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Sam Kerr: Kicking Goals #1
The Flip Out
Sam Kerr is an Aussie Rules fan through and through.
When she’s excluded from her team she doesn’t know what to do. Netball? No thanks. Chess? Bleugh.
Her best friends Dylan and Indi think she should flip from Aussie Rules to soccer – and it doesn’t seem so bad at first. The coach is OK. The team seems nice enough …
But with Chelsea the school bully on her case and the pressure of learning new rules weighing her down, will it all be too much? Will Sam give up – or will she make the flip?
When she’s excluded from her team she doesn’t know what to do. Netball? No thanks. Chess? Bleugh.
Her best friends Dylan and Indi think she should flip from Aussie Rules to soccer – and it doesn’t seem so bad at first. The coach is OK. The team seems nice enough …
But with Chelsea the school bully on her case and the pressure of learning new rules weighing her down, will it all be too much? Will Sam give up – or will she make the flip?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2021
26 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Sam Kerr
11 books25 followersSam Kerr is the captain of the Australia women’s national soccer team – the Matildas – and a leading goal scorer for Chelsea in the English FA Women’s Super League. She burst onto the W-League scene as a 15-year-old playing with Perth Glory. In 2016 she played for the Matildas at the Olympics in Brazil, and she was the top goal scorer in the 2017 Tournament of Nations. Since joining Chelsea in 2019, Sam has positioned herself as one of the best female strikers in the world. She was named 2018 Young Australian of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 8, 2022
I love the Sam Kerr books Sam Kerr is the best female soccer player ever
October 28, 2023
This was cute and picturing little baby Kerr getting bullied nawwwww
January 11, 2022
This was fun, hilarious first read of the year though ahahah
September 22, 2023
Sam Kerr's own story, shared through her own words. This is a generous, vulnerable tale of a girl being denied the sport she loves cos she's a girl, to finding the sport that will eventually make her a star.
When primary school aged Sam is stopped from playing Aussie Rules as the boys are getting bigger and stronger than her, and she gets injured, her world is shattered. That's all she wants to do. It's all she thinks about, and spends all her time on.
From an AFL-focused family, she needs to find her way through her own mental battle of barriers, to accept the opportunity to switch codes and play soccer - a game she has no interest in, and doesn't know any of the rules.
Sam shares so much of her family here, with her relentlessly supportive siblings, and parents. She is also supported by her two best friends, and tormented by the bully at school.
A tale of finding a new joy, of battling through self-doubt and negative thinking, to find your path. Pretty great story for kids, indeed, for us all.
My niece and I have read this together each night all week, and if we didn't already love Sam Kerr enough, we love her even more after reading this. And had to watch videos of her backflips over and over!
When primary school aged Sam is stopped from playing Aussie Rules as the boys are getting bigger and stronger than her, and she gets injured, her world is shattered. That's all she wants to do. It's all she thinks about, and spends all her time on.
From an AFL-focused family, she needs to find her way through her own mental battle of barriers, to accept the opportunity to switch codes and play soccer - a game she has no interest in, and doesn't know any of the rules.
Sam shares so much of her family here, with her relentlessly supportive siblings, and parents. She is also supported by her two best friends, and tormented by the bully at school.
A tale of finding a new joy, of battling through self-doubt and negative thinking, to find your path. Pretty great story for kids, indeed, for us all.
My niece and I have read this together each night all week, and if we didn't already love Sam Kerr enough, we love her even more after reading this. And had to watch videos of her backflips over and over!
May 16, 2023
i had a ball
November 15, 2022
Soccer fans will be pleased to see these books on the shelf. This Sam Kerr series is perfect for grade 2-4 and cover themes such as friendship, forgiveness, integrity, pride, family, resilience, and self confidence.
Honestly, I don't know much about sports, but I do know about Sam Kerr. She is such a phenomenon in Australia (and particularly as I grew up in WA, her name was one you couldn't miss!). It's so lovely to see her story represented on the page and in a way that is so accessible to children who look up to her. Bravo!
I can see this working well as a class novel and integrating it with your daily Personal and Social/Wellbeing learning.
My year 3s will LOVE these next year.
Thank you to @simonschusterau for sending these ones to me!
Honestly, I don't know much about sports, but I do know about Sam Kerr. She is such a phenomenon in Australia (and particularly as I grew up in WA, her name was one you couldn't miss!). It's so lovely to see her story represented on the page and in a way that is so accessible to children who look up to her. Bravo!
I can see this working well as a class novel and integrating it with your daily Personal and Social/Wellbeing learning.
My year 3s will LOVE these next year.
Thank you to @simonschusterau for sending these ones to me!
September 23, 2021
this was super cute
December 5, 2021
Genuine quote from miss 8:
"Mum I love this book can we just keep reading it even after we've finished it?”
So we're on read #2.
The story of how Sam Kerr code hopped from AFL to soccer while in primary school resonates with my soccer loving daughter
So grateful for the ARC from a Mum at school, unfortunately we won't be sharing this with other kids, we're just going to read it again and again ourselves.
"Mum I love this book can we just keep reading it even after we've finished it?”
So we're on read #2.
The story of how Sam Kerr code hopped from AFL to soccer while in primary school resonates with my soccer loving daughter
So grateful for the ARC from a Mum at school, unfortunately we won't be sharing this with other kids, we're just going to read it again and again ourselves.
October 11, 2021
This is a relatively enjoyable book I read to my daughter. Themes of bullying and finding oneself. Enjoyable for kids, even those not into soccer might like it.
September 23, 2021
Kicking Goals is the debut middle-grade series from Aussie soccer legend Sam Kerr, co-authored by Fiona Harris and illustrated by Aki Fukuoka.
Aussie Rules Football has been in the Kerr family for years. When the family are not at the Subiaco Oval watching their beloved West Coast Eagles they can be found on the footy field
playing and coaching or at home where the hallway is used to practice their kicks.
Sam is devastated when she is kicked off the under 12’s team, the boys are getting bigger, the tackles are getting rougher and there is too much risk of a serious injury. Off the team and without her favourite sport, Sam is at a loss until best friend Dylan suggests flipping code and joining his soccer team. But what will her family think? Will the coach want a girl on the team? Will Chelsea, the school bully, scupper Sam’s chances?
Loosely based on Sam Kerr’s childhood experiences, this new series starring the Matildas centurion will be a hit with sports-mad kids (and adults). I’m a huge sports fan and whilst my knowledge of AFL is sketchy at best - I’m one of those pommy’s that calls soccer football - I loved this sporting story. Littered with sporting references and with plenty of action, both on and off the field, there is much to enjoy and cheer loudly about.
Book one in the series charts the journey of a young footy mad girl with dreams of being an AFL star, like her dad and brother, who has the rug swept out from under her when gender restrictions stop her from pursuing her dream. For Sam, this isn’t the end and whilst one sporting dream may have been kicked firmly into touch another one is just about to open.
Whether you’re footy mad like Sam or your passion lies in something else, the book has some great messages and valuable life lessons that everybody can embrace and use to peruse their dreams; having the perseverance to keep going, over-coming challenges (both on and off the pitch) and finding the strength to get straight back up again no matter how many times you find yourself knocked down.
There are also some brilliant messages about the importance of a close knit family and supportive friends. Sam’s best mates Dylan and Indi always have her back when things don’t work out, brother Levi is the encouraging older brother and mum is the voice of reason who helps Sam when her her dreams need readjusting.
Sam Kerr has scored plenty of goals on the pitch and this is another winner that most definitely finds the back of the net!
With huge thanks to Simon & Schuster for this sporty story.
Recommended for 7+.
Aussie Rules Football has been in the Kerr family for years. When the family are not at the Subiaco Oval watching their beloved West Coast Eagles they can be found on the footy field
playing and coaching or at home where the hallway is used to practice their kicks.
Sam is devastated when she is kicked off the under 12’s team, the boys are getting bigger, the tackles are getting rougher and there is too much risk of a serious injury. Off the team and without her favourite sport, Sam is at a loss until best friend Dylan suggests flipping code and joining his soccer team. But what will her family think? Will the coach want a girl on the team? Will Chelsea, the school bully, scupper Sam’s chances?
Loosely based on Sam Kerr’s childhood experiences, this new series starring the Matildas centurion will be a hit with sports-mad kids (and adults). I’m a huge sports fan and whilst my knowledge of AFL is sketchy at best - I’m one of those pommy’s that calls soccer football - I loved this sporting story. Littered with sporting references and with plenty of action, both on and off the field, there is much to enjoy and cheer loudly about.
Book one in the series charts the journey of a young footy mad girl with dreams of being an AFL star, like her dad and brother, who has the rug swept out from under her when gender restrictions stop her from pursuing her dream. For Sam, this isn’t the end and whilst one sporting dream may have been kicked firmly into touch another one is just about to open.
Whether you’re footy mad like Sam or your passion lies in something else, the book has some great messages and valuable life lessons that everybody can embrace and use to peruse their dreams; having the perseverance to keep going, over-coming challenges (both on and off the pitch) and finding the strength to get straight back up again no matter how many times you find yourself knocked down.
There are also some brilliant messages about the importance of a close knit family and supportive friends. Sam’s best mates Dylan and Indi always have her back when things don’t work out, brother Levi is the encouraging older brother and mum is the voice of reason who helps Sam when her her dreams need readjusting.
Sam Kerr has scored plenty of goals on the pitch and this is another winner that most definitely finds the back of the net!
With huge thanks to Simon & Schuster for this sporty story.
Recommended for 7+.
August 12, 2021
A great read for enthusiastic sporty girls and boys! Young Sam Kerr comes from a family of Aussie Rules Footy fanatics - they all barrack for West Coast Eagles and practice their kicks in the hallway. Dad coaches the local team and Sam plays for the Under 12s. So Sam is absolutely devastated when her dad tells her she can no longer play Footy. The boys are getting bigger than she is, and the chance of getting hurt in a rough tackle is too great. Her friend Dylan suggests she try Soccer. Unlike Aussie Rules there are no full-body tackles and girls can play in senior teams.
Sam is worried: what is her family doing to say if she plays another sport? What is the coach going to say when he realises Sam is a girl not a boy? Will the class bully Chelsea scupper Sam's chances?
Lots of action and plenty of soccer and footy references will keep young readers glued to the page!
Sam Kerr is an Australian Soccer player who has just played in The Australian Olympic team in Japan, also plays for Chelsea in the English FA Super League, and is the current Captain of the Matildas, Australia's national soccer team - her new series (this is #1) is loosely based on her life and perfect for young sport fans (of any code) aged 7-12.
Sam is worried: what is her family doing to say if she plays another sport? What is the coach going to say when he realises Sam is a girl not a boy? Will the class bully Chelsea scupper Sam's chances?
Lots of action and plenty of soccer and footy references will keep young readers glued to the page!
Sam Kerr is an Australian Soccer player who has just played in The Australian Olympic team in Japan, also plays for Chelsea in the English FA Super League, and is the current Captain of the Matildas, Australia's national soccer team - her new series (this is #1) is loosely based on her life and perfect for young sport fans (of any code) aged 7-12.
May 6, 2022
Excellent book for both my boys (9) and girl (12). Great book and great person. We are huge Arsenal fans and have watched Sam play Chelsea against Arsenal and for Australia and she always stays to greet the fans after. 10/10 looking forward to the next in series.
July 4, 2023
It was interesting to hear how sam kerr grew from loving AFL more than Soccer until a injury occurs to sam and is band from playing AFL in a team so she started playing soccer with her best friend Dylan but she has still got spirt for AFL
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2022
AMAZING! SO GOOD! LOVE SAM
December 10, 2023
love it! It is so interesting to learn about Kerr's childhood and how she became a soccer player.
February 15, 2024
It's a nice book for me as a new english learner, a new football learner and a girl.
Read
April 9, 2024Amazing
It was like me but I am a boy I used to like afl now I like soccer. I love it so much I want the next book.
It was like me but I am a boy I used to like afl now I like soccer. I love it so much I want the next book.
June 11, 2025
love the detail and storyline of this book it is also is very cool when Sam learns soccer in stead of AFL when her whole family loves AFL
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2023
Really cute for what it was. And a nice palette cleanser from all the other stuff I’ve been reading recently.
June 17, 2022
Love this, great for all ages (x❤x)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews