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The Kicks #3
Win or Lose
The Kicks have the league championship within reach—but do they have what it takes to win it? Book three in the fun and empowering New York Times bestselling middle grade series from star soccer player and Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan.Against all odds, the Kicks have made it to league playoffs. With the championship trophy in sight, it’s time to step into high gear. But the road to victory is littered with challenges. Some of the Kicks think Devin is taking all the credit for their success. Zoe’s upcoming bat mitzvah has taken her head out of the game. Worst of all, Coach Flores has to leave town at the Kicks’s most critical moment—and her replacement is no treat. Will the Kicks be able to continue their unlikely winning streak all the way to the championship title?
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2014
About the author
Alex Morgan
18 books110 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 8, 2025
The team is in the playoffs, and the press takes note. Fake news happens and almost tears the team apart.
April 8, 2020
This book is also a book that I read a long time ago. Why? The world may never know.
January 3, 2017
I think this book has a great inpack on kids snd leandership
September 10, 2025
It's interesting reading a "normal" soccer story after reading/watching ANY Blue Lock, haha.
There's no obvious book number on this (unless you thoroughly scour the copyright page), but it definitely feels like a sequel book, even if it's perfectly readable without even knowing it's a series. The main point of conflict feels ridiculously contrived, though: . The resulting fallout divides the team immediately and nearly irrevocably for reasons that are frustrating to read—because when has grade school drama never NOT been frustrating?—and Devin spends almost the entire book trying to make things better, especially after !
The rest of the story is pretty good, all things considered! Devin learns to live with the fallout and handle it in her own way () as well as deal with the MANY other things that crop up in the meantime (playoffs, Zoe's bat mitzvah and treating it practically as a wedding, BOYS).
Great read that's slightly less fraught than the high-stakes sci-fi soccer elimination camp! :D
*It's not clear if it was REALLY a misquote or if the reporter made a mistake and won't own up to it. But the reporter AND the editor should really have understood from context both what she meant AND that the "correct" line would cause problems, especially since the article would be most read by and under the most scrutiny from the ones it would hurt the most. Devin's not a politician, after all—you can absolutely fudge the quote to be both true of intent and (more importantly) KIND. There's literally no benefit to stirring up the pot among MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS.
There's no obvious book number on this (unless you thoroughly scour the copyright page), but it definitely feels like a sequel book, even if it's perfectly readable without even knowing it's a series. The main point of conflict feels ridiculously contrived, though: . The resulting fallout divides the team immediately and nearly irrevocably for reasons that are frustrating to read—because when has grade school drama never NOT been frustrating?—and Devin spends almost the entire book trying to make things better, especially after !
The rest of the story is pretty good, all things considered! Devin learns to live with the fallout and handle it in her own way () as well as deal with the MANY other things that crop up in the meantime (playoffs, Zoe's bat mitzvah and treating it practically as a wedding, BOYS).
Great read that's slightly less fraught than the high-stakes sci-fi soccer elimination camp! :D
*It's not clear if it was REALLY a misquote or if the reporter made a mistake and won't own up to it. But the reporter AND the editor should really have understood from context both what she meant AND that the "correct" line would cause problems, especially since the article would be most read by and under the most scrutiny from the ones it would hurt the most. Devin's not a politician, after all—you can absolutely fudge the quote to be both true of intent and (more importantly) KIND. There's literally no benefit to stirring up the pot among MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS.
April 3, 2024
Devin, the co-captain of the team, is worried about making the playoffs.
People are trying to sabotage the kicks. The Rams are trying to sabotage the kicks.
I liked everything in this book. For example, the Rams tried to sabotage the Kicks by spraying paint on their field. I thought it was funny.
October 5, 2025
I really like this series. This book is about the Kicks in the playoffs. Zoe is also having a bat mitzvah and I loved my girls getting a peek inside another culture. There is the hinting of some romances, but hopefully they don't develop. The girls are in middle school so I expect a little crush conversations, but hopefully it'll stay mild.
March 20, 2020
it was good! you should really try it out!
April 1, 2020
⭐️4⭐️
“As long as I had them, I knew I would always be a winner.”
“As long as I had them, I knew I would always be a winner.”
October 29, 2020
Lots of twists and turns in this book.
June 6, 2026
I love this book. It has great advice for some soccer players out there.
February 5, 2025
Third book in the series and read aloud with my 9-year-old daughter. Flew through this one and looking forward to reading the next one.
February 2, 2021
Just like a movie. Good, sad, good, sad. Lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2016
This story is about a soccer team called the Kicks. At the beginning of their season they played awful but as the season went on they got more publicity and the team started winning. They made it to the playoffs and got an article written up on them with a misquote about the team. The team all turned on Devin because of what the article misquoted her on, and this was all in the middle of the playoffs. Will the Kicks win the playoffs and work as a team or will they crumble under the drama? Read to find out.
I really enjoyed this book mainly because soccer is my favorite sport, I have played since I was four and I love Alex Morgan.
I would have this in my classroom because I know that I love reading books about soccer because that is my passion, so I want to have books for my students on their passions as well. It will encourage them to read more and love doing it.
I really enjoyed this book mainly because soccer is my favorite sport, I have played since I was four and I love Alex Morgan.
I would have this in my classroom because I know that I love reading books about soccer because that is my passion, so I want to have books for my students on their passions as well. It will encourage them to read more and love doing it.
March 29, 2015
The Kicks are the middle school girls's soccer team and they are headed for the championship. Devin is the seventh grade co-captain and new in town. Things get heated on the team when Devin is misquoted in the local paper. Suddenly it is is seventh graders against eighth graders and the team is not working together just when they really need to. I'm not a huge fan of sports stars writing books, mainly because the majority of them do not write well and it seems like they get published just because of their name. This book wasn't terrible but it wasn't anything spectacular either. There are some good lessons about friendship and teamwork in the book. There aren't a lot of girls sports book so this does fill a need.
January 3, 2015
I didn't read the first two books in the series (oops) but it didn't matter - I could totally understand this one without them. Realistic fun, especially for middle school soccer loving girls. It deals with bragging, the importance of hard work for success as well as teamwork. Appropriate first interest in boys, a Bat Mitzvah, and friendship are all explored. The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star is that the middle school girls' team is hoping to go to state championships. That is not realistic. Club teams do that, but they are not school sponsored. Funding for middle school sports is just not there like it used to be.
April 15, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. 1 because Alex Morgan is one of my favorite soccer player and 2 because of how this book shows how important it is to work with your team. I recommend this book to soccer fans (if you aren't a fan of soccer I don't recommend that you read this book, you won't have fun with it).
I enjoyed the ending, even though the Kicks didn't win the California state play-offs.
This book wasn't the best written book ever, but it was decent enough writing for you to enjoy the story, and which is all that matters when your reading a book!
I enjoyed the story, and I thought that this made a perfect ending for the series.
I enjoyed the ending, even though the Kicks didn't win the California state play-offs.
This book wasn't the best written book ever, but it was decent enough writing for you to enjoy the story, and which is all that matters when your reading a book!
I enjoyed the story, and I thought that this made a perfect ending for the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2016
No worries, this review has no spoilers. I highly recommend it to someone who likes sports, especially soccer. If you have a hard time trying to fix a problem with your friends/teamates Devin might help you out. This book is one of my top ten favorite books.
August 27, 2015
Great book
This book was great and so is the series! I definitely recommend this book to soccer lovers and people who just want a good book!
This book was great and so is the series! I definitely recommend this book to soccer lovers and people who just want a good book!
April 10, 2016
This book put the main character though a lot of things to help her team win!! :) I word say this is a good book for anyone who likes soccer!!
October 4, 2016
A great book for soccer lovers!!!
Read
October 2, 2017IT IS A GOOD BOOK FOR SOCCER LOVERS.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews