Courage in Her Cleats: The Story of Soccer Star Abby Wambach

by Kim Chaffee, Alexandra Badiu (Illustrator)

Overview

As a child, Abby Wambach was loud and clear about what she wanted and what she didn’t, and she didn’t want to be left out of any competition—especially soccer.

In this powerful biography, readers will dance and dart down fields with Abby as she slingshots—balls thwump… whiz… whoosh—straight into goals, sweating and scoring her way from school league leader to U.S. Women’s National Team star.

The story follows Abby through both success and setbacks because while even pro athletes miss goals, face losses, and can get injured, determined Abby has always been tougher than her toughest challenge.

Readers will cheer on this talented fan favorite as she kicks the legendary U.S. Women’s team toward Olympic fame, while also being reminded that there’s just as much inspiration in Abby’s struggles as in her victories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781645676294
Publisher:	Page Street Publishing
Publication date:	01/10/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kim Chaffee was in seventh grade when she first played soccer and quickly realized she was better at hand-eye coordinated sports than foot-eye ones. She’s always admired the physical and mental toughness of those that play the game at all levels, especially Abby Wambach. Today, Kim carries her courage in her climbing shoes as she learns the new skill of rock climbing. Kim is the author of Her Fearless Run: Kathrine Switzer’s Historic Boston Marathon and Nothing Wee About Me! (both Page Street Kids) and lives with her family in New Hampshire.

Alexandra Badiu Is a children’s book illustrator and visual developer for animation. She grew up in a family of athletes and played soccer herself in elementary school. Having seen her brother struggle with a similar leg injury, she especially sympathizes with the long, hard recovery in Abby’s story. Herself, she sees the importance of patience when firing pottery and helping plants grow. Alexandra lives in Izmir, Turkey.

Editorial Reviews

01/23/2023

Chaffee uses thwumps, whizzes, and whooshes to communicate soccer player Abby Wambach’s (b. 1980) energy and skill in this upbeat tribute to the player’s resilience. Goals and games are lost and won as fast-moving prose narrates the hurdles and triumphs experienced by Wambach as an Olympian; a refrain, “But Abby was tougher,” emphasizes the athlete’s fierce determination. A major injury demonstrates the figure’s emotional fortitude when she must cheer on the U.S. Olympic women’s team from a hospital bed. Angular digital graphics by Badiu present Wambach alongside teammates of varying skin tones. Starry ribbons of electric pink and purple trail the figure in the lead-up to goals, gendering moments of athletic prowess while emphasizing her sensational success. Includes author note, glossary, and bibliography. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"[A] strong work, featuring lively onomatopoeia and threaded with a joyful spirit of perseverance [...] Sure to win over young sports fans." —Kirkus Reviews

"[C]hronicles [Abby Wambach's] successes, failures and never-give-up spirit [...] Add to collections where sports bios are popular." —School Library Journal

"Chaffee and Badiu vibrantly relay soccer star Abby Wambach's career, emphasizing her persistence and devotion to the game [...] A fun and inspiring picture book for children who admire athletes or love soccer." —Booklist

"Chaffee uses thwumps, whizzes, and whooshes to communicate soccer player Abby Wambach's energy and skill in this upbeat tribute to the player's resilience." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

12/01/2022

Gr 2–4—Soccer star Abby Wambach did not become a champion overnight. This picture book biography chronicles her successes, failures, and never-give-up spirit that drove her to the Olympics. The text is presented with one or two sentences per paragraph and up to three paragraphs per page. It is punctuated with occasional onomatopoeia to create from repetition a certain rhythm. Badiu shows Wambach in scene after scene in full-blown action; most of these are realistic, but some take on a fantasy quality as she emits pink and purple sparkles. Among the other players, it's a little difficult to identify Wambach at first, as she is depicted without her iconic short blonde hairstyle. Back matter includes additional biographical information, a bibliography, and a glossary of soccer terms. VERDICT Add to collections where sports bios are popular.—Chance Lee Joyner

School Library Journal

2022-11-16
Soccer legend Abby Wambach is celebrated in this vivacious picture-book biography.

Abby was always on a team, whether as the youngest of seven spirited children or a member of her soccer team as a child, so she learned early that to be recognized in a group, you have to be “loud and clear.” After graduating from high school, she joined the University of Florida women’s soccer team. Soon she was chosen for the U.S. Women’s National Team. It didn’t take long for Abby to become a top goal scorer and a leader on the team. Then an exhibition game ahead of the 2008 Olympics led to a serious leg injury, preventing Abby from playing with the team as they sought gold in Beijing. Still, she was determined to encourage her team and recover so she could get back on the pitch. Chaffee uses Abby’s cleats to embody her boldness, grounding the narrative and carrying it forward with purpose. This clever choice is complemented by Badiu’s occasional use of whimsical plumes of sparkling color in shades of purple and coral that bloom from the cleats. Confetti bursts from these vibrant clouds as Abby scores her 100th career goal. 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. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sure to win over young sports fans. (information on Wambach, glossary of soccer terms, bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews