The Beautiful Game

A powerful story about family, fútbol, and playing like a girl, perfect for fans of Front Desk, The Academy, and, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret from the award-winning author of Furia.

At twelve years old, Valeria "Magic" Salomón is already the best soccer player her town has ever seen. She has talent in spades and an abuelo whose tough-love coaching and lessons about “strength and honor” have made her the star of the Overlords, the top boys’ team in the state.  

Then everything changes at the State Cup semifinal. After an embarrassing moment on the field, Valeria’s team is unexpectedly eliminated and everyone who used to treat her as their secret weapon now sees her as their weakest link. Soon, she doesn’t have a team at all anymore. She’s not sure she has a relationship with her grandfather either.   
 
Valeria’s a fighter, however. With the help of her grandmother and support of her cheerleader BFF, she finds herself on a girls’ team for the first time. But the Amazons aren’t exactly excited to have her there. After all, Valeria’s spent years ignoring their existence. With the next tournament looming on the horizon, Valeria has a month to figure out her place on her new team and learn how to play like a girl.  
 
The award-winning author of Furia returns to the world of “the beautiful game” in this uplifting, heartfelt novel about family, self-confidence, and the power of second chances.

About the author

Yamile Saied Méndez is the author of many books for young readers, including Furia, a Reese's YA Book Club selection and the 2021 Inaugural Pura Belpré Young Adult Gold Medalist. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina and currently lives in Utah. An Inaugural Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she is also a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She’s a founding member of Las Musas, a marketing collective of Latine authors. You can find her online at yamilemendez.com or on Instagram @yamilesmendez.

Product details

• Authors: Yamile Saied Méndez, Yamile Saied Méndez
• Publisher: Workman
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 03.03.2026
• EAN: 9781523532414
• ISBN: 978-1-5235-3241-4
• No. of pages: 336
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 210 mm x 21 mm
• Subjects: Children's and young people's books; JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Multigenerational, JUVENILE FICTION / Girls & Women, JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Soccer, Caribbean islands, People & places (Children's / Teenage), Family & home stories (Children's / Teenage), Latin America – Mexico, Central America, South America, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Football / soccer (Children's / Teenage), Sporting stories (Children's / Teenage), Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Sporting stories, JUVENILE FICTION / Places / Caribbean & Latin America