From the Publisher
Praise for Out of Our League:
A January/February 2024 Kid's Indie Next Pick!
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2024
"This book is a knockout. All of the stories have so much heart and beauty. The representation across these pages proves there are strong girls of every race, culture, ability, and background who will fight for greatness in sports and in life." —Sam Butler, Bright Side Bookshop, Flagstaff, AZ
"The characters display grit and determination as they learn a new sport or struggle with team dynamics. Impressively inclusive with plenty of appeal for sports lovers and couch potatoes alike." —Kirkus
"[The character's] victories, outside of pushing themselves and winning scores, are personal and political, and offer an inclusive sense of empowerment that inspires." —School Library Journal
Kirkus Reviews
2023-10-21
Short stories featuring a diverse range of teen girls who are learning how to play and compete in different sports.
This compilation featuring many big-name contributors from YA literature not only centers young women’s voices but also showcases their strengths and different abilities, emphasizes the power of team camaraderie, and demonstrates the value of hard-won lessons. Powerlifting, sport climbing, crew, boxing, and ice hockey are all included, alongside more common sports such as softball, soccer, and basketball. Many of the stories include details of fast-paced plays, as in Maggie Hall’s “Sidelined,” in which star basketball player Lexie helps coach the football team to achieve an exciting, game-winning touchdown. The stories put sports front and center, weaving in relevant specifics. One standout, “All for One,” by Yamile Saied Méndez, carefully and heartachingly describes one cheerleader’s struggle with an eating disorder relapse. Kayla Whaley’s “No Love Lost,” written in the format of a screenplay, features wheelchair tennis star Lotte and includes meaningful dialogue about disability in sports. Among the other perspectives are those of Rowan, a teen who’s recently come out as nonbinary, in Marieke Nijkamp’s “Archery,” and Maya, a trans girl in Naomi Kanakia’s “Wrestling” who’s attending an all-boys Catholic school. Thankfully, the stories are not tidy, triumphant sprints across a finish line: The characters display grit and determination as they learn a new sport or struggle with team dynamics.
Impressively inclusive, with plenty of appeal for sports lovers and couch potatoes alike. (Anthology. 12-17)
