Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

Play Like a Girl



by
Misty Wilson
illustrated by
David Wilson

Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
HarperCollins
Imprint
Balzer + Bray
ISBN
9780063064690
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Discrimination: Sexism
$22.18   $18.48
SEE MEMBER PRICE
QTY

Debut author Misty Wilson chronicles her seventh-grade experience as the only girl on her town’s football team in this empowering graphic memoir—illustrated by her husband—about teamwork, friendship, crushes, and touchdowns.

Misty never shies away from a challenge, on or off the field. So when the boys tell her she can’t play football, there’s only one thing to do: join their team and show them what she’s got.

But the training is rougher than she thought—and so are the other guys, who aren’t thrilled about having a girl on their team.

Middle school isn’t so easy, either. Misty wants to fit in with the popular kids, but they think a girl playing football is “weird.” Even her best friend doesn’t get it.

Can Misty find a way to score points with her teammates, make new friends, and show everyone —including herself—what it means to play like a girl?

Author’s note, with photograph. Full-color illustrations.

POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Discrimination: Sexism

Details

Format

Print

Page Count

272

Trim Size

8" x 5 1/2"

Dewey

B

AR

3.1: points 2

Genre

Fic

Scholastic Reading Counts

0

JLG Release

Feb 2023

Book Genres

Autobiography/Biography, Graphic Novels, Sports

Topics

Misty Wilson. Football. Female athletes. School sports. Gender roles. Friendship. Perseverance.

Standard MARC Records

Download Standard MARC Records

Cover Art

Download Cover Art

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

School Library Journal

Library Journal

Gr 5–8—For fans of Shannon Hale and Jennifer Holm, this graphic novel memoir tackles middle school drama on the football field. Misty and her best friend, Bree, decide to join the seventh-grade football team, but they quickly learn that it's not easy to tackle grumpy teammates on the field—or the perils of friendships in the classroom. With no administrative pressures in her way, the only things standing between Misty and her goals are the less-than-welcoming male teammates and her own self-esteem. While the illustration style is inviting and easy to sell to middle grade readers, and the story handles middle school conflicts like shifting friendships in a relatable way, the plot unfolds along a predictable arc, which could prevent readers from feeling fully invested. VERDICT The depiction of football is well done and will be a big draw, but the familiar path of the plot lessens the emotional buy-in for readers. Give this to sports-loving fans of Shannon Hale, Jennifer Holm, Kayla Miller, and Raina Telgemeier.—Aryssa Damron

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

School Library Journal

Library Journal

Gr 5–8—For fans of Shannon Hale and Jennifer Holm, this graphic novel memoir tackles middle school drama on the football field. Misty and her best friend, Bree, decide to join the seventh-grade football team, but they quickly learn that it's not easy to tackle grumpy teammates on the field—or the perils of friendships in the classroom. With no administrative pressures in her way, the only things standing between Misty and her goals are the less-than-welcoming male teammates and her own self-esteem. While the illustration style is inviting and easy to sell to middle grade readers, and the story handles middle school conflicts like shifting friendships in a relatable way, the plot unfolds along a predictable arc, which could prevent readers from feeling fully invested. VERDICT The depiction of football is well done and will be a big draw, but the familiar path of the plot lessens the emotional buy-in for readers. Give this to sports-loving fans of Shannon Hale, Jennifer Holm, Kayla Miller, and Raina Telgemeier.—Aryssa Damron

Grades 5-8
Sports Middle Plus
For Grades 5-8

An action-packed level devoted exclusively to sports. These fiction and nonfiction selections are sure to be a hit with your middle-school sports fans. And the hits arrive each month with this 12 book category.

14 books per Year
$284.62 per Year
Interests
Biographies,Chapter Books/Novels,Diversity,Fiction,History,Nonfiction,Reluctant Readers,Realistic Fiction,Sports
Like this book?
Get more like this every month.
LEARN MORE
Grades 5-8
Sports Middle Plus
14 books per Year
$284.62 per Year

Other Recommended Titles From Sports Middle Plus

Select

by Christie Matheson

Sports Middle Plus

August 2023

Bea and the New Deal Horse

by L. M. Elliott

Sports Middle Plus

July 2023

Sports Middle Plus

June 2023

Hoops

by Matt Tavares

Sports Middle Plus

May 2023
Copyright © 2017 Magento, Inc. All rights reserved.11