Mia and friends

Gr 2--4--This story of Mia Hamm and her teammates on the U.S. National Soccer Team is as fast-paced and energetic as the games that are televised. It begins with Mia at age two, wearing corrective shoes, but determined to join her father and brother kicking the ball around. Readers follow Mia as she catches the eye of the national coach and joins the national team at age 15. The increasing popularity of women's soccer is traced through the Women's World Championship competitions in 1991 and 1995, the Olympics in 1996, and the record-breaking attendance at the 1999 Championship. Illustrations capture the constant motion of the players, their emotions on and off the field, and the cheering crowds. Rows of trading cards show the lineup for the team at each of the major events. Other pages feature the national flags of the competing teams or scoreboards for the various matches. Back matter includes selected sources, professional highlights for each of the teammates, as well as a section on their courageous fight for equal pay and benefits. There are even quotes from current players about how these women inspired them. Those players who are quoted also appear as young fans within the book. VERDICT An immersive look at the world of women's soccer that makes for an enjoyable read for those who are sports fans, and even those who are not.--Suzanne Costner

A kicky tribute to the iconic soccer star and her spectacularly talented teammates on the U.S. national women's team. Gray's fizzily exuberant account of Hamm's triumphant progress--from first feats on the pitch at age 2 in 1974 to the U.S. team's 1999 Women's World Cup victory--is cranked up to 11 by Hess' close-ups of her wide-eyed delight, full-bore game action punctuated with many a "BOOM!" "POW!" "WOOSH!" and wild, unrestrained celebratory piles after each win. Along the way, readers see young Mia cope with moodiness, feelings of alienation, and frequent moves because of her father's Air Force job. Soccer became a grounding force for her, and finding other young women who also loved the sport made her feel less alone. Fast-paced game scenes will entice sports fans; for historically minded readers, team rosters and scoring summaries anchor each major competition, and a closing section brings the post-1999 professional exploits of each member of the team up to the present. Just as the art vividly captures the players' infectious intensity and athleticism, the larger overall story of how the team lit up a new interest in the sport in the United States, particularly among girls, makes equally compelling reading. Both the player galleries and crowd scenes feature clear racial diversity in skin tones and facial features. A high-intensity shot for the goal. (sources, photograph) (Graphic nonfiction. 10-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.