Happy Like Soccer

K-Gr 3—Nothing makes Sierra happier than playing soccer, especially now that she has been picked for a new team where she gets to play on a smooth field instead of the ragtag lot near her home. But there is sadness, too, because her auntie, with whom Sierra lives, has to work on Saturdays and can't watch her play. Sierra plays hard in every game, but longs to have someone she knows rooting on the sidelines. When her aunt's boss lets her switch her shift at the restaurant so she can go to Sierra's last game, they celebrate with a made-up dance and cherry cake. Unfortunately, the game is canceled because of rain. Sierra asks Coach Marco if he can reschedule it on her aunt's day off, at the lot near their apartment. Happy to be playing in front of her auntie and neighbors, Sierra runs so fast, it feels like flying. This tender story, written in lyrical text, perfectly blends the protagonist's joy at playing her favorite sport with the loneliness of being the new kid in unfamiliar territory. Castillo's muted colors reflect the narrator's thoughtful mood. Sierra's and her auntie's shaded skin tones and the spreads of the long bus ride from their city neighborhood to the suburban soccer field enhance the text by subtly suggesting why Sierra feels slightly out-of-place while playing with her new team. This quiet gem is lovely for one-on-one sharing.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT