This month is the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not a fan of soccer. I played one disastrous season when I was 10 and said, “Never again.” Thankfully, Thing 1 and Thing 2 only played a couple of seasons of AYSO. With one exception, I would rather rearrange my sock drawer than watch soccer on TV. That exception is the USWNT – the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.
The strength, fortitude, ability, and teamwork of these women always blows me away. I also truly love that no one seems to care if any of the players are queer or straight. From rookies like Alyssa Thompson to veteran Megan Rapinoe (with her trademark pink hair), I can’t wait to see how our team does this year.
In honor of the World Cup, I am reviewing Courage in Her Cleats: The Story of Soccer Star Abby Wambach written by Kim Chaffee, illustrated by Alexandra Badiu, and published by Page Street Kids, 2023.
Abby Wambach was an incredible soccer player who retired in 2015. As stated in the book’s backmatter, during her career on the U.S. Women’s National Team, Abby scored 184 international goals; more than any other U.S. soccer player, male or female. She’s won Olympic gold medals, the FIFA World Cup, and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Abby is also lesbian and happily married to her wife, author Glennon Doyle.
Kim Chaffee’s text highlights Abby’s soccer journey from determined child to tough teenager to triumphant professional. Abby’s motto was always “be loud and clear”, and she used that motto to help lead the Women’s National Team. Chaffee includes several incidents during Abby’s life and career when things didn’t go her way – missed goals, lost games, and injuries. These were tough, “but Abby was tougher.”
Alexandra Badiu’s whimsical illustrations are vibrant and impart the energy and movement of the soccer players with showers of color and shooting stars.
“Though the book focuses solely on Abby’s soccer career—rather than her activism, published books, or other interests—it’s nevertheless a strong work, featuring lively onomatopoeia and threaded with a joyful spirit of perseverance.” (Kirkus reviews)
Wishing the entire USWNT the best of luck in the World Cup and hopefully, we will all be throwing up our hands, yelling, “GOAL!!!!!!!!” a whole heck of a lot. My sock drawer will just have to wait.
Marti Johns 