Soccer Queens

Gr 3 Up–In his latest collection of poetry honoring athletes, Smith turns his attention to the U.S. Women’s National Soccer League. Twelve punchy, energetic poems celebrate 13 of the United States’s most well-known players, with a final poem dedicated to the 1999 U.S. World Cup team. While Smith says in notes at the back of the book that each poem is meant to emphasize “what made each of them stand out,” this goal is achieved with varying degrees of success. For instance, a poem about Tobin Heath relies on her number, and Mia Hamm’s is a sparse acrostic: “Motivation/ In/ Action.” Vibrant action shots of the titular player accompany each poem; the players’ uniforms are highlighted in a palette of neon pinks that pop against muted pastel backgrounds. The concluding note offers insight into several of the players featured, the poems, and the forms used; even with this added context, however, the collection feels a bit superficial. Still, it may please young soccer fans or fill a gap in some collections.