Fútbol is the most important thing in twelve-year-old Valeria Salomón’s life, especially when life feels like it’s turning against her. But when Val gets her first period in the middle of the most important soccer game of her life (so far), the fallout slide tackles her into a summer harder than she’d ever imagined. In this delightful middle-grade read full of attitude, Val is forced to dig deep, figure out who she is as a teammate, friend, and daughter, and- most importantly- learn to play like a girl.
The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez, (List Price: $16.99, Algonquin Young Readers, 9781643753980, September 2024)
Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia