Soccer Sabotage: A Graphic Guide Adventure

by Liam O'Donnell, Mike Deas (Illustrator)

Nadia is playing for her local soccer team, and they have made it all the way to the national tournament―against some very determined opposition. Unfortunately, Nadia's challenges don't just come from her opponents but from her teammates as well. After their coach is injured in a suspicious accident and the threats against the team mount, it is up to Nadia and her younger brother Devin to pull the team together and take a run at the championship. Another wild ride!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Comics

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

I’m an award-winning author, educator and literacy advocate. I have created over 35 graphic novels and books specifically for reluctant readers, including Max Finder Mystery, Graphic Guide Adventures, Geeked Out Mysteries and two new series Tank & Fizz and Battle of the Blocks.

Visit liamodonnell.com and say hi! That'd be awesome.

Reviews

[Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy and his friend. He scored a goal. I like this book because this book is very good.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Library Thing early reviewers. This is one book from an interesting graphic novel series that combines fiction with facts (Graphic Guide Adventures). Brief blurbs with soccer information appear throughout the book. Some sections with soccer instruction are better woven into the story than others but the sections that are not do not really disrupt the flow of the story. The factual information about soccer is fairly basic and would not be useful to children who are experienced soccer players but for those interested in playing or just understanding the game on a beginner level, it is perfect. I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would. The coach and players on a girls' soccer team are being sabotaged as they compete for the championship. The team's two young assistants take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of who is trying to hurt the team. This would be appealing to both girls and boys as the two assistants are younger boys and the team is all girls and both perspectives are well-represented. Any child with an interest in soccer would appreciate the action surrounding the games as well.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as strong on the educational content as some of the other offerings in this series, but still a good read. I didn't finish it with the feeling I could play soccer, though, like I did with skateboarding after reading Ramp Rats.

The Orca rep at ALA gave me a copy of this one when I'd raved about the others in this series--I love how information gets slipped in so that kids don't even realize they're learning things.

[Mal]

it was mystical. it had a lot of mysteries in it. it was a graphic novel about a soccer championship.

[Joona Havia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was good for people who like soccer and comic books and people who are not so good in English yet. It can help people who have just started soccer or just are beginners because in the book there are instructions to pass or how to shoot the ball. My own opinion about the book is the book was really good for me because my English is not so good yet to read like long novels and stuff. For me, the instructions about passing and shooting do not help me because I am not a beginner in soccer. It was also a funny way to teach a beginner in football.

[Brayden Latimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a middle grades graphic novel that talks about friends Devin and Nadia as they try to uncover who’s sabotaging their soccer team. The story combines the thrill of a soccer tournament with a mystery that keeps readers engaged as the friends work together to solve it. This graphic novel would be sopmething I kept in my future classroom because it blends sports action (which I love!!!) with problem solving and teamwork, making it both exciting and relatable for young athletes.

[Jack Shope]

I would highly recommend this book because the suspense and drama is amazing.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I'm like "wow maybe I should do this as many new books as possible thing next year too." Then I read this...

[Faron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Soccer Sabotage a lot. Devin was my favorite character.

[Shel]

O’Donnell, L. (2009). Soccer Sabotage: A graphic guide adventure. Custer, WA: Orca Book Publishers.



9781551438849



Devin, the little brother to the team captain of the Lions soccer team tags along as an assistant coach to the Under-18 Canadian National Championships. While at practice, their coach is seriously injured and Devin suspects a foul play. (Ha! I’m hilarious)



While presenting a mystery, this graphic novel—one in a larger series—pauses the narrative occasionally to explain some of the proper techniques to play soccer, such as working as a team, being a good team captain, controlling the ball, defending, and scoring.



I like that the story features a women’s soccer team, but is still predominantly following the events with a boy. This should help both genders to engage with the text. Devin’s presence stops the graphic novel from becoming a “girl book,” but also shows girls’ being athletic and strong. It is also interesting to note, that there are multiple minority figures on the soccer team and all of the girls, except one, are shown to be skinny. While it is possible to make the argument that these are characters who are among the best at their sport, so of course they should all be healthy. An argument could also be made that there is “one token heavy girl.” Pick your side.



The illustrations neither hinder nor improve upon the story. The language and dialogue are neither painful nor poetic to read. Together the art and words express the information and narrative well, without distracting from their lessons or overall story. The mystery itself is fairly well crafted with multiple suspects.





Activities to do with the book:



This graphic novel would be great for a reluctant reader who is crazy about soccer, or for a little extra homework for middle grade members of a soccer team.



Students could also create their own panels of illustrations contributing their own knowledge about how to play soccer, or even make comics for other sports.



Students could also create a chart or poster of possible suspects and motives for hurting the Lions’ captain. While this technique could help organize all stories, with this book students have the fun pretence of pretending to be a detective.



A soccer team could try to reenact some of the games to learn the lessons presented in the book. Soccer Sabotage could also be used as a cautionary tale to encourage goodwill among team members.





Favorite Quotes:



“They call soccer the beautiful game. Watch international stars like Ronaldo or Beckham play the game and you’d have to agree. Watch my sister Nadia and you’d have your doubts.”



“I’m coach for less than a minute and I’ve already got a mutiny on my hands.”



“Maybe I’d read too many detective comics, but seeing Nate lying on the ground sent my stomach tumbling and that told me one thing: This wasn’t an accident. Nate was pushed.”

For more of my reviews, visit sjkessel.blogspot.com.

[Ms. Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

SOCCER SABOTAGE would be perfect for reluctant readers. It tells the story of a sister playing for the soccer championships and her brother as the water boy for the team, told in graphic format. When the team's coach is pushed down the stairs and hospitalized, Nadia takes over as coach and Devin goes sleuthing to find out who is behind the sabotage. The illustrations are a bit too "campy" for me, but I don't think they will bother the intended audience. I like how the author combines a sports story with a mystery--a great way to hook those reluctant readers. There's nothing here that will surprise you, but not a bad story. C rating.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For SLJ.

[Alfredo]

this book was about a kid who had a big passion for soccer. he did his best to be the best. he would do anything for soccer but struggled outside of soccer.