The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar: A Novel

by Kristine Rudolph

Perfect for fans of Laurie Morrison and Jenn Bishop, this lively middle-grade mystery follows a vibrant group of teens and tweens navigating grief, authenticity, and—above all—soccer, while taking an enjoyable romp through the Texas Hill Country.

Every year, spring in Texas means two very different things to sixth grader Cassaty her beloved Barons Creek High School soccer team, the Battling Billies, will contend for the state title, and the anniversary of her twin brother’s death will plunge her family into a deep, unspoken grief. But this year, the script changes when the Battling Billies’ star midfielder goes missing right before the playoffs begin. Presented with this mysterious disappearance, Cassaty seizes the chance to heroically bring the missing girl home—and hopefully, in doing so, help fill the hole her brother’s death left in her family so many years ago.

208 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 9, 2026

Reviews

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth grader Cassaty Greene is obsessed with her town’s star women’s high school soccer player, Katey Corey. So, when Katey goes missing days before the playoffs, Cassaty takes it upon herself to investigate the disappearance. She ropes her bestie Maisy in to help, and friends Simran and Cisco get involved as well. Cassaty is happy to have a focus outside school: this is the time of year when her mom gets really depressed and withdrawn and Cassaty would like to absent herself from home. The reason for her mom’s depression is her twin brother’s death as an infant. Cassaty feels that if she can help find Katey, it’s a way to balance her own guilt at causing her twin’s death. Readers will question her guilt, as it was in utero that Cassaty caused her brother to weaken, but Cassaty feels the weight of his death and her mother’s depression as her own responsibility. This story is a mystery – where did Katey go? – and a look at the grief that a family can hold as each member folds inward without speaking of the trauma.

Cool adults such as Cassaty’s teachers and friends’ parents abound, but of course she doesn’t confide in them. It’s not until near the end that she finally confides in her Aunt Melodie. I liked seeing Cassaty’s relationship with her teenaged sister blossom, and that there were other caring teens who helped solve the mystery. The pace of the story moves nicely, until an ending that doesn’t tie things up perfectly neatly, which I liked because it felt realistic. But by the end, everyone knew how to begin their healing process, and it was all because Cassaty started things rolling. In terms of representation, Aunt Melodie is gay and married; Simran is Hindu and I assume she’s Indian; Maisy has celiac; most other characters are assumed white.

This is an excellent book for kids looking for a realistic treatment of a sibling death, and also just a good, absorbing read for anyone. At under 200 pages, it also is a quick read.

(I really don’t like the title. It feels to me like a picture book title.)

[Katiebugsbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade mystery that focuses on soccer, family, grief, and healing.
Thank you to Booksparks for the gifted copy and allowing me to be a part of the review tour!
6th grader Cassaty loves soccer and also has navigated her entire life with the grief of losing her twin brother and how that loss has deeply impacted her family. This story looks at how grief can look within a family and can be a different experience and feelings for each individual. Cassaty's grief doesn't resemble that of a typical experience, but the story looks at how she feels grief and how her feelings aren't invalidated because they don't look like that of others.
- I enjoyed the way Cassaty's obsession with a high school soccer star and her insistence to help upon learning of her becoming missing, led to a group of friends who were able to support one another through the mystery of finding her.
- Overall was a fun middle grade read that works through the difficult topic of grief and the process towards healing.
- The aunt is LGBT

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery about soccer, family, grief, and healing. Cassaty, a 6th grader, is a soccer player and is obsessed with Katey, a junior, who also plays soccer. When Katey goes missing Cassaty gets her friends together, and they come up with a plan to try and find her. When they all go look at social media they find some clues as to where Katey might be. They all go to the ranch where they think she might be, and Katey’s boyfriend is there. Does he know where Katey is? Cassaty knows the anniversary is coming for the death of her twin brother who died when he was three months old. Her mom is still depressed, and Cassaty feels it’s her fault her brother died. Will Cassaty get a chance to tell her parents how she feels?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All my own.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

actually 4.5 stars

of course the kids are more helpful in solving the case than the police. I figured out who Katey’s Instagram hater was right away but it didn’t really ruin anything for me. A quick, enjoyable, middle-grade mystery read.