Soccerland

by Beth Choat
Reviewed by Gaby Tran

THE STORY:

Flora Dupre, a fourteen year old girl from Acadia, Maine, has dreams of playing soccer for the U-15 U.S. National Team. She is selected to attend an exclusive camp at the International Sports Academy that allows her to play in front of the U.S. coaches, so they can determine whether or not she has the talent and potential to play professionally for the U.S. At first, Flora feels

excluded since it is her first time at the ISA, while other girls have been coming for years, but she quickly gains new friendships. During the duration of the
camp, Flora struggles with learning to have confidence because of her family’s initial disapproval of her soccer aspirations. Her family eventually learns to accept and support her dreams when they discover how important soccer is to Flora, which Flora demonstrates by deciding to stay at the Academy even when her grandfather becomes ill. Playing soccer with some of the best U15 soccer players in the U.S. makes Flora realize the importance of playing as a team instead of individually. Toward the end of camp, with only thirty girls left, the head coach, Matt, decides to switch Flora’s position from attacker to defender. Through her desperate struggles to adapt to her new position, she gains a newfound confidence in herself, causing her to play her best soccer throughout the last couple days of the camp. By the conclusion of the camp, Flora has matured, and now has enough confidence to make her soccer dreams become a reality. (257)

MY OPINION:

The book had an interesting plot, and many could relate to Flora’s insecurity. A strength of this book is that the reader can connect to the conflicts and events that occur throughout the story, which makes this book enjoyable to read. However, the word choice was not as sophisticated as I thought it would be when I initially selected the book. I struggled to find high level vocabulary words because of this. The novel was not complex, so it was easy to understand the conflict and figurative language, making this a book that I would recommend to younger middle school students. The author did a good job of developing the main character, which helped transport the reader into the plot, so they could see through Flora’s eyes. If I could choose my ORB again, I would not choose this book because it lacks the sophistication to be at a reading level for eighth graders. However, I would suggest this book to a friend if the purpose of it was reading for pleasure because the novel had a compelling plot. Out of ten stars, I would give this novel six out of ten because although the story was entertaining, it was not intricate. (202)

STUDY QUESTIONS AND VOCABULARY:

FIRST SECTION

1. What is Soccerland and what is its significance?

1a. Soccerland is a fantasy land that Flora’s mom created to escape reality. She and Flora both share a love of soccer, and they use Soccerland to forget about cancer. (pg. 15)

2. Why is Flora’s father hesitant to let her go to the International Sports Academy (ISA)?

2a. He is frustrated because he feels that he hasn’t been a good father ever since Flora’s mother died, and by letting her go to the Academy, he feels that he can not protect her anymore. (pg. 32)

3. Who is the man who Flora meets right after arriving at the ISA?

3a. He is the head coach of the U15 Girls National Team, who will eventually decide the fifteen girls who will make the US National Team after the conclusion of the camp. (pg. 50)

4. How does Flora feel among the group of one hundred girls at the ISA?

4a. She feels alone because all of the girls have already met each other in previous years or at other soccer events. (pg. 64)

5. Why is Flora frustrated with her father on the phone?

5a. Her father does not understand her dreams of playing soccer and shows apathy toward the events happening at the ISA. She feels neglected and angry because he only cares about the farm back in Maine. (pg. 77)

crested (pg. 8)

slats (pg. 32)

reprimand (pg. 54)

apparatus (pg. 61)

commiserate (pg. 74)

MIDDLE SECTION

6. How has Flora changed since arriving at the Academy?

6a. Flora has matured and grown independent since her arrival at the Academy, but still feels insecure and alone. (pg. 77)

7. What is Flora’s motivation?

7a. Flora wants to make the U-15 National Soccer Team to make her mother proud and to show that soccer was more than a dream to her. (pg. 93)

8. Why does Flora become so upset when the coach asks her to take off her necklace?

8a. Her mother gave her that necklace with a soccer charm on it, and Flora has worn it ever since her mother died because it has special value to her. (pg. 110)

9. How does Flora adapt to changing positions on the soccer field?

9a. At first, Flora is frustrated with the coach and stressed about making more mistakes, but later, she learns that it is necessary to play her best at all the positions. (pg. 122)

10. When Flora’s cousin tells her that her grandfather is extremely ill, how does Flora feel?

10a. Flora wants to stay at the ISA because of her soccer dreams, but she feels guilty for not being there and scared that her grandfather might die. (pg. 154)

pulpit (pg. 81)

liposuction (pg. 91)

deadpanned (pg. 128)

goaded (pg. 140)

locusts (pg. 148)

LAST SECTION

11. What does Flora decide to do when she discovers that her grandfather is ill, and how does her father react?

11a. She decides to stay at the Academy, despite her belief that her family won’t understand her decision. She is relieved, however, when her father tells her that it is best for her to stay there. (pg. 159)

12. Why is coach Matt more critical of Flora than the other girls?

12a. Matt thinks that Flora is the smartest, so he has higher expectations for her due to her high potential. (pg. 179)

13. How does Flora react when Matt tells her she has to play defense permanently?

13a. She feels angry because she feels that Matt is being unfair to her, and she also is terrified because she has never played that position before. (pg. 194)

14. How has Flora’s opinion of Zoe changed since the first day of camp?

14a. She realizes that Zoe is not mean or snobby and eventually becomes friends with her as they work together to win the game. (pg. 203)

15. When Flora does not make the team, what is her reaction?

15a. She is heartbroken and disappointed at first, but later she is optimistic because she knows she will have another chance the next year. (pg. 223)

barreled (pg. 161)

ambling (pg. 162)

menthol (pg. 183)

discombobulated (pg. 202)

implored (pg. 208)