2014, California
WISE Score
Soccer, mystery, and teamwork collide in Alex Morgan's second installment of The Kicks.
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This is a solid, clean sports read that hits exactly the right notes for its target audience. It’s written by Alex Morgan, so the soccer details feel authentic even if the mystery is a bit 'middle-school drama.'
It’s a great bridge for kids who love sports but aren't yet 'readers.' It doesn't try to be high literature, and it doesn't need to—it's a fun, fast-paced story about girls who love their sport and each other.
Perfect for the 8-12 crowd. It's written at a very accessible level, making it a great pick for soccer-obsessed kids who might usually find reading a chore.
Strong focus on teamwork, female friendship, and handling interpersonal conflict with maturity. It models healthy sportsmanship even when things get messy.
It's a standard contemporary sports mystery. It doesn't break new ground in storytelling, but it effectively uses a 'whodunit' structure to keep kids engaged with a realistic setting.
Extremely safe middle-grade fiction. No profanity, graphic violence, or mature themes. The tension is strictly related to soccer and school-aged social dynamics.
Great for building background knowledge on soccer culture and team ethics. It encourages critical thinking through its mystery elements and promotes persistence.
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