Lily was born to play soccer, or at least that’s how she felt the first time she kicked a soccer ball. She’s good at it too, the best on her team. But when she finds out the hard way that what she thinks is best for her isn’t always best for her team or her family and friends, she must work to earn back everyone’s trust.

Breakaway by Andrea Montalbano is a great book for any girl who loves to play soccer or even watch from the sidelines. Lily’s confidence in her ability to play the game is a good primer for girls to learn how to recognize their skills and use them. Her struggle to look outside herself and learn how to recognize what others have to offer will resonate with anyone who’s ever heard the phrase “there is no ‘I’ in the word team.” I recommend it for girls aged 9 to 12.