Becky Sauerbrunn

Gr 4–7—In soccer, Rebecca "Becky" Sauerbrunn is known for her superb accomplishments, physical ability, and fierce determination. Born in 1985, she grew up in a St. Louis suburb as the youngest child and only daughter in her family. Her stamina in sports can be traced back to life with two older brothers whose playful antics did not deter her one bit. In elementary school, she was often the only girl on the soccer team. As she became older, she distinguished herself in awesome ways and made indelible impressions on her various coaches. Her passion for soccer and learning was remarkable. The author, a former sports journalist, does a commendable job in describing this athlete. The writing is engaging and presents a balanced viewpoint—Seigerman does point out areas where Sauerbrunn fell short. He elaborates on contributions Sauerbrunn is making to the future of women's soccer, particularly her involvement in the 2016 complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding wage inequity among women's and men's national soccer teams.