STEALING THE SCORE

When the chance to win an extravagant World Cup prize package is announced, three 13-year-old superfans in Miami must overcome their rivalries to complete a scavenger hunt—and help their soccer idol when things go wrong.

Chinese American Ethan Yang and his best friend, white-presenting Sasha Ward, can’t believe it. They just watched their favorite soccer player, the legendary Luis “El Botín” Alamilla, help Venezuela qualify for the World Cup—and then El Botín announced a competition to win a lavish bundle of gifts, including opening ceremony and match tickets and a replica of his seemingly magical cleats. Also vying for the prize is Venezuelan American soccer influencer, Mateo Flores, who seemingly has it all. But when first El Botín’s real boots and then the man himself go missing, the soccer world is sent into a tailspin. As it turns out, Ethan, Sasha, and Mateo each have a piece of the puzzle, and they must set aside their individual drive to win to work together and save their fútbol hero. Told from the leads’ third-person points of view, the story skillfully weaves together themes of perseverance and the transformative forces of friendship and teamwork to celebrate the unifying power of soccer. Liu carefully explores the pressures and expectations each young teen faces and shows how they persist through their individual challenges and help others who are struggling.

In this charming soccer-themed adventure that combines action with emotional growth, “la magia es real.”