Voice of Youth Advocates

In All Heart, the young readers’ adaptation of her memoir When Nobody Was Watching, Lloyd recounts her soccer career from her elementary school days playing on her town’s youth soccer team to being named FIFA’s World Player of the Year. This book will have highest appeal for soccer fans; others may tire of the detailed descriptions of soccer matches and may be confused by the jargon Lloyd uses. Those who read the book will find Lloyd warm and forthcoming as she details her challenges on and off the pitch. Her familiar tone can, at times, be confusing, as she uses different combinations for nicknames, first names, and last names when referring to her teammates, sometimes making it unclear exactly who is who. The use of present-tense when describing past events is jarring, especially in the early sections of the book. Lloyd’s success is the result of relentless hard work and training, both physical and mental. She is not shy about sharing her struggles with self-doubt and self-criticism, as well as problems with family, coaches, and teammates; but she does so in a positive and respectful manner. Lloyd is a good role model for pursuing dreams with dedication and determination no matter the circumstances or setbacks. Purchase this book for collections where inspirational sport stories or athlete memoirs are popular.—Bethany Martin.

Kirkus Reviews

Writing with sports journalist Coffey, Lloyd presents a play-by-play recap of her progress from elementary school soccer novice to World Cup player and winner of 2015's FIFA Golden Ball and Silver Boot.In this young readers' adaptation of her memoir for adults, When Nobody Was Watching (2016), Lloyd seems to remember with total recall every game she's ever played, recapping them in a direct, detailed, blow-by-blow manner that is sure to confuse anyone who isn't as into soccer as she is. Of course, her audience is likely to be a self-selected one. But soccer detail isn't the only reason to read this book. All too often, it is easy to look at heroes of many stripes and think that success came to them easily. Lloyd makes it clear that her path was never easy, never without commitment, never without sacrifice, and, most of all, never without discipline and a lot of hard work. Her path covered a lot of ups and downs, and there were key people along the way who made her success the eventual inevitable goal…along with those who deserted and disappointed her. Narrating in the first person, Lloyd is frank about such difficulties as her estrangement from her family, telling readers, "I don't hear from any of them after the [2012] Olympics, though they do send me a card. I can't believe it has been four years since we've had any relationship to speak of." True to real life, her story does not unfold neatly, with a clear narrative arc, but her character comes through loud and clear.Not for lovers of soccer only: readers after inspiration to keep playing, regardless of the odds, will find plenty here. (photos, index) (Memoir. 10-14)

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

With Wayne Coffey. This readable and reflective adaptation of When Nobody Was Watching, Lloyd's memoir for adults, traces the soccer superstar's rise to fame. A simple first-person narrative, permeated with game highlights and soccer jargon, describes how she overcame challenges--including clashes with family members and coaches, injuries, recurring self-doubt, and unrealistic perfectionism--to become "one of soccer's best." With color photo inserts. Ind.

ALA Booklist (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Despite being named the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, winning two Olympic gold medals in women's soccer, and being instrumental in clinching the 2015 Women's World Cup, Lloyd's successes did not come easy. In this memoir for young readers, adapted from her New York Times best-seller When Nobody Was Watching (2016), Lloyd highlights her constant struggles with self-criticism and her quest for perfection, which often leave her feeling like an underachiever. She begins with being cut in 2003 from the U.S. Under-21 soccer team and how it drove her more to become one the country's best female soccer athletes. Her conversational narrative then takes readers step-by-step through her ups and downs both on and off the playing field, including her intense personal training, initial trouble fitting in among her teammates and with coaches, and troubled relationship with her parents. While soccer fans will especially enjoy the detailed descriptions of key matches from her career, there's much to glean about teamwork and determination for any teen. An inspiring story of perseverance.

School Library Journal (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Gr 5-8 This young readers edition of Lloyd's adult title, When Nobody Was Watching , details her life as a professional soccer player. Beginning with her childhood experiences on community club teams, Lloyd provides a comprehensive chronicle of her athletic perseverance: using rejection to work harder, coping with disappointment, overcoming obstacles, and relishing the hard-earned professional and personal achievements that come with such dedication. This commitment is evident from Lloyd's time in college through later years when she pursued Olympic and World Cup glory. With simple sentence structure and a straightforward narrative, this book is appropriately designed for its audience. It predominantly focuses on a play-by-play of the many tryouts, teams, practices, and games of Lloyd's career, with brief glimpses of the politics behind the game and rare details of her personal life. The prose is replete with soccer terms and jargon, which may make the narrative more difficult for readers less familiar with the sport. Still, the central themes of hard work, diligence, ambition, and tenacity make Lloyd's story an inspiration for all readers, especially tweens looking for strong role models. VERDICT Purchase where avid soccer fans seek motivational accounts of favorite players. Paige Rowse, Needham High School, MA