World Cup hero, El Gato, as he tells a South American journalist about his youth in the Brazilian rain forest and the magical events and experiences that helped shape him into a great goalkeeper. Peet’s companion title, The Penalty (Candlewick, 2007), picks up with the same journalist as he stumbles into the mystery of a young soccer prodigy’s disappearance. With soccer at the center, each title below introduces readers to young athletes who realize they can make a difference off the field as well as on it.
BLOOR, Edward. Tangerine. Harcourt. 1997. Tr $18. ISBN 978-0-15-201246-5; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-15-205780-0.
Gr 6-10–Despite having terrible eyesight from an accident as a child (staring at an eclipse for too long), seventh-grader Paul Fisher has a gift for soccer. His big bully of a brother Erik gets all the attention because he’s a high school football star, but Paul doesn’t mind as long as it keeps him and his obnoxious sidekick Arthur out of his face and away from his friends. Erik and Arthur’s brutality causes a man to die, and Paul’s memory of his own accident returns, prompting him to stop hiding the truth about his brother.
FITZGERALD, Dawn. Soccer Chick Rules. Roaring Brook. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-137-9.
Gr 5-8–Tess likes to play and win, no doubt, but when she hears that the survival of after-school activities at her school depends on the approval of a tax levy, she realizes that she must get involved in something besides sports. The author does a great job of nailing the soccer action along with giving readers a character with a conscience. A nice addition to sports books for girls, with a positive message about working for political action.
HIGUCHI, Daisuke. Whistle! vol. 1. Viz Media. 2004. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-59116-685-6.
Gr 6-10–Sho Kazamatsuri leaves his exclusive school behind to live with his playboy brother. The soccer coach at the new school assumes he is a star player and unintentionally sets him up for failure. After he ditches a week of school to work on his soccer skills, he becomes the leader of the Josui Junior High soccer team and does everything he can to keep his team together and be the best while juggling problems with his family and friends. This series is extremely popular with both soccer and manga fans; the 20th volume hit shelves earlier this year.
NITZ, Kristin Wolden. Defending Irene. Peachtree. 2004. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-309-2.
Gr 5-8–Moving to Italy for a year should be fun, especially for an all-star soccer player. But when Irene arrives in the tiny town of Merano, she discovers that there is only a boys’ soccer team. Against the wishes of her brother and dear Italian grandmother, she decides to play, dealing with cultural and personal issues along the way. With the support of her parents and friend Guilia, she sticks out the season and wins over even her fiercest opponents.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList.
