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The Kicks #1
Saving the Team
From star soccer player and Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan comes the New York Times bestselling first book in an empowering, fun-filled middle grade series about believing in yourself and working as a team.Twelve-year-old Devin loves to play soccer. If she hadn’t just left Connecticut to move across the country, she would have been named seventh-grade captain on her school soccer team. But now that Devin is starting seventh grade in Kentville, California, all bets are off. After all, some of the best players on the US national team come from California. She’s sure to have stiff competition. Or so she thinks. When Devin shows up for tryouts, she discovers that the Kentville Kangaroos—otherwise known as the Kicks—are an absolute mess. Their coach couldn’t care less whether the girls win or lose. And Devin is easily one of the most talented players. The good news is, Devin quickly makes friends with funny, outgoing Jessi; shy but sweet Zoe; and klutzy Emma. Can Devin and her newfound friends pull together and save the team from itself?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2013
188 people are currently reading
908 people want to read
About the author
Alex Morgan
19 books108 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. This is for Alex[3spaces]Morgan.
(3)American Soccer Player
An American Soccer Player (Forward/Striker) and an Olympic Medalist. Drafted first in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash. And now plays with the Portland Thorns FC.
(3)American Soccer Player
An American Soccer Player (Forward/Striker) and an Olympic Medalist. Drafted first in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash. And now plays with the Portland Thorns FC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 16, 2024
This is an empowering and engaging story for young grade-school children about teamwork and sportsmanship.
I love that it was written by an inspiring player herself, and I hope the series encourages young girls to play soccer or other competitive sports.
I also appreciated that Alex incorporated aspects if herself into the main character, with her favorite number 13 on her jersey and her pink headband to set her apart from other players.
interesting quote:
"Here's who talks to the only seventh grader in algebra: no one, apparently." (p. 7)
I love that it was written by an inspiring player herself, and I hope the series encourages young girls to play soccer or other competitive sports.
I also appreciated that Alex incorporated aspects if herself into the main character, with her favorite number 13 on her jersey and her pink headband to set her apart from other players.
interesting quote:
"Here's who talks to the only seventh grader in algebra: no one, apparently." (p. 7)
May 21, 2013
I read this to see if it would be an appropriate gift to a soccer team of girls ages 10-12. It's got good lessons in it as far as not getting disheartened when things don't go your way, playing as a team, how to mesh with a new team, etc... It's an easy read and very G-rated, which is hard to find these days. It's aged for kids 8 and up, and even though it's about middle schoolers, I find it an appropriate read for a third grader. So, would the girls like it? Probably. It's the first in a series and if your girl likes soccer, she would probably like this. I just wish the cover weren't so babyish looking.
January 29, 2022
I watched the show and the books are very different. I like the show more. The book is just really stupid and frustrating. I do not like it that much. Seems like it is for younger kids because they try to throw in some boring life lessons every two pages and nothing really happens in the book. Meh
October 18, 2021
Book two sports adventure quarter one
The kick by Alex Morgan sports adventure book takes place in California which is her new town. One of the main characters is Devin. She is the main character, she is kind and a good friend. She just moved to California from Connecticut and she is really nervous to make new friends and be at a new school. She loves soccer and all sports so she is very athletic and she is really nervous to try out for the team at her new school in California because California has really good soccer players but she finds out that the team isn’t exactly as good as she thought. Throughout the book she meets new friends and tries new things and in the end she changes her mind and loves California.
Another main character is Jessi and she is one of Devin’s friends at her new school. She is kind, loyal and definitely a good friend. She loves to spend time with friends and play soccer of course. She becomes really good friends with Devin and they help each other through rough times and have lots of fun together. In the beginning she also welcomes Devin to the school. She also does not like Mirabelle; they kind of are enemies.
And one last main character is Mirabelle she is not nice she makes fun of people and she is also very bossy but she is really good at soccer so she is on the team with Devin and Jessi and she is not nice to them or anyone else pretty much except her eighth grade friend from the private school.
One minor character is coach Flores and she is the coach of their soccer team and she is really nice but a little too nice that she is not the best coach. she doesn’t set any rules and that's partly why the team isn’t so good. She even let everyone make the team but she is still really nice.
Another minor character is Emma and she is another girl on the soccer team. She is really good at soccer but she gets really nervous when people are watching her. She is also really nice and a good friend.
And one last minor character is Zoe and she is of course another girl on the soccer team and she is pretty good at soccer. She also really likes fashion a lot. And lastly she is a good friend and loves to hang out with friends.
The main problem in the book is that she is at a new school, finding new friends which is always hard at a new school. In the beginning she is really nervous to make new friends and misses her old ones. Another problem or conflict in the book is the team because they are not that good and they are treated very unfairly so she needs to save the team!
The story starts out on her first day of school and she is very nerves to make new friends, to fit in with everyone and she was especially nerves to make the soccer team because she thought they were going to be really good since the California soccer team is really good but then she realized that they weren’t exactly as good as she thought. She meets new friends and gets more used to her new town and finds that it wasn’t as bad as she thought. She learns new things about soccer and helps her team learn too. And in the end she does indeed find a way to save the team
I thought this was a really good book and had a great balance between things about sports and other things in her life. My favorite part in the book was when they all were having a sleepover because I thought it had a good description of Emma's house and I learned about the characters a lot from that part too. Another reason why I liked the book is because it was very relatable like I could relate or connect with some of the things she did or felt. In conclusion I liked the book a lot because I thought it was very interesting and was very relatable so I would definitely recommend it.
The kick by Alex Morgan sports adventure book takes place in California which is her new town. One of the main characters is Devin. She is the main character, she is kind and a good friend. She just moved to California from Connecticut and she is really nervous to make new friends and be at a new school. She loves soccer and all sports so she is very athletic and she is really nervous to try out for the team at her new school in California because California has really good soccer players but she finds out that the team isn’t exactly as good as she thought. Throughout the book she meets new friends and tries new things and in the end she changes her mind and loves California.
Another main character is Jessi and she is one of Devin’s friends at her new school. She is kind, loyal and definitely a good friend. She loves to spend time with friends and play soccer of course. She becomes really good friends with Devin and they help each other through rough times and have lots of fun together. In the beginning she also welcomes Devin to the school. She also does not like Mirabelle; they kind of are enemies.
And one last main character is Mirabelle she is not nice she makes fun of people and she is also very bossy but she is really good at soccer so she is on the team with Devin and Jessi and she is not nice to them or anyone else pretty much except her eighth grade friend from the private school.
One minor character is coach Flores and she is the coach of their soccer team and she is really nice but a little too nice that she is not the best coach. she doesn’t set any rules and that's partly why the team isn’t so good. She even let everyone make the team but she is still really nice.
Another minor character is Emma and she is another girl on the soccer team. She is really good at soccer but she gets really nervous when people are watching her. She is also really nice and a good friend.
And one last minor character is Zoe and she is of course another girl on the soccer team and she is pretty good at soccer. She also really likes fashion a lot. And lastly she is a good friend and loves to hang out with friends.
The main problem in the book is that she is at a new school, finding new friends which is always hard at a new school. In the beginning she is really nervous to make new friends and misses her old ones. Another problem or conflict in the book is the team because they are not that good and they are treated very unfairly so she needs to save the team!
The story starts out on her first day of school and she is very nerves to make new friends, to fit in with everyone and she was especially nerves to make the soccer team because she thought they were going to be really good since the California soccer team is really good but then she realized that they weren’t exactly as good as she thought. She meets new friends and gets more used to her new town and finds that it wasn’t as bad as she thought. She learns new things about soccer and helps her team learn too. And in the end she does indeed find a way to save the team
I thought this was a really good book and had a great balance between things about sports and other things in her life. My favorite part in the book was when they all were having a sleepover because I thought it had a good description of Emma's house and I learned about the characters a lot from that part too. Another reason why I liked the book is because it was very relatable like I could relate or connect with some of the things she did or felt. In conclusion I liked the book a lot because I thought it was very interesting and was very relatable so I would definitely recommend it.
July 19, 2013
If you love soccer as much as I do you will love this book! Even if you like to watch soccer or even play it but don't know too much about the sport this will still be a fun book to read. I can't wait for Sabotage Season to come out to wait and see what is up next for Devin and he friends to do. I want to see if Devin can lead the Kangaroo Kicks to winning the state title like their coach did when she played so she can show everybody how good the Kicks can actually be when they work together and try their best. Devin might not have such a bad first year in California as she thought after the first day of school. Also this book is a huge bonus for me because it is written by my favorite soccer player, Alex Morgan who is a really really really good forward on the U.S. Olympic Soccer Team.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
It is a book.
July 21, 2019
A fun to read story of friendship and soccer from US soccer player Alex Morgan. Devin moves to a new school with a badly struggling soccer team with no cohesion. At first lonely and nervous, Devin makes new friends and learns that she is strong enough to stand up for what she feels is right. By the end the teammates have learned that to improve they need to work together and play to their strengths.
March 8, 2025
Love it 😍 perfect for the incoming soccer season 😃
September 16, 2025
A girl moves to California and joins the local soccer team. The team is terrible, because nobody takes it seriously, and the team isn't unified. The girl makes some friends and tries to bring the team together.
Certainly not The Bad News Bears.
Certainly not The Bad News Bears.
June 1, 2025
Cute. Making my kids read these. Shoutout Alex Morgan.
October 21, 2013
A solid entry into realistic fiction for girls, but it has some stellar points to it.
First, let me get off my chest that S&S must have tried to hurry publication because I did find some proofreading errors. That always bugs me! There. Now I can continue...
The first thing that makes this stand out is that it is a sports book. For girls. This is rare in the field, and it is going to fill a much needed niche. The fact that it's a decent story is just bonus! As the author stated in her end note, books were just as important to her while growing up as soccer was and this sends a tremendously wonderful message.
Second thing that makes this stand out is the author herself. You know you are going to get an authentic story about a young girl growing up and playing soccer because the author herself has been there. Not to mention that she went on to win Olympic gold. She clearly knows her soccer and is kind enough to give us with deficient soccer knowledge in-text information and a glossary. Thank you!
The story itself is good, I liked Devin and her new-found friends and I really rooted for them to get things figured out. I'm glad the Mirabelle drama was handled in a not-melodramatic way.
Overall, I'm happy with this book and I'm glad I have it in my collection so I can recommend to people looking for sports books for girls. Recommended, grades 3+.
First, let me get off my chest that S&S must have tried to hurry publication because I did find some proofreading errors. That always bugs me! There. Now I can continue...
The first thing that makes this stand out is that it is a sports book. For girls. This is rare in the field, and it is going to fill a much needed niche. The fact that it's a decent story is just bonus! As the author stated in her end note, books were just as important to her while growing up as soccer was and this sends a tremendously wonderful message.
Second thing that makes this stand out is the author herself. You know you are going to get an authentic story about a young girl growing up and playing soccer because the author herself has been there. Not to mention that she went on to win Olympic gold. She clearly knows her soccer and is kind enough to give us with deficient soccer knowledge in-text information and a glossary. Thank you!
The story itself is good, I liked Devin and her new-found friends and I really rooted for them to get things figured out. I'm glad the Mirabelle drama was handled in a not-melodramatic way.
Overall, I'm happy with this book and I'm glad I have it in my collection so I can recommend to people looking for sports books for girls. Recommended, grades 3+.
October 14, 2021
Choice book number two
quarter one
The kicks: saving the team.
A sportsbook written by Alex Morgan.
!!SPOILER ALERT!!
The kicks: saving the team takes place at Kentville middle school which is located in California.
Some main characters in the book are…
Devin, she is a hard-working girl with an incredible talent for soccer. She had just moved to California from Connecticut and she is going to try out for her new school’s soccer team.
She soon finds out that this soccer team is not as good as she thought it would be. she is determined to beat pinewood, the best soccer team in the league and she is going to have to work really hard because they are ranked 14 out of 15 teams.
Jessi, Jessi is funny, outgoing, and a very hard worker. Jessi is not a great student in school, especially in math and Spanish. She loves having fun and partying with her friends at school, soccer, and sleepovers. She is also really good at soccer she can play defense like no other.
Emma, Emma is always positive and cheerful. She is clumsy and not so good at soccer, she trips over everything. Emma is a really good friend to everyone and she has good grades. She is really into reading and she loves watching and playing sports. She lives in a big family and she is really rich. She lives in a huge mansion with a pool, hot tub, mega slide, and much more.
Some minor characters in the book are…
Frida, Frida is a theater kid and she loves being in the spotlight. Her mom is forcing her to play soccer but she doesn’t want to make the team. Frida makes the team anyway and she ends up helping some of her friends get rid of their stage fright. She is also really good at soccer but she just needs to pretend she’s acting. For example, she will be playing mid-field and she will be playing a part one time she was a princess that wanted to play soccer but her parents didn’t so she snuck out to play.
Another minor character in the book is coach flours she is always happy and a lot of the time too happy. she is the team’s coach and she only wants them to have fun so they never learn new skills from her. She treats the girls like kindergarteners and all they do is play games. She used to be a star soccer player that brought her team to state but she quit because of all the pressure. That’s why she treats the girls like that but when Devin says something about it she decides that she will help them beat pine wood.
Some of the main problems in the book are that the team is terrible and they never win. They can barely set of a field the right way they all run onto the field like crazy people and they don’t know what to do. Another problem is that the coach is not even coaching them all they do is play games and never any soccer. Another issue is that one of the players on the team, Mirabelle is really mean. She used to be friends with Jessie but she ditched her to be friends with some rich girls from pinewood.
The book starts with Devin moving away from her best friend Kara and she is worried that she won't make the soccer team because the California soccer player is good. She goes to school on the first day and meets Jessie and Emma, who are nice and they tell Devin that she has nothing to worry about because the team is terrible. When Devin goes to tryouts after school she realizes that Emma and Jessi were right the team is bad. Devin and her new friends make the team and the next day they have their first practice when she shows up everyone is just sitting around and not playing soccer they gather in a circle and play a game after practice Devin is really sad and discouraged because she thinks that they will never win a game or be a good team. They have their first game and they don’t even come close the winning the score was 6-0. Devin confronts coach flours about her coaching style and she changes her ways then Mirabelle goes to pinewood and joins their team and leaves behind a not that reads bye losers. Now everyone is determined to get better at the next practice they try really hard and get better coach flours is like a whole new person. At their games on Friday, they win by two goals! Their first win, they are all so excited they keep practicing for the next couple of weeks and they are like a whole new team. Their next game is against pine wood. The school holds a big pep rally for them before the game. At the game they see Mirabelle you can see on her face that she is excited to beat them but they are way better than before and they are ready to kick some butt. While they are warming up Devin looks around for her parents and sister she sees them but someone is standing next to them. It's kara!! Devin runs over to them and gives kara a big hug she goes back to warm-ups and then they start the game in the first half pinewood scores two points.
Everyone is losing their energy and then the coach has the idea of Jessi playing defense on Mirabelle at the start of the next half. Jessi is doing so good on Mirabelle and Frida scored a point Emma is going such a good job as a goalie they need two more goals to win Zoe scores another point! The crowd is going wild the Devin gets a perfect pass with only a few seconds left she perfectly kicks it in the corner they won everyone is going crazy. Devin has saved the team.
I enjoyed this book a lot because I really like soccer and it was about soccer also I loved the element of friendship in this book and the way everyone worked together to become a really good team.
My favorite part of this book was the part where Devin Emma and Jessi were having a sleepover and they were wishing on a star and Devin wished that the team would get better and beat pine wood. And then her wish came true.
This book really made me laugh a lot like the part where Emma scored on the other team’s goal and she bowed to their stands.
This book felt very complete to me because it had so many details and I was able to visualize everything so well.
I have never read a book like this before.
If I was the author of this book I would make Mirabelle become a better person and stay on the team and I would also like to see Frida really enjoy soccer.
quarter one
The kicks: saving the team.
A sportsbook written by Alex Morgan.
!!SPOILER ALERT!!
The kicks: saving the team takes place at Kentville middle school which is located in California.
Some main characters in the book are…
Devin, she is a hard-working girl with an incredible talent for soccer. She had just moved to California from Connecticut and she is going to try out for her new school’s soccer team.
She soon finds out that this soccer team is not as good as she thought it would be. she is determined to beat pinewood, the best soccer team in the league and she is going to have to work really hard because they are ranked 14 out of 15 teams.
Jessi, Jessi is funny, outgoing, and a very hard worker. Jessi is not a great student in school, especially in math and Spanish. She loves having fun and partying with her friends at school, soccer, and sleepovers. She is also really good at soccer she can play defense like no other.
Emma, Emma is always positive and cheerful. She is clumsy and not so good at soccer, she trips over everything. Emma is a really good friend to everyone and she has good grades. She is really into reading and she loves watching and playing sports. She lives in a big family and she is really rich. She lives in a huge mansion with a pool, hot tub, mega slide, and much more.
Some minor characters in the book are…
Frida, Frida is a theater kid and she loves being in the spotlight. Her mom is forcing her to play soccer but she doesn’t want to make the team. Frida makes the team anyway and she ends up helping some of her friends get rid of their stage fright. She is also really good at soccer but she just needs to pretend she’s acting. For example, she will be playing mid-field and she will be playing a part one time she was a princess that wanted to play soccer but her parents didn’t so she snuck out to play.
Another minor character in the book is coach flours she is always happy and a lot of the time too happy. she is the team’s coach and she only wants them to have fun so they never learn new skills from her. She treats the girls like kindergarteners and all they do is play games. She used to be a star soccer player that brought her team to state but she quit because of all the pressure. That’s why she treats the girls like that but when Devin says something about it she decides that she will help them beat pine wood.
Some of the main problems in the book are that the team is terrible and they never win. They can barely set of a field the right way they all run onto the field like crazy people and they don’t know what to do. Another problem is that the coach is not even coaching them all they do is play games and never any soccer. Another issue is that one of the players on the team, Mirabelle is really mean. She used to be friends with Jessie but she ditched her to be friends with some rich girls from pinewood.
The book starts with Devin moving away from her best friend Kara and she is worried that she won't make the soccer team because the California soccer player is good. She goes to school on the first day and meets Jessie and Emma, who are nice and they tell Devin that she has nothing to worry about because the team is terrible. When Devin goes to tryouts after school she realizes that Emma and Jessi were right the team is bad. Devin and her new friends make the team and the next day they have their first practice when she shows up everyone is just sitting around and not playing soccer they gather in a circle and play a game after practice Devin is really sad and discouraged because she thinks that they will never win a game or be a good team. They have their first game and they don’t even come close the winning the score was 6-0. Devin confronts coach flours about her coaching style and she changes her ways then Mirabelle goes to pinewood and joins their team and leaves behind a not that reads bye losers. Now everyone is determined to get better at the next practice they try really hard and get better coach flours is like a whole new person. At their games on Friday, they win by two goals! Their first win, they are all so excited they keep practicing for the next couple of weeks and they are like a whole new team. Their next game is against pine wood. The school holds a big pep rally for them before the game. At the game they see Mirabelle you can see on her face that she is excited to beat them but they are way better than before and they are ready to kick some butt. While they are warming up Devin looks around for her parents and sister she sees them but someone is standing next to them. It's kara!! Devin runs over to them and gives kara a big hug she goes back to warm-ups and then they start the game in the first half pinewood scores two points.
Everyone is losing their energy and then the coach has the idea of Jessi playing defense on Mirabelle at the start of the next half. Jessi is doing so good on Mirabelle and Frida scored a point Emma is going such a good job as a goalie they need two more goals to win Zoe scores another point! The crowd is going wild the Devin gets a perfect pass with only a few seconds left she perfectly kicks it in the corner they won everyone is going crazy. Devin has saved the team.
I enjoyed this book a lot because I really like soccer and it was about soccer also I loved the element of friendship in this book and the way everyone worked together to become a really good team.
My favorite part of this book was the part where Devin Emma and Jessi were having a sleepover and they were wishing on a star and Devin wished that the team would get better and beat pine wood. And then her wish came true.
This book really made me laugh a lot like the part where Emma scored on the other team’s goal and she bowed to their stands.
This book felt very complete to me because it had so many details and I was able to visualize everything so well.
I have never read a book like this before.
If I was the author of this book I would make Mirabelle become a better person and stay on the team and I would also like to see Frida really enjoy soccer.
May 20, 2013
This is a great little story with a main character that is both realistically portrayed and fully built. Devin is clever, good at maths, very good at soccer and quite a clever problem solver. While easily the ‘star’ of her team, Devin is fully aware of the team nature of the game, and works diligently to help her teammates succeed on the field and off.
It was refreshing to see a young girl who was aware of and worked at sportsmanship, while the coach was less demanding, the contrast between that and the overzealous types that are all too familiar was a nice break and gave the kids a bit of opportunity to self-motivate. This would be a good addition to any girl’s library, written by an author with a solid understanding of sports excellence and teamwork.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review and inclusion in the Children Read week at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
It was refreshing to see a young girl who was aware of and worked at sportsmanship, while the coach was less demanding, the contrast between that and the overzealous types that are all too familiar was a nice break and gave the kids a bit of opportunity to self-motivate. This would be a good addition to any girl’s library, written by an author with a solid understanding of sports excellence and teamwork.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review and inclusion in the Children Read week at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
September 20, 2013
Saving the Team is about a girl named Devin. She moves with her family to California. She loves soccer, but her new school's team was not doing very well. She is made co-captain with a not so nice girl. However, she made friends with other girls on the team. However, they worked hard to be a successful team and good friends.
After reading some very heavy subjects this past summer, reading this book was relaxing and fun. It was a good summer read. It is uplifting and just a feel good story all around. I like stories about girls because it lets me know that as a girl, I can achieve most anything that I put my mind to.
After reading some very heavy subjects this past summer, reading this book was relaxing and fun. It was a good summer read. It is uplifting and just a feel good story all around. I like stories about girls because it lets me know that as a girl, I can achieve most anything that I put my mind to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2017
I loved this book! I got the first three because I won a bet and I loved the second one. My bff showed me the show on Amazon before reading the books. In episode 5 of the kicks Devon does fall and hurt her ankle when they are running away from their rivals school. She can't play in their game the next episode but her team still wins without her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2016
New girl, shy but a smart soccer star. Up for the challenge of pumping up the disastrous team of Kangaroos. Willing to make new friends and keep the old, stand up to bullies and create a new crush. Is Devin ready to face Kentiville middle school.
June 30, 2013
GO ALEX MORGAN!!!!
December 30, 2018
Not sure I'll bother with other books in the series (read this one because the library had copies of the Kicks books but not of Morgan's memoir), but this was a fun diversion. What's a girl to do when the girls' soccer team at her new school is mediocre to the core? Why, save the team, of course. Tutor the girl failing her classes; inspire the girl who'd rather act; buoy the girl with performance anxiety...motivate the coach to, you know, coach instead of doing nothing.
The school's treatment of the girls' and boys' soccer teams is a blatant violation of Title IX, which surprises me a little: the boys' team is treated like rock stars and given every advantage possible, while the girls' team (in addition to having decade-old uniforms) is only allowed to use the soccer pitch if the boys' team doesn't have a game or practice scheduled. Not that I expect Title IX to be adequately adhered to everywhere, but the disparity is pretty blatant here. Given that the series has spun on at some length, it also might have been nice to see the team lose a bit more—they get very good, very quickly, leaving something of an impression that while having fun is good and all...winning still matters most.
(As an aside: I played soccer as a kid, and the team I played on longest was astoundingly terrible. We definitely could have given the pre-reform Kicks a run for their money in the race to the bottom!)
The school's treatment of the girls' and boys' soccer teams is a blatant violation of Title IX, which surprises me a little: the boys' team is treated like rock stars and given every advantage possible, while the girls' team (in addition to having decade-old uniforms) is only allowed to use the soccer pitch if the boys' team doesn't have a game or practice scheduled. Not that I expect Title IX to be adequately adhered to everywhere, but the disparity is pretty blatant here. Given that the series has spun on at some length, it also might have been nice to see the team lose a bit more—they get very good, very quickly, leaving something of an impression that while having fun is good and all...winning still matters most.
(As an aside: I played soccer as a kid, and the team I played on longest was astoundingly terrible. We definitely could have given the pre-reform Kicks a run for their money in the race to the bottom!)
April 8, 2019
This is a cute book from soccer superstar Alex Morgan. There's nothing stellar about the storyline or writing, but kids who just want an easy book revolving around the sport they love will easily be hooked.
Devin has just moved from Connecticut to California. She's worried about meeting new friends, but she need not fret because soccer tryouts are on the first day of school. She instantly falls in with a good group of girls who play soccer like her. The conflict revolves around the coach. She isn't much of one. She coddles the girls and makes all decisions based on keeping the sport fun. The outcome is that the team is a chaotic mess. They lose every game. When Devin gets up the nerve to tell the coach how she feels, the coach changes tactic and they beat the best team in the league.
I don't play soccer, but it's kind of a cheesy theme to me. It doesn't feel like real life. Teams don't go from last to first that easily. The girls are in 7th and 8th grade, but the cover and sanitized friendships make them seem more like 5th and 6th graders. I judge books on a different criteria than kids. Soccer girls will definitely like it.
Devin has just moved from Connecticut to California. She's worried about meeting new friends, but she need not fret because soccer tryouts are on the first day of school. She instantly falls in with a good group of girls who play soccer like her. The conflict revolves around the coach. She isn't much of one. She coddles the girls and makes all decisions based on keeping the sport fun. The outcome is that the team is a chaotic mess. They lose every game. When Devin gets up the nerve to tell the coach how she feels, the coach changes tactic and they beat the best team in the league.
I don't play soccer, but it's kind of a cheesy theme to me. It doesn't feel like real life. Teams don't go from last to first that easily. The girls are in 7th and 8th grade, but the cover and sanitized friendships make them seem more like 5th and 6th graders. I judge books on a different criteria than kids. Soccer girls will definitely like it.
September 15, 2020
I loved this book! Honestly if you are thinking of reading it my answer is yes! A thousand times yes! It teaches kids a good lesson about standing up for yourself, friendship, family and most of all teamwork and bonding. As a seventh grade girl I want to say that if you wanna buy this for your child at any age ( I purchased the book in 4th grade) you should.
Anyways, in conclusion it's great. Alex Morgan
Anyways, in conclusion it's great. Alex Morgan
August 30, 2025
I really liked this series starter about a middle school girls soccer team. Devin is a new girl who finds her place in the soccer team. She's good but the Kangaroos are not. She makes great friends and realizes the problem is that they aren't a team. They can't communicate, etc. so she helps turn the team around. This is a middle school book so its got a little bit of rudeness and name calling, but not excessive. I had to buffer a little bit of the behavior when reading aloud to my 5 and 7 year olds, but it was not bad and we will continue the series aloud. Great for a soccer lover!
May 30, 2017
I think there s is a very good book for me. This book encourages me to work hard and follow my dreams!
This is a fantastic book. It encourages me and all those awesome girls out there to work hard and follow a of our dreams. It is pretty cool that a soccer player Alex Morgan wrote this book. Go girls
This is a fantastic book. It encourages me and all those awesome girls out there to work hard and follow a of our dreams. It is pretty cool that a soccer player Alex Morgan wrote this book. Go girls
October 24, 2017
I loved this book and the whole series. I loved how inspiring the main character is. This book not only shows her soccer life but it also shows her personal and social life too. Great book! I would highly recommend.
March 3, 2020
⭐️4⭐️
“Listening, trusting your teammates, and patience are all incredibly important tools! But my favorite lesson that this fame teaches is that, sometimes, it’s import to just let loose and have fun.”
“Listening, trusting your teammates, and patience are all incredibly important tools! But my favorite lesson that this fame teaches is that, sometimes, it’s import to just let loose and have fun.”
July 30, 2020
Clean good themes about friendship and sportsmanship. A little bit of boy-girl stuff, like dances and cell-phones, but most of the drama revolves around the main character’s team, grades and other innocent staples of middle school life. The bad guys are merely misguided. Good so far as it goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2020
I loved this book!
I reread it a lot. Its great if you love soccer like me! Its fun and exiting I really like the parts were they are in a game and its a close match because you never know if they will win! Its a quick Read but fun!
I reread it a lot. Its great if you love soccer like me! Its fun and exiting I really like the parts were they are in a game and its a close match because you never know if they will win! Its a quick Read but fun!
May 14, 2021
I love this book! It really shows what true friendship is. I really love that Alex Morgan put it in first person that makes it feel like you're really there. Make sure you read read the other books in the series! :)
May 5, 2024
Devin, the middle school soccer team co-captain, helps the team get better.
They are facing the Panthers! This is the hardest team in the league.
They play a tough match. In the end, the Kicks win the league!
I liked everything in this book.
They are facing the Panthers! This is the hardest team in the league.
They play a tough match. In the end, the Kicks win the league!
I liked everything in this book.
March 28, 2025
If you love middle school sports books, this is the series for you. No matter what sport you’re in to, you would most likely love this. My main sports are basketball, volleyball, and tennis and I STILL love this series. I would recommend this series to anyone over the age of 8.
June 28, 2025
rereading books from middle school because why not
I don’t remember even reading the rest of this series but I was waiting for a specific scene involving pink flamingos and it never happened so now I think that might’ve been in the second book
I don’t remember even reading the rest of this series but I was waiting for a specific scene involving pink flamingos and it never happened so now I think that might’ve been in the second book
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