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The Football Girl
Team Statistics:
Caleb McCleary. QB. Following in his brother’s “baller status” footsteps.
Tessa Dooley. Any position that needs filling. Her motto: “Be afraid.”
The summer before Caleb and Tessa enter high school, friendship has blossomed into a relationship…and their playful sports days are coming to an end. Caleb is getting ready to try out for the football team, and Tessa is training for cross-country.
But all their structured plans derail in the final flag game when they lose. Tessa doesn’t want to end her career as a loser. She really enjoys playing, and if she’s being honest, she likes it even more than running. So what if she decided to play football instead? What would happen between her and Caleb? Or between Tessa and her two best friends, who are counting on her to try out for cross-country with them? And will her parents be upset that she’s decided to take her hobby to the next level?
This summer, Caleb and Tessa figure out just what it means to be a boyfriend, girlfriend, teammate, best friend, and someone worth cheering for.
Caleb McCleary. QB. Following in his brother’s “baller status” footsteps.
Tessa Dooley. Any position that needs filling. Her motto: “Be afraid.”
The summer before Caleb and Tessa enter high school, friendship has blossomed into a relationship…and their playful sports days are coming to an end. Caleb is getting ready to try out for the football team, and Tessa is training for cross-country.
But all their structured plans derail in the final flag game when they lose. Tessa doesn’t want to end her career as a loser. She really enjoys playing, and if she’s being honest, she likes it even more than running. So what if she decided to play football instead? What would happen between her and Caleb? Or between Tessa and her two best friends, who are counting on her to try out for cross-country with them? And will her parents be upset that she’s decided to take her hobby to the next level?
This summer, Caleb and Tessa figure out just what it means to be a boyfriend, girlfriend, teammate, best friend, and someone worth cheering for.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2017
26 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 7, 2017
This just doesn't quite work.
I love the concept of this book. A teenage girl wants the right to play football. However, we have this romance going on and her mother running for mayor thrown in plus the second storyline told from her boyfriend's point of view.
And mostly his point of view is he is against it.
If you don't care about football and could care less about a blow by blow of someone playing it there are whole chapters you should avoid.
This is a quick read and not badly written so it at least earned the third star on what otherwise would be a two star review. Not sure who this would appeal to unless it is they like hearing about football with a light romance thrown in.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review
I love the concept of this book. A teenage girl wants the right to play football. However, we have this romance going on and her mother running for mayor thrown in plus the second storyline told from her boyfriend's point of view.
And mostly his point of view is he is against it.
If you don't care about football and could care less about a blow by blow of someone playing it there are whole chapters you should avoid.
This is a quick read and not badly written so it at least earned the third star on what otherwise would be a two star review. Not sure who this would appeal to unless it is they like hearing about football with a light romance thrown in.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review
did-not-finish
March 26, 2017DNF at 38%. The writing is very simple and straightforward, which is honestly making it a little boring. It didn't hit me how young the characters were and I realized this just isn't the story I was expecting or wanting. I love football and badass girls who fight gender norms, but this book lacked the punch and passion I wanted? I just don't care to continue for now.
May 27, 2017
"What I learned is that it's more than a game."
Cute but a bit younger than I thought it would be - just based on the cover. I liked that Tessa was tentative but driven to try to play more football. I like that she also had other sports she was good at and had to really choose what she wanted to do (and struggle a bit).
I was thoroughly disappointed in the parents. Right from the beginning, her parents were just ridiculous - who gives their kid a sign about themselves (parents) and not their kid for THEIR KID'S Birthday?! It was just too unbelievable (and then to scold her for winning the medal?) but I just pushed that to the side and stuck with the main story.
Caleb was just okay. I didn't hate him but I definitely didn't like him
I think this one just lacked me really falling for the characters. It kept everything pretty young and mellow so there weren't terribly complex struggles or people with real emotion of feelings. It lacked a punch I would have needed to love it. But I think this would be good for younger readers (middle grade)!
Cute but a bit younger than I thought it would be - just based on the cover. I liked that Tessa was tentative but driven to try to play more football. I like that she also had other sports she was good at and had to really choose what she wanted to do (and struggle a bit).
I was thoroughly disappointed in the parents. Right from the beginning, her parents were just ridiculous - who gives their kid a sign about themselves (parents) and not their kid for THEIR KID'S Birthday?! It was just too unbelievable (and then to scold her for winning the medal?) but I just pushed that to the side and stuck with the main story.
Caleb was just okay. I didn't hate him but I definitely didn't like him
I think this one just lacked me really falling for the characters. It kept everything pretty young and mellow so there weren't terribly complex struggles or people with real emotion of feelings. It lacked a punch I would have needed to love it. But I think this would be good for younger readers (middle grade)!
June 15, 2017
I didn't finish this book. I got about halfway through, and Tessa, the MC, wasn't even on the football team yet. She was surrounded by a bunch of people who weren't very good to her. All very 2-D, too.
Her parents had no time for her and were too concerned with their image, for one.
Secondly, her 'boyfriend', Caleb, was very unsupportive. Like, hel-lo! She can play football, get over it!
Thirdly, I had no clue where this book was set. Was it in Texas? Kentucky? Alabama? I had no idea. And this annoyed me because I had no culture to base reactions off of. What I mean by this is that if she was a girl playing football in Texas, I could say, "Nice one, Tessa! Bucking the norms!" and understand that yeah, she would be, considering they're very football focused there, especially with males. They really wouldn't like a girl playing. But sadly, for me, I could not do this.
And fourthly and finally, this book was very juvenile. The characters were 13 or 14 years old and behaved immaturely. All of Tessa's friends seemed very selfish and self-centered, and Tessa herself didn't really stop to think before saying stuff, which annoyed me.
All in all, I rate what I read 2.5 stars.
Her parents had no time for her and were too concerned with their image, for one.
Secondly, her 'boyfriend', Caleb, was very unsupportive. Like, hel-lo! She can play football, get over it!
Thirdly, I had no clue where this book was set. Was it in Texas? Kentucky? Alabama? I had no idea. And this annoyed me because I had no culture to base reactions off of. What I mean by this is that if she was a girl playing football in Texas, I could say, "Nice one, Tessa! Bucking the norms!" and understand that yeah, she would be, considering they're very football focused there, especially with males. They really wouldn't like a girl playing. But sadly, for me, I could not do this.
And fourthly and finally, this book was very juvenile. The characters were 13 or 14 years old and behaved immaturely. All of Tessa's friends seemed very selfish and self-centered, and Tessa herself didn't really stop to think before saying stuff, which annoyed me.
All in all, I rate what I read 2.5 stars.
October 20, 2021
I checked this out from the local public library on a whim. I'm not normally a sports novel guy and I don't read YA, but I was at the library with my kids and the cover intrigued me. As a soldier, I served with some really bad assed women, so I figured why not give this a shot? The story itself was okay, but it didn't feel like the author stuck the landing. We're left with an ambiguous "did she or didn't she" which I hate. If there isn't a sequel, then I prefer a cleaner ending. Further, it seemed more about a girl who liked being the football girl than one who loved football. As someone who played rugby in college, that didn't resonate with any of the athletes I knew. We were all passionate about it, that drive was why we sucked up the pain and the long practices and the inconvenience to our normal lives. I know some readers complained that the writing was flat, but I didn't find that to be so. Not my cup of tea, but it was well written.
October 14, 2019
I really like the football girl book, it shows a girl who struggles to achieve his goals and does not give up until she reaches them. Tessa didn't want to tell her best friends that she was getting into high school football team and didn't know what to do if she also had cross country with her best friends, she didn't know how her friends would react if she told them that. Caleb the boyfriend of Tessa was not sure about how he feels about this because he knows that Tessa was one of the phenomenal players in football, and he would like to see her in the team, but he is afraid of how his peers will treat him if his girlfriend is the ̈ football girl ̈. Tessa doesn't care if Caleb's teammates told him that football is for boys, not girls.
May 26, 2017
Guys, I can't!
This book was just so... cringy! From the dialog to the story itself. Maybe this book is geared for the 13 years and younger category, It certainly isn't young adult.... You have got to know that I really, really, really wanted to like this book, I really did! I just couldn't get past the cringy parts
This book was just so... cringy! From the dialog to the story itself. Maybe this book is geared for the 13 years and younger category, It certainly isn't young adult.... You have got to know that I really, really, really wanted to like this book, I really did! I just couldn't get past the cringy parts
Want to read
January 26, 2017I heard about this book just a couple days before ALA, and I'm SO glad I did because I managed to snag a copy, and I can't WAIT to read it. Football and romance and badass girl who wants both? HELL YES, I NEED IT, and my ladies only fantasy football league slash interstate book club is here for this story as well!
February 5, 2017
Fine but boring. Lacked the punch that a book like this really needs.
Review soon.
Review soon.
April 8, 2017
Fourteen-year-old Tessa Dooley enjoys running cross-country with her two best friends. But when she spends the summer playing flag football with Caleb McCleary and some other youngsters, she wonders what it might be like to play football for real. Caleb and two of his friends will be attending football camp to get ready for their ninth grade year and the start of football season. Tessa decides that she wants to test herself in that environment too. It's clear that she's looking for a win, but what exactly does that look like? I liked how the story is told from the alternating points of view of Tessa and Caleb and how his desire to fit in with the rest of the team puts him at odds with his future teammates just as her desire to push herself in this unusual way causes friction between them and with her friends. The fact that Tessa also feels overlooked by her parents, especially her mother is in the middle of a mayoral campaign, makes her even more determined to make her mark. Any girl who's ever dreamed of testing her skills on the gridiron or felt uncomfortable about being relegated to the sidelines as a cheerleader for someone else will enjoy this book as will football fans. Tessa and Caleb both have their share of family problems and misunderstandings, but they also see to have a relationship that is on solid footing. The author pulls no punches in describing just how tough football camps and practice can be.
Read
November 8, 2017Even though she loves running, she loves running with the boys even more. Tessa loves running cross country with her friends but she loves playing football a little bit more, because the boyfriend is a big time football player also. She is in 8th grade and has to make the decision when she goes into high school if she wants to play or run, but with her mom running for a political possession the decision is even harder. I picked this book because I have enjoyed other girls playing "boy" sports. The book is a good read but maybe a little to youngish for me, I would suggest this book to people that are in late middle school or early high school.
November 4, 2022
I didn’t like this ending. Spoiler! She didn’t want to play in high school. All of her summer was miserable because she wanted to play her freshman year, than after camp she thought it was too hard so she doesn’t do it. Doesn’t send the right message in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 3, 2017Told in alternating point-of-views, Thatcher Heldring's novel The Football Girl challenges what it means to be a girl in sports and explores the burdens of being a trail-blazer, all while accurately depicting the subtle and awkward moments that mark the transition from middle to high school. Summer lovers and soon-to-be-freshmen Tessa and Caleb must reevaluate their futures - and relationship - when Tessa decides to join the boys at football camp.
Tessa is a force of nature, written with an expert blend of self-possession and impulsiveness. Guided by instinct, Tessa bravely chases her dreams even when she's not entirely sure where they'll bring her. Tessa is determined to be her own person - apart from her parents and friends - by being the first female football player in her town. Once Tessa gets a taste for individuality, she no longer wants to be "another face in the crowd waiting to get noticed, hoping someone would pick her for the team, ask her to the dance, or tell her how smart she was. From now on I wasn't going to ask for permission or say sorry." Although Tessa isn't positive she wants to be on the football team once she enters high school, she knows that decision is only hers to make. Tessa's unapologetic determination is the novel's greatest strength, casting an inspirational example for young readers.
As expected, Tessa's decision to join football camp does not go over well. Though he's not her most vocal adversary, her boyfriend Caleb (who shares the novel's narration) is strongly against her choice for the majority of the novel. Caleb's position is unique; he endures jokes and harassment from his male friends due to Tessa, and acutely feels the lack of a role model for his situation. His point of view serves to attract male readers, balancing respect for tradition with an introduction to gender equality. However, his side of the story may ultimately do the novel a disservice. When Caleb muses that he "really, really didn't want Tessa to play on the football team" at the end of the novel, it feels like a let-down. Though there are moments he sticks up for Tessa in the middle of the book, it is challenging to remain invested in his story while the conflicts he faces are mere reactions to the active narrative Tessa creates.
Although Tessa ultimately decides not to continue football, a reader's disappointment is subdued by the inspiration she sets for other 'football girls' and her conviction that any choice she makes is her own. At this point, she's expected to be nothing more than the 'football girl,' so the act of turning away is just as powerful as continuing may have been.
Tessa is a force of nature, written with an expert blend of self-possession and impulsiveness. Guided by instinct, Tessa bravely chases her dreams even when she's not entirely sure where they'll bring her. Tessa is determined to be her own person - apart from her parents and friends - by being the first female football player in her town. Once Tessa gets a taste for individuality, she no longer wants to be "another face in the crowd waiting to get noticed, hoping someone would pick her for the team, ask her to the dance, or tell her how smart she was. From now on I wasn't going to ask for permission or say sorry." Although Tessa isn't positive she wants to be on the football team once she enters high school, she knows that decision is only hers to make. Tessa's unapologetic determination is the novel's greatest strength, casting an inspirational example for young readers.
As expected, Tessa's decision to join football camp does not go over well. Though he's not her most vocal adversary, her boyfriend Caleb (who shares the novel's narration) is strongly against her choice for the majority of the novel. Caleb's position is unique; he endures jokes and harassment from his male friends due to Tessa, and acutely feels the lack of a role model for his situation. His point of view serves to attract male readers, balancing respect for tradition with an introduction to gender equality. However, his side of the story may ultimately do the novel a disservice. When Caleb muses that he "really, really didn't want Tessa to play on the football team" at the end of the novel, it feels like a let-down. Though there are moments he sticks up for Tessa in the middle of the book, it is challenging to remain invested in his story while the conflicts he faces are mere reactions to the active narrative Tessa creates.
Although Tessa ultimately decides not to continue football, a reader's disappointment is subdued by the inspiration she sets for other 'football girls' and her conviction that any choice she makes is her own. At this point, she's expected to be nothing more than the 'football girl,' so the act of turning away is just as powerful as continuing may have been.
June 11, 2019
My name is Tessa, and my life entering high school is getting complicated. Caleb and I have done things together for years, but he's now my boyfriend. He knows I'm a great cross-country runner, but he admits I also have the skills to play football. However, I don't think he wants me to play on the high school team next year. I really want to try out. I need to make up for my dropped touchdown pass in the flag football title game, plus my mom is against me playing football. She's running for mayor and wants to control my life, but she can't stop me now. Voters know about me. I wish everyone would stop worrying about me getting hurt, and I wish Caleb would be more supportive. This is something I need to do. I need a victory.
The summary above tells you all you need to know about the book. I never had a concern with girls wanting to play for our school football team, but it's been an issue in public schools for many years. Tessa's mom is a big problem, as her parents are often too busy to show interest in her. Tessa feels a little isolated, since no one is openly supportive. The conflict is a common one, as she wants to make her own choices, not necessarily the ones others want. Caleb's brother doesn't want to become part of the family business, and Caleb realizes he may be headed toward similar decisions. Dealing with parental expectations is hard. The book is told alternately through the eyes of Tessa and Caleb, so readers can understand the confusing thoughts going through their minds. Caleb has the additional problem of trying to figure out how to function with his first girlfriend. Again, this is a common experience for middle grade students. Overall, the story will be relatable to most readers, and you should give it a shot.
The summary above tells you all you need to know about the book. I never had a concern with girls wanting to play for our school football team, but it's been an issue in public schools for many years. Tessa's mom is a big problem, as her parents are often too busy to show interest in her. Tessa feels a little isolated, since no one is openly supportive. The conflict is a common one, as she wants to make her own choices, not necessarily the ones others want. Caleb's brother doesn't want to become part of the family business, and Caleb realizes he may be headed toward similar decisions. Dealing with parental expectations is hard. The book is told alternately through the eyes of Tessa and Caleb, so readers can understand the confusing thoughts going through their minds. Caleb has the additional problem of trying to figure out how to function with his first girlfriend. Again, this is a common experience for middle grade students. Overall, the story will be relatable to most readers, and you should give it a shot.
July 3, 2017
I received an eARC through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This review contains heavy spoilers.
This review contains heavy spoilers.
July 10, 2017
Heldring, Thatcher The Football Girl, 200 pgs. Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s Books), 2017. $16.99 Language – PG (3 swears, 0 “f”), Mature Content – G; Violence – PG;
Tessa breaks from the stereotypical eighth grade girl, and everyone is happy to tell her how she should act. When Tessa announces her desire to play football and go to the summer football camp in preparation for high school, the expectations of her parents and peers stand in her way. The choice Tessa has to make is whether she’s going to live her life or let others dictate her choices.
While the story mostly focuses on the expectations and hard choices that surround Tessa, Caleb is in just as many hard spots. In their different circumstances, Tessa and Caleb learn about standing up for what they believe in, even if that means not pleasing the ones you love. In the end, it’s about having the courage to try despite the possibility of failure and standing up for what you believe in despite popular opinions. Those messages are the reasons I enjoyed my time reading this book.
MS, HS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Tessa breaks from the stereotypical eighth grade girl, and everyone is happy to tell her how she should act. When Tessa announces her desire to play football and go to the summer football camp in preparation for high school, the expectations of her parents and peers stand in her way. The choice Tessa has to make is whether she’s going to live her life or let others dictate her choices.
While the story mostly focuses on the expectations and hard choices that surround Tessa, Caleb is in just as many hard spots. In their different circumstances, Tessa and Caleb learn about standing up for what they believe in, even if that means not pleasing the ones you love. In the end, it’s about having the courage to try despite the possibility of failure and standing up for what you believe in despite popular opinions. Those messages are the reasons I enjoyed my time reading this book.
MS, HS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
June 14, 2017
For those expecting a story like Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally (like I was), they will be disappointed. But, for those looking for a strong female character who isn't afraid to go after what she wants- even when she doesn't have the support of her family or her friends- this is a great story.
I was expecting a romance- especially since the inside cover claims that Tessa and Caleb's relationship has blossomed from just being friends into something more. However, this story takes places at the end of middle school (8th grade) and the summer after, so Heldring does a great job of treating first love/young love right. There is only hand holding and statements of "I like you" and "bam!" (Which could be a code for something more, but it's never addressed). The guts of the story revolves around alternating 1st person point of view between Tessa and Caleb as they try to figure out what's more important: football or a person's wants/desires in life.
I was expecting a romance- especially since the inside cover claims that Tessa and Caleb's relationship has blossomed from just being friends into something more. However, this story takes places at the end of middle school (8th grade) and the summer after, so Heldring does a great job of treating first love/young love right. There is only hand holding and statements of "I like you" and "bam!" (Which could be a code for something more, but it's never addressed). The guts of the story revolves around alternating 1st person point of view between Tessa and Caleb as they try to figure out what's more important: football or a person's wants/desires in life.
Read
July 14, 2017DNF @ 17%.
I loved the concept of this book, but the writing was SO BORING. I couldn't get into it at all, and I felt nothing for any of the characters. And then I read some reviews (that may have contained spoilers) and decided I didn't want to keep reading just to be disappointed. So I'm shelving this one.
Someone - write a book about a girl who chooses football OVER a guy (or a girl... or even better, who has a SUPPORTIVE PARTNER through the whole thing) and doesn't care what s/he thinks and also who sticks with it because she loves it. I'd read that in a heartbeat.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept of this book, but the writing was SO BORING. I couldn't get into it at all, and I felt nothing for any of the characters. And then I read some reviews (that may have contained spoilers) and decided I didn't want to keep reading just to be disappointed. So I'm shelving this one.
Someone - write a book about a girl who chooses football OVER a guy (or a girl... or even better, who has a SUPPORTIVE PARTNER through the whole thing) and doesn't care what s/he thinks and also who sticks with it because she loves it. I'd read that in a heartbeat.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I thought that I could relate to many of the events in this book and relate to a lot of the emotions in this book aswell. I overall would definetly reccomend this book to anyone who loves sports.
March 23, 2019
This book was amazing!
May 28, 2019
It was awesome, I loved it.
March 26, 2022
This book is so inspiring that Tessa took a stand when no one thought that girls can play football. Caleb is so loyal to Tessa and no Matter what is friend think of him dating Tessa
November 19, 2022
I loved this book because as a girl it shows that you can do all things no matter what people say. I also liked this book because it has a twist of romance to it. I 10/10 would recommend it.
July 23, 2017
As my best friends kept talking, I truly wanted to run cross-country wth them, but a part of me also wanted to play football with the boys. I was kidding myself to think that both things were possible.
In the summer before ninth grade, Tessa Dooley realizes that just playing pick-up games and flag football is not enough. She wants more. She wants to play real football, starting with her planning to attend the local summer camp, which everyone knows is basically the warm-up to the high school tryouts. But this sudden dream of Tessa's means possibly giving up running cross-country with her best friends, and threatens her brand new relationship with her boyfriend, Caleb, who is vying for a position on the football team.
Like most, I admit that I like the idea of a girl bucking the gender norms and doing something that "she shouldn't be doing." The Football Girl's premise is this: Tessa wants to play football, which is traditionally a boys' sport and has very few female players. My issue is that this book is missing the passion that would make it amazing; it lacks the punch that would bring you into the story. Combined with the simplistic writing style and the two-dimensional feeling of it all, this book failed to make an impression on me.
At this current time, there is an almost equal amount of reviewers who tagged this book as young adult as there are reviewers who tagged it as middle grade. And honestly, it's not hard to believe. Tessa and Caleb are fourteen and have yet to even begin high school. The things that they say and do are appropriately immature for their age group, but it doesn't make for a compelling story, in my opinion.
The voice of the novel felt very middle grade to me, too. The writing is very simplistic and straightforward, which has its own merits, but it didn't make this novel feel any deeper. It's not hard for me to imagine an actual high school student thinking that it's "too young for them," even.
I felt that the characters were all very flat. Tessa likes cross-country and wants to try her hand at football. Her mother is running for mayor, and her father is working hard on the campaign, and Tessa doesn't feel like they pay enough attention to her.
But I knew my parents would not gift me what I wanted. They would get me what they wanted to give me. Big difference.
Caleb shares the narration in this story, which I thought was actually pretty unnecessary. Sure, it gives Caleb the ability to give his opinion on Tessa's wanting to be in football: a negative one. He spends some time with his older brother, Charlie, and discussing why girls can't play football with his friends.
First, football was a guys' sport. Second, I did not want to look over in the huddle and see my girlfriend starting at me through a face mask.
(On a side note, the quote really had "starting" in the book, not "staring," like I originally thought. Perhaps a missed typo?)
The plot is less sports-centered than I thought it would be. Like yes, a girl playing football is the main issue. But it felt like Tessa's chapters focused on how her parents were busy with her mother's campaign, how her friends were upset with her for not telling them things, and about her constant fighting with Caleb (y'all, this is not a relationship that I think would last; the majority of the book they were on the outs for some petty argument.)
Caleb's chapters, on the other hand, were about him wanting to play football, getting slightly hazed, and being present for his older brother moving out. In the meantime, he talked to his friends and current football players about how girls shouldn't be allowed to play football, something that he contradicted when he talked to Tessa herself. It was just a bit too dull for my tastes.
Honestly, I thought about giving up on this book. It's not like it's terrible; I don't hate it or anything. I just didn't enjoy it. It wasn't dynamic enough for me, and that's okay.
July 9, 2017
Tessa Dooley loves running with her friends Marina and Lexie, but also enjoys playing football with Caleb McCleary and other boys. She is hopeful that there could be something more between her and Caleb. When she loses her final football game with them, she is dejected, especially when a coach approaches Caleb and his friends to sign up for football camp. Tessa also wants to join football camp, but isn't sure how her friends and parents will react. Tessa's mother is using her to promote her mayoral campaign, and her friends are depending on her to try out for cross-country. Her relationship with Caleb complicates when she feels he doesn't want her to play football. Caleb is afraid how his friends will treat Tessa because she plays football, and how he will be treated by dating her. Tessa doesn't want to have to choose between two sports she loves and faces discrimination because she's a girl.
I was pulled in from the introduction. It started the story off with a light, happy mood. We see Tessa's passion and dedication for running. We meet her love interest, Caleb, and her secret that she likes football but doesn't want her friends to know.
The Football Girl provided a unique perspective into doing something different. Tessa knew that most girls didn't play football and she could be shunned: but she didn't let stop her! She felt her life was mapped out for her, and she wanted to do something she enjoyed without having to worry about being accepted. She was treated and seen differently because she played football. Caleb felt really conflicted about Tessa playing football. He was happy for her, but he couldn't explain to himself why he didn't want her to play. The author approached this heavy topic with passion and characters who cared.
The two different POVs helped me understand how both of the characters would feel about a girl playing football. Tessa felt that if she could play, she could play! She is offended when Caleb hints that she shouldn't do it. Caleb is confused because he grew up with boys playing football, and it messed up the logical order of things to him. He was influenced by his friends, who agree and disagree about it. Readers will be intrigued about getting into both a girl and a boy's head in this situation.
I appreciated that the romantic relationship didn't take over the plot. Tessa and Caleb's romantic relationship strengthened the story, and it wasn't gushy. They supported each other, even if they had conflicting feelings about something. They both made mistakes in their relationship, but they cared enough about each other to make it up in a credible way.
Both Caleb and Tessa's parents had issues. Caleb's parents pressured his brother to join the family business. Tessa's mom was very self-absorbed. Tessa and Caleb didn't want to hurt their parents. They cared about them, but didn't feel like they were an important part of their parents' lives. The family issues didn't take over the plot, but supported it. I liked how they were handled realistically, and ended with hope that they could make their relationship work.
There is plenty of action and lots of football. It was very refreshing to read a sports book with a female protagonist. Both boys and girls will enjoy reading The Football Girl. Even though Tessa was a girl, on the field, she was just a player. I am glad how Tessa's success in football was portrayed realistically. It was great to see than even she could mess up, especially when the author wanted to prove that girls could play football.
The Football Girl will appeal to both boys and girls alike! It is a sweet yet subtle book. With only two hundred pages, and to the point, it is a great summer read!
See my review at Reading Violet: http://librarymind.weebly.com/home/th...
I was pulled in from the introduction. It started the story off with a light, happy mood. We see Tessa's passion and dedication for running. We meet her love interest, Caleb, and her secret that she likes football but doesn't want her friends to know.
The Football Girl provided a unique perspective into doing something different. Tessa knew that most girls didn't play football and she could be shunned: but she didn't let stop her! She felt her life was mapped out for her, and she wanted to do something she enjoyed without having to worry about being accepted. She was treated and seen differently because she played football. Caleb felt really conflicted about Tessa playing football. He was happy for her, but he couldn't explain to himself why he didn't want her to play. The author approached this heavy topic with passion and characters who cared.
The two different POVs helped me understand how both of the characters would feel about a girl playing football. Tessa felt that if she could play, she could play! She is offended when Caleb hints that she shouldn't do it. Caleb is confused because he grew up with boys playing football, and it messed up the logical order of things to him. He was influenced by his friends, who agree and disagree about it. Readers will be intrigued about getting into both a girl and a boy's head in this situation.
I appreciated that the romantic relationship didn't take over the plot. Tessa and Caleb's romantic relationship strengthened the story, and it wasn't gushy. They supported each other, even if they had conflicting feelings about something. They both made mistakes in their relationship, but they cared enough about each other to make it up in a credible way.
Both Caleb and Tessa's parents had issues. Caleb's parents pressured his brother to join the family business. Tessa's mom was very self-absorbed. Tessa and Caleb didn't want to hurt their parents. They cared about them, but didn't feel like they were an important part of their parents' lives. The family issues didn't take over the plot, but supported it. I liked how they were handled realistically, and ended with hope that they could make their relationship work.
There is plenty of action and lots of football. It was very refreshing to read a sports book with a female protagonist. Both boys and girls will enjoy reading The Football Girl. Even though Tessa was a girl, on the field, she was just a player. I am glad how Tessa's success in football was portrayed realistically. It was great to see than even she could mess up, especially when the author wanted to prove that girls could play football.
The Football Girl will appeal to both boys and girls alike! It is a sweet yet subtle book. With only two hundred pages, and to the point, it is a great summer read!
See my review at Reading Violet: http://librarymind.weebly.com/home/th...
October 27, 2022
Public library copy
Tessa is a great athlete-- she runs in a local race with her friends Marina and Lexie and wins first place, putting her on the radar of the high school cross country coach. She is also passionate about football, which she has played in the park for years with her friend Caleb. Since the boys with whom she has played will be spending their time practicing with the high school team, Tessa is crushed when she botches an important play in the last game she may ever play, especially when Caleb and the other players are approached by the high school coach and invited to summer football camp. Tessa would like to participate as well, at least long enough to have some redeeming moment. She knows that it's nothing groundbreaking, but her interest bubbles up in an interview the news is doing with her mother, who is running for mayor. Caleb's not sure how he feels about this. He knows that Tessa is a phenomenal player, and he would like to see her on the team, but he's afraid of how his peers will treat her, and also how they will treat him if his girlfriend is "the football girl". Caleb has a few family conflicts, since his older brother is not joining the family business, and Tessa's parents are consumed with her mother's political career. Tessa's time at football camp ends up being less newsworthy than everyone imagines, but will she be able to prove herself? And what really is she proving?
This book had so many perfect lines and situations that I want to quote half the book right here, but it would ruin it. There are tiny moments of surprise and revelation at every turn, and they are written in such a subtle and sweet way. It's an issue book that proves that a lot of times, the issue is really being true to oneself and ones goals. I want to hand this book to every single reader I have who loves sports!
Both Tessa and Caleb are portrayed realistically, in both their own feelings and how they treat each other. Granted, they both exhibit ideal behavior in the end, but I'm a big proponent of positive thinking and productive example! The two are friends who slowly like each other more. They make missteps. They do outright stupid things. But ultimately, they make sense of their world and make the best possible choices, and Caleb is able to say exactly the right thing to Tessa.
The families and community are great as well. They don't drop everything as this unfolds. It's not the biggest drama in the world to them, but they acknowledge that it is to Caleb and Tessa. I especially loved that the coach didn't really blink. We're not really sure if he thinks Tessa won't make it, if he just doesn't want to bother, or if he truly believes Tessa will be fine on the team. He just lets her play. Isn't that what we want?
For teachers and librarians who never read sports books-- if you only read one football book in your entire career, let it be this one. Heldring manages to capture the reality of modern day feminism from both the male and female viewpoint, and presents it in a compact (under 200 pages!), interesting way that is laced with enough football language to appeal to readers.
Stealing Tessa and Caleb's moment that is captured by a local news photographer, I truly want to hold hands with this book on the top of a hill at sunset. Run as fast as Tessa can run to get your copy right now.
Tessa is a great athlete-- she runs in a local race with her friends Marina and Lexie and wins first place, putting her on the radar of the high school cross country coach. She is also passionate about football, which she has played in the park for years with her friend Caleb. Since the boys with whom she has played will be spending their time practicing with the high school team, Tessa is crushed when she botches an important play in the last game she may ever play, especially when Caleb and the other players are approached by the high school coach and invited to summer football camp. Tessa would like to participate as well, at least long enough to have some redeeming moment. She knows that it's nothing groundbreaking, but her interest bubbles up in an interview the news is doing with her mother, who is running for mayor. Caleb's not sure how he feels about this. He knows that Tessa is a phenomenal player, and he would like to see her on the team, but he's afraid of how his peers will treat her, and also how they will treat him if his girlfriend is "the football girl". Caleb has a few family conflicts, since his older brother is not joining the family business, and Tessa's parents are consumed with her mother's political career. Tessa's time at football camp ends up being less newsworthy than everyone imagines, but will she be able to prove herself? And what really is she proving?
This book had so many perfect lines and situations that I want to quote half the book right here, but it would ruin it. There are tiny moments of surprise and revelation at every turn, and they are written in such a subtle and sweet way. It's an issue book that proves that a lot of times, the issue is really being true to oneself and ones goals. I want to hand this book to every single reader I have who loves sports!
Both Tessa and Caleb are portrayed realistically, in both their own feelings and how they treat each other. Granted, they both exhibit ideal behavior in the end, but I'm a big proponent of positive thinking and productive example! The two are friends who slowly like each other more. They make missteps. They do outright stupid things. But ultimately, they make sense of their world and make the best possible choices, and Caleb is able to say exactly the right thing to Tessa.
The families and community are great as well. They don't drop everything as this unfolds. It's not the biggest drama in the world to them, but they acknowledge that it is to Caleb and Tessa. I especially loved that the coach didn't really blink. We're not really sure if he thinks Tessa won't make it, if he just doesn't want to bother, or if he truly believes Tessa will be fine on the team. He just lets her play. Isn't that what we want?
For teachers and librarians who never read sports books-- if you only read one football book in your entire career, let it be this one. Heldring manages to capture the reality of modern day feminism from both the male and female viewpoint, and presents it in a compact (under 200 pages!), interesting way that is laced with enough football language to appeal to readers.
Stealing Tessa and Caleb's moment that is captured by a local news photographer, I truly want to hold hands with this book on the top of a hill at sunset. Run as fast as Tessa can run to get your copy right now.
November 6, 2024
In the book The Football Girl by Thatcher Heldring, Tessa has a dream to play football as a girl. Although, her peers do not support her decision. She attends football camp in the fall after much outdoor practice. Also after much convincing to her parents. I began reading this novel in early September. It took me about a month to read as I only read it in class. I borrowed this book from my school library. I could imagine myself in the main character's position but tied in with other sports instead of football.
In the book, Tessa's boyfriend Caleb doesn’t like the idea of her playing football because he plays football as well. Her best friends Marina and Lexi are upset with her because they used to run cross country together but not anymore because she chose football over cross country. Her Parents don’t like the idea but support her decisions. Tessa gets interviewed by reporters and gets on the news to share her plans. The whole town now knows about “The Football Girl”. Tessa goes to the annual 10 day long football conditioning camp for boys. Everyone treats her differently because she's a girl.
After all 10 days of football camp Tessa realizes football isn’t the sport for her. Along her journey Tessa learns to chase her dreams. Also to not let anyone's opinions affect your choices or actions. My favorite part of the book is when Tessa shows up to football camp even though everyone told her not to. At the end of the book she says that football camp was “My win”. Tessa was proud of herself for persevering and working hard towards her goal, and proving everyone who said she couldn’t handle it wrong.
This book was very enjoyable to read. I liked it because Tessa is my age in the book so parts of the story I can relate to. I think other teenagers my age would like this book for the same reason. A book I find similar to this book is The Summer I Turned Pretty. Both books have conflicts with family and friends. Also boyfriends.
In the book, Tessa's boyfriend Caleb doesn’t like the idea of her playing football because he plays football as well. Her best friends Marina and Lexi are upset with her because they used to run cross country together but not anymore because she chose football over cross country. Her Parents don’t like the idea but support her decisions. Tessa gets interviewed by reporters and gets on the news to share her plans. The whole town now knows about “The Football Girl”. Tessa goes to the annual 10 day long football conditioning camp for boys. Everyone treats her differently because she's a girl.
After all 10 days of football camp Tessa realizes football isn’t the sport for her. Along her journey Tessa learns to chase her dreams. Also to not let anyone's opinions affect your choices or actions. My favorite part of the book is when Tessa shows up to football camp even though everyone told her not to. At the end of the book she says that football camp was “My win”. Tessa was proud of herself for persevering and working hard towards her goal, and proving everyone who said she couldn’t handle it wrong.
This book was very enjoyable to read. I liked it because Tessa is my age in the book so parts of the story I can relate to. I think other teenagers my age would like this book for the same reason. A book I find similar to this book is The Summer I Turned Pretty. Both books have conflicts with family and friends. Also boyfriends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2017
I found this book a little bit hard to read. It was in the young adult/teen section, but its a US 5-6th grade reading level at best. That aside, the main plot was okay. Tessa is super fast and wants to play football. Unfortunately, she doesn't even start to really play football until halfway through the book and the subplots leading up are extremely lackluster. She doesn't play a game with the team until the epilogue in the form of a news article. Tessa's mom is running for mayor, Tessa is dating Caleb (while ignoring her friends), and Tessa is joining/on the cross country team. They're all classic plot lines in every other novel like this, total tropes, and they're very poorly done. Just kind of one by one:
1.) Tessa's mom running for mayor
WHAT KIND OF BIRTHDAY PRESENT IS THAT?!? Tessa's parents care about her way to much to be this terrible at parenting. They obviously care a little bit about her grades and her sports, but they don't come to her race. Also: why would Tessa tell Caleb first instead of Marina and Lexie? And she doesn't realize she likes Caleb? And that takes us to...
2.) Tessa is "dating" Caleb. This could be an awesome plot point. When Ryan O'Callaghan came out as gay, there were so many reports of having an openly gay player associated with the NFL. Locker rooms and whatnot. So why do we literally not discuss this like at all? Tessa is a girl and allowed to attend football camp, allowed to "date" another player?
And to add onto that, their relationship is so poorly developed that its hard to like them as a couple. Caleb is almost a non-character with no quirks or anything interesting about him and so to put him into an equally dull relationship is fitting.
That's just a few main points on the problems with this book. Good thing: Its 5th grade reading level and 200 pages. Takes about an hour and a half to read.
1.) Tessa's mom running for mayor
WHAT KIND OF BIRTHDAY PRESENT IS THAT?!? Tessa's parents care about her way to much to be this terrible at parenting. They obviously care a little bit about her grades and her sports, but they don't come to her race. Also: why would Tessa tell Caleb first instead of Marina and Lexie? And she doesn't realize she likes Caleb? And that takes us to...
2.) Tessa is "dating" Caleb. This could be an awesome plot point. When Ryan O'Callaghan came out as gay, there were so many reports of having an openly gay player associated with the NFL. Locker rooms and whatnot. So why do we literally not discuss this like at all? Tessa is a girl and allowed to attend football camp, allowed to "date" another player?
And to add onto that, their relationship is so poorly developed that its hard to like them as a couple. Caleb is almost a non-character with no quirks or anything interesting about him and so to put him into an equally dull relationship is fitting.
That's just a few main points on the problems with this book. Good thing: Its 5th grade reading level and 200 pages. Takes about an hour and a half to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It is about a young girl named Tessa and her boyfriend Caleb, the summer before their freshman year of high school. The story takes place in a small town somewhere in Washington state, though honestly could be any small town in the U.S. Tessa is a talented athlete who is expected to compete in cross-country track with her two best friends Lexie and Marina. Tessa also really enjoys playing flag football with Caleb and the guys and decides she wants to try out for the team and join the guys at the end-of-summer varsity football camp. The camp involves full-contact football and she is the only girl who has ever wanted to play on that team. What is great about this post-feminist view of the story is that no one is shocked by this revelation or tells her not to, though everyone around her is very uncomfortable and mildly disapproving of the idea. Tessa and Caleb have to discover what is really most important to them and to listen to their own voices. The only fault I have with the novel is the portrayal of Tessa’s parents. In this age of “helicopter” parents, who would let this girl have so much freedom with her friends? Even though her mother is running for mayor – they let her speak to a local reporter time and again without any supervision. Overall, a fun, interesting story about young people challenging the norm and pushing back against what society expects of them.
June 8, 2017
I would love to hope that some of my Mike Lupica/Tim Green/Carl Deuker fans pick up this book, but I'm afraid the pink font, girl on the cover, and the romance storyline might not entice them into this one. I wish that wasn't the case and that those things wouldn't matter. Sigh.
With that being said, I can see some of my girls (particularly those who enjoy sports) picking up this book because of that same pink font, girl on the cover, and the romance storyline, so that is great. There are a lot of play-by-play accounts of football (which I skimmed much like I would casually watch a real football game). I completely understood Tessa's need to "have a win."
Maybe I was just one of the lucky ones as a child, but I have a difficult time believing that Tessa's parents are that self-centered and in their own worlds that they seldom attend her sporting events or truly listen to her.
This book just didn't interest me much, but for the right audience, it is a needed book.
With that being said, I can see some of my girls (particularly those who enjoy sports) picking up this book because of that same pink font, girl on the cover, and the romance storyline, so that is great. There are a lot of play-by-play accounts of football (which I skimmed much like I would casually watch a real football game). I completely understood Tessa's need to "have a win."
Maybe I was just one of the lucky ones as a child, but I have a difficult time believing that Tessa's parents are that self-centered and in their own worlds that they seldom attend her sporting events or truly listen to her.
This book just didn't interest me much, but for the right audience, it is a needed book.
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