Fiction - Sports & Recreation, Fiction - Emotions & Behaviors, Fiction - Schools & Friendship, Fiction - Family Life

Breakaway

Name: Breakaway
Author: Andrea Montalbano
ISBN: 9780142419038

by Andrea Montalbano

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Overview

LJ knows her place in the world is on the soccer field. When she’s out there scoring goals, everything’s right. But being a big-shot on the field has started going to her head. She’s been letting her temper get the best of her—both on the field and off, alienating everyone around her. Everyone except Tabitha, the popular girl who cares more about credit cards than yellow cards and spends most of her time on the bench. But when it’s LJ on the bench instead of Tabitha, forced to be a spectator instead of a star, she realizes that sometimes it takes more skill and guts to make others look good instead of yourself. And that by losing a little glory, you can win more than just championships.

Synopsis

LJ knows her place in the world is on the soccer field. When she's out there scoring goals, everything's right. But being a big-shot on the field has started going to her head. She's been letting her temper get the best of her—both on the field and off, alienating everyone around her. Everyone except Tabitha, the popular girl who cares more about credit cards than yellow cards and spends most of her time on the bench. But when it's LJ on the bench instead of Tabitha, forced to be a spectator instead of a star, she realizes that sometimes it takes more skill and guts to make others look good instead of yourself. And that by losing a little glory, you can win more than just championships.

Publishers Weekly

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 9–12. (May)

About the Author, Andrea Montalbano

Andrea Montalbano lives in Bronxville, New York.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

Children's Literature - Kirsten Shaw

Twelve-year-old Lily James lives and breathes soccer. Nothing feels more natural to her than moving down the pitch with the ball at her feet. When she learns that the state select coach is coming to the game just to see her, she knows she has to impress him—her dream is on the line. But when she blows her chance and is benched for the remainder of the season because of her selfish behavior, she learns that there is more to life than just being the best, like a loving family and good friends. Montalbano provides a great lesson about humility and forgiveness as Lily struggles to come to terms with her failure and her friend's success. Breakaway is a welcome addition to sports literature written especially for girls. Readers will want to be familiar with the sport, as technical jargon is used throughout the book, but it is not a necessity. This is a story any girl that wants to be the best in anything she does can relate to. Reviewer: Kirsten Shaw

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 "Berries or Nuts"—those who occasionally glance up at a game between texting on their BlackBerries and those who are overly obsessed with their child's performance on the field. Even though Lily'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)