Dan Gutman's The Million Dollar Kick does for soccer what his The Million Dollar Shot did for basketball. Whisper Nelson, a seventh grader living in Oklahoma City, enters a competition to create the best slogan (the Million Dollar Kick Contest at the Donut City) and wins "the chance to take a single shot against the Kick goalkeeper Carmen Applegate for a million dollars." Once again the author works into the story line a plethora of tips and facts about the game, making this a book for reluctant players and soccer fans alike.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Gr 5-8-Seventh-grader Whisper can't stand soccer. Her little sister is the family sports star. However, Whisper is the one who is tapped for a contest promotion and she must try to kick a goal past the town's leading professional star in front of a whole stadium full of soccer fanatics. The prize is one million dollars, but Whisper isn't sure the potential humiliation is worth it. She suspects that no one in her family really believes she can do it. Her classmates don't offer much support either. It seems her only ally is Jesse, a self-styled "computer nerd," and Whisper doesn't know if she wants to be seen with him, even if he has created a laptop simulation that could help her succeed. Gutman paints a sharp, funny portrait of middle-school society. The dialogue rings true and the various cliques and subgroups will strike a familiar chord with adolescent readers. This is an exciting sports story with a compelling message about individuality and self-confidence, as well as a touch of romance.

Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Gr. 5-8. Thirteen-year-old Whisper Nelson hates soccer--and many other things about her life as a middle schooler at the bottom of the social food chain. One day she allows little sister Briana, a soccer ace, to enter her in a contest to make up a new slogan for Oklahoma City's women's soccer team. The winner is allowed a kick against the team's professional goalkeeper, with a $1 million prize for a successful goal. Of course, shy, unhappy Whisper writes the slogan that wins, and her dealing with the publicity blitz and training for the kick once she decides to take the risk pull the story along to a highly satisfying and terrifically suspenseful conclusion. Gutman captures Whisper's pain and dry wit beautifully in this strong story about a teen getting through tough times. Anne O'Malley

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.