Ten: A Soccer Story

Flint, Shamini. Ten: A Soccer Story. 2017. 176p. ISBN 978-0-544-85001-9. Available at FIC FLI on the library shelves.

The year is 1986, and the soccer World Cup is being played in Mexico. Eleven-year-old Maya considers herself to be the Brazilian team’s biggest fan, and she especially loves Zico, a dashing midfield and arguably one of the best players of the game. Maya’s enthusiasm for all things Brazil and Zico include watching the games even if they are late at night, and reliving the games in her head. Itching to play soccer, Maya is a typical girl. Except for the fact that she is Malaysian, has never touched a soccer ball in her life, and doesn’t know of any girls’ teams in the area.

When she gets her first soccer ball, she’s really excited. She cannot wait to be the best soccer player ever. But playing soccer is hard, especially if there is no one to teach you how to play. Her English father and her Indian mother are experiencing a rocky patch in their marriage, and life at home is hard with her older brother Rajiv. Slowly gaining skills, Maya manages to attract more girls to her group during recess at her private school. As her parents’ marriage disintegrate, soccer is the one thing that keeps her centered. When a girls’ soccer tournament is announced in town, Maya is hopeful that her small group will be able to play. The only question is, are they ready or, like Brazil’s Zico in 1986, will they fail spectacularly?

A great sports novel, Ten realistically portrays the struggles of a girl trying to do something different, and provides a good exposure to a culture most Americans are not familiar with. Fans of girls overcoming the odds in the sports world will appreciate this book. Readers who enjoy this book should look to DJ’s basketball tribulations in Dairy Queen and  Lucy's adventures in Playing with the Boys.