Breakaway

Title: Breakaway

 

Author: Andrea Montalbano

 

Summary: LJ feels best when she is scoring goals on the field and playing soccer. Not only does she enjoy it, but she's good at it too. However, because she thinks she is so good, she tends to take the ball and become a "one man show" rather than play with her team, which includes new popular girl, Tabitha who LJ just may be becoming friends with. When she is suspended and made to sit on the sidelines, though, she realizes that she has to learn to lose her temper and become a team player.

 

Comments: This book would definitely be best enjoyed by those who play soccer. There is some soccer terminology in it that could be confusing to the reader who has no experience in the sport or a sport of that kind. I personally didn't enjoy this book, but I'm not a soccer fan or anything - I just couldn't relate to the character. For me, LJ was just so unlikeable and throughout the whole book she was full of self-praise. In the end she claimed to learn a lesson, but from a reader's perspective I did not see enough character or personality growth descriptions that reflected what she had supposedly learned. I feel like she may have just forced herself to learn something so she could have a chance at participating in the big game despite her suspension.

I found the "rich girl" Tabitha to be very stereotyped, with a driver and mansion and maid and such. She didn't have the stereotypical personality though, so I guess I can let that slide.

 

This could have the potential to be a good book for the earlier reader and soccer player, but it "fell short of the goal" for me.

 

Complaints: All complaints written in comments.

 

Rating: 3 stars