Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Montalbano, who played soccer as a child and in college, taps into her love and knowledge of the game in her fast-paced debut novel. Initial descriptions of 12-year-old Lily's passion for soccer can be a little much, but the prose soon lightens (""Lily mentally lumped the dads at the game into two categories: Berries and Nuts. The Berries were the one with BlackBerries in holsters.... The Nuts were the dads who took the game way too seriously""). Lily is determined to lead her team to victory in the league championship, which they lost in the finals the year before. Her plan to impress a coach who's scouting for a select team backfires when she hogs the ball, resulting in a two-game suspension. Lily's interactions with family members and with two very different friends are as credible as the on-field action, as she learns the importance of teamwork in all aspects of her life. A crackerjack, play-by-play account of the season finale brings the story to a winning ending. It's an ideal pick for readers more interested in scoring goals than boyfriends. Ages 9%E2%80%9312. (May)

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8 Lily, 12, is the star of her soccer travel team. When her coach notices that her temper tantrums and self-centeredness prevent her from being the team player she could be, he benches her. There are several didactic monologues interspersed among some excellent play-by-play action scenes as Lily learns to overcome her disappointment and gain a better perspective. Montalbano brings a bit of humor to the story by describing parents of players as either &4;Berries or Nuts&4;those who occasionally glance up at a game between texting on their BlackBerries and those who are overly obsessed with their child&9;s performance on the field. Even though Lily&9;s thorough transformation appears to be a bit abrupt, soccer-playing readers will recognize some of her traits either in themselves or in others and enjoy this tale of friendship through teamwork. Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Kirkus Reviews

Twelve-year-old Lily is a soccer dynamo. Along with her best friend and teammate Vee, she longs to be chosen for the state select team. The volatile combination of Lily's short temper and single-minded focus on personal success not only causes her to be suspended from her team, however, but also costs her that coveted spot on the state team. Under the gentle guidance of her coach, Lily's forced inactivity leads to her reevaluate her goals both on and off the field. Montalbano's love of the game is clearly evident in the detailed, technical descriptions of each play. Her depiction of youth sports tackles fanatical fans, overbearing parents and jealous peers. While the action is fast-paced, the story line takes a few detours, with several intriguing subplots that are hinted at yet remain unexplored. Although readers may find this frustrating, how Lily learns to manage herself and her game remains compelling and provides a valuable life lesson for both her and readers. Perhaps a sequel is in order? (Fiction. 8-12)

ALA Booklist

Seventh-grade soccer star Lily James learns hard lessons about teammates and team playing when ball hogging earns her a two-game suspension at the same time that an angry, impulsive gesture leads to hours of washing dishes and windows in her father's restaurant to pay for a broken sign. Friendship issues, class differences, and the tensions of an extended family in a small house all play a part in this coming-of-age story, but its central concern is soccer, as both a physical and a psychological game. First-time novelist Montalbano, former cocaptain of her college team, writes convincingly, including appealing details of Lily's practice sessions with best friend Vee and new friend Tabitha as well as suspenseful play-by-play game descriptions that will be welcomed by middle-school soccer enthusiasts. Like Lily, though, they may want to ignore the excellent advice of her coach and her mother, given in homilies that go on just a bit too long. An awkward story line and too-convenient ending are redeemed by the fast-paced action, which is certain to appeal.