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One girl and her soccer team take a stand against the bullies who push them too far in this brave, inspiring novel that celebrates girl power and the true spirit of sports. Perfect for readers who love The Crossover and Fighting Words.
Twelve-year-old Alex loves playing soccer, and she's good at it, too. Very good. When her skills land her a free ride to play for Select, an elite soccer club, it feels like a huge opportunity. Joining Select could be the key to a college scholarship and a bright future--one that Alex's family can't promise her.
But as the team gets better and better, her new coach pushes the players harder and harder, until soccer starts to feel more like punishment than fun. And then there comes a point where enough is enough, and Alex and her teammates must take a stand to find a better way to make their soccer dreams come true.
Powerful and inspiring, Select explores the important difference between positive and negative coaching and celebrates the true spirit of sports.
Twelve-year-old Alex loves playing soccer, and she's good at it, too. Very good. When her skills land her a free ride to play for Select, an elite soccer club, it feels like a huge opportunity. Joining Select could be the key to a college scholarship and a bright future--one that Alex's family can't promise her.
But as the team gets better and better, her new coach pushes the players harder and harder, until soccer starts to feel more like punishment than fun. And then there comes a point where enough is enough, and Alex and her teammates must take a stand to find a better way to make their soccer dreams come true.
Powerful and inspiring, Select explores the important difference between positive and negative coaching and celebrates the true spirit of sports.
224 pages, Library Binding
Published May 9, 2023
8 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Christie Matheson
22 books23 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Christie Matheson is a writer living in San Francisco and Boston. Her work has appeared in Body & Soul, Glamour, Shape, Boston, San Francisco, Yoga Journal, and The Boston Globe Magazine. She is coauthor of The Confetti Cakes Cookbook, Vineyard Harvest: A Year of Good Food on Martha's Vineyard, and Tea Party and is the author and photographer of the outdoor travel book Discover Rhode Island.
Christie Matheson is a writer living in San Francisco and Boston. Her work has appeared in Body & Soul, Glamour, Shape, Boston, San Francisco, Yoga Journal, and The Boston Globe Magazine. She is coauthor of The Confetti Cakes Cookbook, Vineyard Harvest: A Year of Good Food on Martha's Vineyard, and Tea Party and is the author and photographer of the outdoor travel book Discover Rhode Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 8, 2023
Seventh grader Alex loves playing soccer and is very good at it. She has played at her rec center league for years, but when she gets the opportunity to play for a select travel soccer team, for free, she feels pressured to take it. The select team is not all it appears to be, as the coach is abusive and the other girls come from a very different socioeconomic background than Alex. Alex also has to balance her inconsistent single mother and taking care of her seven year old sister Belle. Overall, I really enjoyed this middle grade book. Alex was a very likable character, and as someone who doesn't know much about soccer, this book made me more interested in it and made it seem like such a fun sport. Something I didn't feel like was resolved enough for me was Alex's mother. I kept waiting for there to be a situation where social services got involved and it felt unrealistic for Alex to be taking the public bus by herself for hours and with her younger sister. Still, I thought this was a great middle grade read and I like how it brings up the difference between a tough coach and an abusive coach. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital advanced copy!
June 3, 2024
This is a great starter book for a middle schooler who might be interested in sports and standing up for what is right. Alex didn’t put up with anything and asked adults for help, which is great for kids to read. I wished the mom character was a little more nuanced, but you can only do so much in a 200 page MG novel.
February 7, 2023
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Seventh grader Alex loves playing soccer, and is happy with her San Francisco Rec league team even thought they don't have the nice uniforms the other teams do.She and her friends enjoy themselves, and her coach, Jayda, has a positive influence on many aspects of her life. Her mother is a bit unreliable, and since her father walked out when she was younger, Alex ends up caring a lot for her younger sister, Belle. Her mother rarely makes it to her games because she is too caught up with a new boyfriend, Xander, but during one game she does attend, Alex catches the attention of Coach Austin, the founder of San Francisco Select, and before she knows it, her mother has signed her up for the elite travel team. The thought is that better opportunities might lead to college scholarships, which would be helpful since the family can't afford college. Alex is sad to leave the Rec league, but Jayda understands. Playing Select means a lot of sacrifices; they practice at a facility quite a distance from Alex's house, so requires her to leave immediately from school and catch several buses, and she can't watch Belle after school. Her new teammates are not welcoming, especially Apple, who has cutting things to say about Alex's scholarship status on the team. Coach Austin is negative, and his training methods are unpleasant. Alex does make friends with Liv, and the two talk a little about how the team works. The games often involve train rides to outlying towns, and for the first game, Alex has to bring Belle with her because her mother has not come home. This further angers Coach Austin, who plays favorites when it comes to starting lineups and continued play in the games. He wants to win, and tells girls that they won't play in the second half if they don't score in the first. Alex, who is used to Jayda's positive coaching and her philosophy that teammates should work together, pushes back against this style from the beginning. Over the winter, the girls are required to spend $300 and register for futsal training, but Alex knows her mother can't afford it. She does get the cost knocked down to $100, and earns the money by herself. When Coach Austin's coaching methods become even more negative, Alex and her teammates decide that they can no longer stomach his leadership, and approach Jayda to see if she can coach them for their big game. How will Alex be able to balance her desire to better herself through the opportunities Select soccer offers with caring for Belle and enjoying the game?
Strengths: Author Matheson is herself a soccer coach, and her love and knowledge of the game are very evident. There are lots of good details about play on the field as well as the way travel teams are set up. Traveling to the games by public transport was interesting to read about, especially since this is set in the San Francisco area. There is just enough family drama to add another layer of interest, and Belle and Alex's relationship is sweet. Jayda is an awesome coach, and it's good to see that Alex has an adult in her life who supports her. The girl drama is on point as well; Apple's mother is just as unpleasant as Apple is, and I imagine that in elite levels of soccer, the competition is brutal. This is the perfect length, and ends on a happy note. This is a must purchase for middle school and elementary libraries where interest in soccer is strong.
Weaknesses: As an adult, I wish that there had been more nuance to the story. The Select team has nothing pleasant about it, not even the better snacks! It's such a hassle that I wouldn't have let my children play more than two games. The coach is completely evil, and although he gets his comeuppance, it would have been nice to see some positives in a travel team. I was also very concerned that Alex's mother was so neglectful, and that situation was never resolved to my satisfaction, although she did break up with Xander. These situations are all true to life, but I wish there had been more depiction of Alex getting help with these difficult circumstances. There are some links to applicable web resources at the end of the book.
What I really think: I will definitely purchase this (probably two copies!), and this will circulate well. My students will love it, but as a former coach and teacher, I wanted the soccer experience to have a little more appeal before becoming horrible.
Seventh grader Alex loves playing soccer, and is happy with her San Francisco Rec league team even thought they don't have the nice uniforms the other teams do.She and her friends enjoy themselves, and her coach, Jayda, has a positive influence on many aspects of her life. Her mother is a bit unreliable, and since her father walked out when she was younger, Alex ends up caring a lot for her younger sister, Belle. Her mother rarely makes it to her games because she is too caught up with a new boyfriend, Xander, but during one game she does attend, Alex catches the attention of Coach Austin, the founder of San Francisco Select, and before she knows it, her mother has signed her up for the elite travel team. The thought is that better opportunities might lead to college scholarships, which would be helpful since the family can't afford college. Alex is sad to leave the Rec league, but Jayda understands. Playing Select means a lot of sacrifices; they practice at a facility quite a distance from Alex's house, so requires her to leave immediately from school and catch several buses, and she can't watch Belle after school. Her new teammates are not welcoming, especially Apple, who has cutting things to say about Alex's scholarship status on the team. Coach Austin is negative, and his training methods are unpleasant. Alex does make friends with Liv, and the two talk a little about how the team works. The games often involve train rides to outlying towns, and for the first game, Alex has to bring Belle with her because her mother has not come home. This further angers Coach Austin, who plays favorites when it comes to starting lineups and continued play in the games. He wants to win, and tells girls that they won't play in the second half if they don't score in the first. Alex, who is used to Jayda's positive coaching and her philosophy that teammates should work together, pushes back against this style from the beginning. Over the winter, the girls are required to spend $300 and register for futsal training, but Alex knows her mother can't afford it. She does get the cost knocked down to $100, and earns the money by herself. When Coach Austin's coaching methods become even more negative, Alex and her teammates decide that they can no longer stomach his leadership, and approach Jayda to see if she can coach them for their big game. How will Alex be able to balance her desire to better herself through the opportunities Select soccer offers with caring for Belle and enjoying the game?
Strengths: Author Matheson is herself a soccer coach, and her love and knowledge of the game are very evident. There are lots of good details about play on the field as well as the way travel teams are set up. Traveling to the games by public transport was interesting to read about, especially since this is set in the San Francisco area. There is just enough family drama to add another layer of interest, and Belle and Alex's relationship is sweet. Jayda is an awesome coach, and it's good to see that Alex has an adult in her life who supports her. The girl drama is on point as well; Apple's mother is just as unpleasant as Apple is, and I imagine that in elite levels of soccer, the competition is brutal. This is the perfect length, and ends on a happy note. This is a must purchase for middle school and elementary libraries where interest in soccer is strong.
Weaknesses: As an adult, I wish that there had been more nuance to the story. The Select team has nothing pleasant about it, not even the better snacks! It's such a hassle that I wouldn't have let my children play more than two games. The coach is completely evil, and although he gets his comeuppance, it would have been nice to see some positives in a travel team. I was also very concerned that Alex's mother was so neglectful, and that situation was never resolved to my satisfaction, although she did break up with Xander. These situations are all true to life, but I wish there had been more depiction of Alex getting help with these difficult circumstances. There are some links to applicable web resources at the end of the book.
What I really think: I will definitely purchase this (probably two copies!), and this will circulate well. My students will love it, but as a former coach and teacher, I wanted the soccer experience to have a little more appeal before becoming horrible.
September 23, 2023
Alex started playing soccer at her local rec center at age 5 under her coach, Jayda. At 12, she still loves playing soccer and works hard to improve her game and care for her little sister, Belle, while her mother works too hard and tries to appease her demanding boyfriend. When male Coach Austin approaches Alex's mother, she is sent to the Select Superior Girls Team in the hopes of going to nationals and getting a college scholarship. The team is well funded and full of teammates that don't understand Alex's need to uses the public bus system to get to and from practice and games and care for her little sister. Things get worse as Coach Austin treats the girls on the team with abusive practices, berates them even when they do well, and treats female coaches and refs with clear sexism. Alex's personality is appealing - straightforward, honest, serious about what matters the most to her - and as the story unfolds, shows bravery by showing that Coach Austin's abuse and actions won't be tolerated any longer. The game play descriptions will pull in soccer fans with the fast pace and how true they feel to a real game and help spark curiosity in those unfamiliar with the sport. The ending, though a little fast paced, wraps with a victory and shows what teamwork can do. Defiantly a good book to hand to soccer fans and those looking for some girl power.
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October 1, 2025 Select is the story of a middle schooler who has a younger sister and single mom. Her dad left them when they where young, cause of toxic environment. Anyways Alex is very good at many things, but her top priorities are her younger sister Belle and soccer. Since Alexes family does not have much money, she enjoys playing at the rec center with her coach of many years Jayda. But well playing a game for rec she notices her mom talking to an older man well he looks at her. After the game that same man goes up to her and asks her to play for him on his travel team. She gladely excepts, and thinks everything will be so fun. Little did she know the coach would be jerk and do things like over sprints, benching players for unfair causes, and letting the girls have a pizza party than making the girls run more sprints. It ends with all the girls except one quitting the team, and making there own team to play for Jayda at Nationals.
Over all I rate this book a 10/10, and without a doubt think it was the best book I have ever read. It was a good mix of happy and sad, and was really written with detail so I definitely recommend . Although I love this book, I also love realistic fiction which this book happens to be, so I may be a little bit biost, but still you should deffinitly read.
Over all I rate this book a 10/10, and without a doubt think it was the best book I have ever read. It was a good mix of happy and sad, and was really written with detail so I definitely recommend . Although I love this book, I also love realistic fiction which this book happens to be, so I may be a little bit biost, but still you should deffinitly read.
July 8, 2023
Twelve-year-old Alex loves soccer, and she’s good at it. When her skills attract the attention of an elite coach her life changes for the better and the worse. Her teammates are amazing and they have a real chance to go to Nationals. On the other hand, the coach is a misogynist bully. Set in San Francisco and on the peninsula, Select explores the tension between love of sport and the fact that for many kids, an athletic scholarship is the ticket to a better life. Alex feels trapped by her poor, single mom’s expectations and her own conviction that her coach has crossed the line. Full of exciting soccer action, nuanced team dynamics and a realistic portrayal of what it takes to play at the highest level, Select also delves deeply into the difference between positive and negative coaching. While some didactic prose over-explains the core take-aways, the author’s love of the game and deep respect for student athletes carries the story to a gratifying, if rather sudden, conclusion. Alex and her family read as white, teammates and coaches are of diverse races and ethnicities. Reviewed from an ARC.
October 8, 2025
Alex is spectacular at soccer, well on her Rec Center team at least. She wins a game for her team, but something she doesn't know happened. Her mom was talking to Coach Austin or just Coach. He convinces her mother for Alex to join the "best team" in San Francisco. She doesn't want to go, but she wants to go to college and get a scholarship. That's why shes joining. She goes to practice that day. Sure, it was tiring, but worst of all... He kept insulting her teammates and herself. She misses her Rec Center friends, but most of all she misses her old coach, Jayda. Finally after months of getting insulted by Coach. She and her friend Liv stand up for their team, they finally leave the terrible place. Now there's a new problem, who would be their coach for Nationals? Alex and her friends agreed that Jayda would coach them. At, Nationals they lost, but they still had a smile on their faces.
Brilliant, captivating... This book is awesome. This book shows what sisters are, caring and respectful, standing up for each other. It also shows how passionate Alex is about soccer. Even bravery hits in. This is a wonderful book. I hope they make a movie out of this...
Brilliant, captivating... This book is awesome. This book shows what sisters are, caring and respectful, standing up for each other. It also shows how passionate Alex is about soccer. Even bravery hits in. This is a wonderful book. I hope they make a movie out of this...
November 7, 2024
"Select" introduces readers to Alex, a talented twelve-year-old soccer player who earns a spot on an elite team, Select. It’s an opportunity that could shape her future, especially with her family’s limited means. But with each win, her coach’s methods become more relentless, pushing the players to the breaking point. As Alex and her teammates are faced with a choice, they’re inspired to stand up for a healthier sports environment.
This sports fiction novel dives into an important topic—misogyny and toxic coaching—in a way that feels relevant and empowering for young readers. I was pleasantly surprised by how accessible it made soccer feel, even for those who may not usually gravitate toward sports stories. Alex’s journey is authentic and inspiring, and the story delivers a strong message about positive sportsmanship and self-advocacy.
This sports fiction novel dives into an important topic—misogyny and toxic coaching—in a way that feels relevant and empowering for young readers. I was pleasantly surprised by how accessible it made soccer feel, even for those who may not usually gravitate toward sports stories. Alex’s journey is authentic and inspiring, and the story delivers a strong message about positive sportsmanship and self-advocacy.
May 22, 2023
Alex is an appealing character wise well beyond her years. When pressured to switch soccer teams and play for an elite team, Alex faces some harsh realities. Soccer is one part of her story. And being left to take care of her seven year old sister because of her neglectful mother is another. And when Alex finds herself playing for an abusive coach, she is lucky to have Jayda, her former rec league coach to turn to. A worthy attempt to bring the fact of abuse and the forms it can take to young readers' minds. The end was rushed causing conclusions to be unsatisfying and not fully fleshed out. Think younger readers will be captivated by Alex and cheer her both for on and off the field.
April 18, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Alex is a talented soccer player, and her rec team is GOOD. And it’s good that she has the rec center, because her mom is not dependable and Alex often has her little sister Belle in tow. But when her mom FINALLY attends a game, she ends up talking to a club soccer coach who offers to let Alex join his program for free. Her mom is wowed by his promises that Alex has what it takes to play in college and signs her up on the spot. But the coach is both verbally and emotionally abusive, and Alexis miserable. It takes small acts of her standing up to him for others to as well, and it comes to a head right before Nationals. Can the team just play, but without him? This is a quick read and I think very relevant to middle school athletes. Recommended for grades 5-8.
October 20, 2025
Select is about 12 year old Alex who loves soccer. She has been playing soccer for 6 years with Jayda, but Austin on the other hand is the worst he shouts and mocks and never gives positive encouragement. Most of her game coach shouts at the ref. getting closer to summer the coach adds an "optional" summer soccer camp and if you don't go you don't play next year. In the camp Austin had a pizza party, a change in air, but it was a punishment he made them run sprints after the pizza Liv quits the club along with all of the team. The coach tries to get them back, but he can't. the girl regroups in a rec team and go to nationals with Jayda as their coach.
I thought this book was very nice I loved it I couldn't stop but it's short so it did not take long.
I thought this book was very nice I loved it I couldn't stop but it's short so it did not take long.
November 11, 2025
This book is about a girl that loves soccer and gets drafted into a team called Select (The title of the story) She thought it would be all good, until she finally meets the coach. He makes the setting of the team toxic and a horrible place to be in. He clearly plays favorites, and he is a horrible coach overall. (He also has NEVER play competivite soccer)
I love this book! I think it's an inspiring story for standing up for what's right, and defending your beliefs. This is more of a girl power focused story but that doesn't make it bad at all. I think this is my best read this year! Definitely reccomended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2023
Alex loves soccer and she's really, really good. Is playing on a rec team holding her back? When her single mom who works multiple jobs is approached by a soccer coach from an elite travel team inviting her to play for them - with her fees waived - her soccer career starts on a path that Alex is not sure she wants to take. She can't stand her new coach, she has to take public transportation by herself to practice and games, and her teammates are cold towards her. This is a quick read that any middle school girl who plays soccer should love.
July 1, 2023
Honestly, Coach and Alex's mom were almost too one sided bad for me and I really wasn't enjoying it. Alex's mom is so oblivious to her child's joy and talent that it was unrealistic. But Alex, Bell and Jayda are excellent characters.
Matheson doesn't stray from the soccer plot. The soccer descriptions are near perfect! I never had an abusive coach, but the number of news stories about them in high level women's teams shows its an important thing to discuss. I will 100% be recommending this to young soccer players!
Matheson doesn't stray from the soccer plot. The soccer descriptions are near perfect! I never had an abusive coach, but the number of news stories about them in high level women's teams shows its an important thing to discuss. I will 100% be recommending this to young soccer players!
July 10, 2023
This was a fast one for me - maybe due to the fact most of it happened during soccer practices and games. We don’t know a lot about Alex(a), her mom or her seven-year-old sister Belle, but it’s not really about them. It’s about how her new teammates on her Select club team act around their coach, who seems like a pretty big jerk. Some of it was just too good to be true, and I didn’t catch a lot of good writing. I think my seventh grade girls would like it, and if they read it, I hope they find some lessons about how to speak up - at home and at play.
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July 10, 2024I couldn't put this book down. I just love books that fire me up and make me really want to scream at all the other characters in the book for what they did wrong and then storm off. It also reminded me that there is still plenty of sexism left in many people and that they can do and say very mean things. If someone is mean to you, you have to stand up to them. Your gender, religion, color, race, and nationality shouldn't mean you get treated any different by teachers and coaches.
January 20, 2024
I think SO many kids will relate to this book. I really enjoyed it as well. My biggest critique is how quickly time passed—like the season ended and they went to state cup within like a paragraph. It seemed a little choppy because of this. Otherwise I’d definitely recommend—especially to student athletes.
January 20, 2024
Alex has always loved soccer and when she is offered a chance to play on the select Select team, her mother pushes her to accept. Even though most of her new teammates are friendly and her new team is winning, there is something not right about their coach. Will Alex find a way to stand up for herself and her teammates and still be able to play?
August 19, 2024
Girl power, soccer, verbal abuse, and standing up for yourself. In my opinion this is not a whole class read aloud, but I could see where there would be a group of girls reading it with their teacher.
A great read for girls who love soccer and children who are from a single parent home and are struggling financially.
A great read for girls who love soccer and children who are from a single parent home and are struggling financially.
March 1, 2023
I appreciated this soccer story of feminism. I also appreciated the good sister relationship. I liked the rec coach and her enthusiasm and pure love of the game. I wish I could've seen the male coach's comeuppance.
May 8, 2023
This book is great because it shows the struggles of bad parenting and tough coaching. The book shows how standing up to yourself can make a difference, and can inspire readers to do the same.
This book is a must-read; definitely recommend it.
This book is a must-read; definitely recommend it.
November 26, 2024
A possible Truman nominee for 2025, this short read is about the stress that sports can put on a middle schooler vs the fun of playing a sport. Also deals with a coach that bully’s female of all ages and a poor kid.
November 10, 2025
Select is a powerful, fast-paced story about soccer, teamwork, and standing up for what’s right. Even readers who don’t know much about soccer will be pulled in by the action and the heart. This is a great pick for middle schoolers who love stories about courage and sports!
June 9, 2023
Love the focus on soccer and the strength of Alex. Wish the ending would have truly completed the story; many loose ends left the reader hanging.
July 1, 2023
We just finished listening to Select on a long road trip. If your kids like soccer and you need a short book, this one made the trip easier. 3.5 stars.
September 18, 2023
I really love this book it has lots of cliffhangers and is such a sporty book
June 22, 2024
What a great book for any middle schooler, especially one interested in sports. I look forward to recommending it to my students!
July 25, 2024
A quick read about a sporty girl and her club soccer team.
December 16, 2024
It was a good read about girl empowerment
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews