What do you think?
Rate this book
Pride and Penalties
Charlotte doesn't want a lot - just to play rugby and for her Dad to be proud of her. But her brother Will's the rugby star of the family, only he's got very different stars in his eyes. Soon they're both keeping secrets and so is their mum! Plus Gran is acting stranger and stranger...It also doesn't help that her sworn enemy is the one boy she can't stop thinking about...Good thing she's known as Spider, she'll need all the help she can get to untangle this web!
282 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2007
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 26, 2016
It isn't the most beautifully written book but the story is quite enjoyable. The MC was a bit immature but I can understand why. Her family and her face quite a lot of problems but they pull through it by sticking together. They do have a lot of squabbles but they realise their mistakes and make amends. That's what I like about this story- the strong family ties they possess. Overall,I liked the story but due to the simple writing(maybe the book is for a younger audience),I rate it 3 stars.
(I might write a longer review)
(I might write a longer review)
June 29, 2009
i've read about 3 quaters of it, and so far its amazing.
August 10, 2020
I found this one took a while to get going. I’m not sure if it’s just because I’m not a sporty person so the storyline didn’t entice me very much. Or possibly because it just kept reminding me of Billy Elliot (although the book is aware of the similarities and mentions it a lot). But by the end I was really moved by it, although I thought the ending could have been better as it felt a little rushed.
My Recommendation
This is aimed at children/preteens but I’d say it resonates with an older audience too. As with a lot of children’s books, it deals with some major issues that are nuanced enough to include, or exclude, certain levels of understanding depending on the age of the person reading. It’s very cleverly done really.
Not For Everyone
Whilst it does deal with large issues in a very clever way, it is still a story of a 13 year old girl. There are minor issues with her life that are quite grating to an older reader as they don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. The book also offers a very tidy ending despite some of the hints in the book about what kind of man the father is.
To The Author
It takes a lot to be able to give meaning to a range of audiences and this book, as with all your others I have read, does just that.
If You’ve Never Read The Book And Want To Say You Have
It goes to show that women are as good as men at a lot of things and you should always follow what makes you happiest.
Academic Prompts
Representation of teachers in children’s literature
How child narrators perceive issues in the adult world
Women in sport/a mans world
My Recommendation
This is aimed at children/preteens but I’d say it resonates with an older audience too. As with a lot of children’s books, it deals with some major issues that are nuanced enough to include, or exclude, certain levels of understanding depending on the age of the person reading. It’s very cleverly done really.
Not For Everyone
Whilst it does deal with large issues in a very clever way, it is still a story of a 13 year old girl. There are minor issues with her life that are quite grating to an older reader as they don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. The book also offers a very tidy ending despite some of the hints in the book about what kind of man the father is.
To The Author
It takes a lot to be able to give meaning to a range of audiences and this book, as with all your others I have read, does just that.
If You’ve Never Read The Book And Want To Say You Have
It goes to show that women are as good as men at a lot of things and you should always follow what makes you happiest.
Academic Prompts
Representation of teachers in children’s literature
How child narrators perceive issues in the adult world
Women in sport/a mans world
January 22, 2022
Reading books before I re-home them. I never got to this previously, and it was a short read, and so I thought I might as well read it before re-homing it.
This book was alright, the characters made stupid decisions, but they are teens, so it kind of makes sense. there was a lot of ups and downs, and it was such a roller-coaster.
Definitely for the teen in your life about to start secondary school and who likes sports.
This book was alright, the characters made stupid decisions, but they are teens, so it kind of makes sense. there was a lot of ups and downs, and it was such a roller-coaster.
Definitely for the teen in your life about to start secondary school and who likes sports.
August 27, 2019
I could read this book over and over again but i never get tired of it because it truly is my favorite book by Chris Higgins . Spider ( Charlotte ) is a female beast being a girl to be the best at a male dominated sport like football , girl power right there . I just knew she would have a bit of romance . I found it cute back then and still do now .
February 6, 2023
Listen, I'm a Young Adult lover so this was a bit too light and innocent for me. But I liked the enemies to lovers. Perfect for 12+.
Did Not Finish
March 9, 2026DNF not far into it, the characters just dont feel likeable to me. I cant stand the dads bias and clear favourites with his kids, its pissing me off
June 9, 2011
This was another light, fun book that many teenage girls will be able to relate to.
Spider is a tomboy, afraid that she will never get a boyfriend, and feels that she is always disappointing her parents. Her dad was a rugby legend and Spider thinks that he is disappointed in her because he wanted a boy to be another rugby champion. She thinks that he likes her brother better than her. Her brother is good at rugby but his passion is being in musicals. He is afraid of disappointing his dad so he goes behind his dad's back and starts going to musical practices instead of rugby practices. Her parents are worrying about money and her dad's new business. Spider and her mother decide to start a women's rugby team, but do it behind their dad's back. Spider is worrying that her mother is having an affair with her gym teacher, trying to be on a rugby team, and having friend and boy drama. She starts out as a tomboy, and by the end has had a transformation into a more mature girl. She and her mom and brother learn a good lesson about lying to their dad.
I liked this because it shows a real girl with problems and drama, but who is trying to be a good person and would recommend it to teenage girls.
Spider is a tomboy, afraid that she will never get a boyfriend, and feels that she is always disappointing her parents. Her dad was a rugby legend and Spider thinks that he is disappointed in her because he wanted a boy to be another rugby champion. She thinks that he likes her brother better than her. Her brother is good at rugby but his passion is being in musicals. He is afraid of disappointing his dad so he goes behind his dad's back and starts going to musical practices instead of rugby practices. Her parents are worrying about money and her dad's new business. Spider and her mother decide to start a women's rugby team, but do it behind their dad's back. Spider is worrying that her mother is having an affair with her gym teacher, trying to be on a rugby team, and having friend and boy drama. She starts out as a tomboy, and by the end has had a transformation into a more mature girl. She and her mom and brother learn a good lesson about lying to their dad.
I liked this because it shows a real girl with problems and drama, but who is trying to be a good person and would recommend it to teenage girls.
August 23, 2021
Book ✅
Ebook ❌
Audiobook ❌
Charlotte to her mum, Charlie to her dad and Spider to everyone else.
All she has ever wanted to do is play Rugby, her dad was going to play for England before an injury took him out of the game.
Her Dad heaped all of his praise and pinned all his hopes on her brother, Will. It wasn't fair she was just as good if not better than Will but Dad never gave her any attention. He was never proud of her.
With Gran becoming forgetful and Dad busy with his new business, secrets started to form.
Spider and her mum were creating a woman's Rugby team with the help of the school PE teacher. Will was skipping his Rugby training to be in the town Christmas play. And Grandad was trying to act like Gran was fine.
Secrets have to be told, help has to be given and sometimes your worst enemy can become your boyfriend.
Ebook ❌
Audiobook ❌
Charlotte to her mum, Charlie to her dad and Spider to everyone else.
All she has ever wanted to do is play Rugby, her dad was going to play for England before an injury took him out of the game.
Her Dad heaped all of his praise and pinned all his hopes on her brother, Will. It wasn't fair she was just as good if not better than Will but Dad never gave her any attention. He was never proud of her.
With Gran becoming forgetful and Dad busy with his new business, secrets started to form.
Spider and her mum were creating a woman's Rugby team with the help of the school PE teacher. Will was skipping his Rugby training to be in the town Christmas play. And Grandad was trying to act like Gran was fine.
Secrets have to be told, help has to be given and sometimes your worst enemy can become your boyfriend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2014
I thought this was a an amazing read. The book I felt showed of how not all teenage girls love make up and hair. Spider is a character that was captivating to read about and I loved how her mum also got involved and I felt as the story progressed the bond between the family grew. personally I would have loved to read/ learn more about spider and what happened in the future however I like the fact that in one book she was a memorable character that was strong minded and never gave up on what she truly loved and believed in
November 17, 2011
A Great Book With Lots Of Family Problems! It Taught Me How To Deal With The Different Family Problems And To Learn To Take Care Of Each Other! It Taught Me To Always Speak The Truth No Matter How Bad It Is!It Taught Me To Always Pursue Ur Talent No Matter How Much People Try To Bring You Down!Therefore,Its Obvious That I Loved It!..:)
September 17, 2018
Morsom og hjertevarm historie om Spider som føler hun står i skyggen av den yngre broren Will. Faren er en tidligere rugby-stjerne, og begge barna spiller, men faren mener rugby er en sport som passer best for gutter og menn. At sønnen er mer opptatt av teater enn rugby, er en godt bevart hemmelighet. Fin bok om rugby, familie, kjønnsroller og forelskelse.
May 16, 2011
I loved this book becuase of its creativity towards the way Chris Higgins has written it. Its about this girl who is not exepted for who she is,by this i mean how different she. insted of wanting to be a ballerina she wants to be a profectional rugby player.
March 4, 2012
It was a great book...but i have read many stories like these much before...but i really like spider as she faces how to get out of a tangled web!!!!
June 13, 2012
Best book ever especially if you don't like reading.This will start you off.
October 20, 2013
awesome
May 25, 2014
It was way better than I though it would be!!! Really good book!!!
May 21, 2015
Sweet, cute book. I didn't intend to pick it up at the library, but would you look at that title? It screams 'I'm unique. Read me'. I would recommend it for pre-teens breaking into adolescence.
December 28, 2015
(4.25 stars)
January 14, 2018
I received this book as a gift along with several others and I loved fact it was an easy to read story that combined real life issues.
April 24, 2026
Just, ew. IDK what else to say, sort of good in the start then, like I said, just EW.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews