Throw Like a Girl

October 15, 2019
An impulsive punch in a high-profile game ends up costing softball star Olive Rodinsky almost everything she values. High school junior Liv--or "O-Rod"--is willing to try just about anything to play again...even supercute Grey Worthington's crazy plan that she could be his backup quarterback. Liv's toughness and talent shine through in the detailed portrayals of football training, practices, and games; while the thrills of the sport aren't downplayed, the hard work and injuries (the risks of concussion are a running subplot) are ever present. And if her sweet romance with Grey feels a bit rushed, the strength Liv draws from coaches, teammates, and friends comes through as rock solid. It's an unexpected delight to read a "girl on the football team" plot that does not revolve around sexist objections (not that Liv doesn't encounter a few); nor are homophobic attacks on her sister, her mother's cancer, her family's precarious financial situation or race (Liv and Grey are white; supporting characters are realistically ethnically diverse) made the focus. Instead, Liv's major obstacle is learning to forgive and trust again: the family who doesn't respect her decisions; the teammates who keep secrets; the boyfriend with an agenda; and, above all, her own flawed, complicated, driven, triumphant self. This charming sports story reflects classic tropes of the genre while still feeling fresh and relevant. A winner. (Fiction. 12-18)

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November 11, 2019
Olive “Liv” Rodinsky, 16, is a softball phenom, lauded by the private school she attends on scholarship. But when Liv takes a swing at an opposing player who makes a homophobic remark about Liv’s older sister, she and her scholarship are abruptly suspended. Her family’s finances are already strained from her mother’s cancer treatments, so Liv enrolls at the local public high school (also the alma mater of the girl she socked and several rival players who aren’t anxious to have Liv on their team). There, she is unexpectedly recruited by handsome Grey, injured star quarterback and son of the school’s softball coach, to join the football team. Liv jumps at the opportunity, hoping to curry favor and place on the softball team. Determined and talented as a quarterback, Liv steals both Grey’s starting spot and his heart. Henning offers a fun romance twined with a fast-paced sports story, and a headstrong protagonist who is easy to champion. Liv’s relationship with Grey is the perfect mix of heat and heart, and her acceptance by the all-male football team, refreshingly easy. There is little doubt where the story is headed, but drama both on- and off-the-field propel this feel-good underdog story about a girl who refuses to quit. Ages 12–up. Agent: Whitney Ross, Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

December 6, 2019

Gr 7 Up-Liv is a 16-year-old softball player at Windsor Prep who has a lot on her mind. Her mom has breast cancer, and Stacey, a rival teammate, bad-mouths Liv's sister for being a lesbian. At the same time, Liv loses her scholarship to private school. Coach Kitt offers Liv a spot on the public school's softball team, if she will manage the boys' football team. She gets closer to injured quarterback Grey, then discovers that the reason for her spot on the team is a lie. This book will resonate with readers who love sports. Liv is an ideal character for teens to look up to, as she makes a few small mistakes but is still able to prevail. There are some stereotypical characters, such as the mean head cheerleader who gives tomboy Liv a hard time. However, there is also some welcome realism, like that Grey doesn't easily waltz onto the field after sustaining a concussion. This book is appropriate for younger readers as there is no sex and only mild swearing. VERDICT This feel-good sports novel is recommended for public libraries and junior high readers.-Amy Lukich, Tinley Park Public Library, IL

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
Grades 8-11 Liv Rodinsky has softball on the brain: she's a star player at Windsor Prep, the private school she attends on a scholarship. But when a girl from the rival Northland team makes homophobic comments about Liv's sister, the Windsor Prep coach, during an already heated game, Liv decks her. Windsor Prep has a zero-tolerance policy, so Liv loses her scholarship and heads to Northland, a public school, for her junior year. The girl she hit may have graduated, but her teammates and coach remember, and if Liv wants to make Northland's softball team, she'll have to convince them she can be a team player. Then injured Northland quarterback Grey Worthington turns up with a crazy idea: he needs a backup quarterback, Liv has a good arm, and if she can survive the Northland football team, she can make any team. Fantasy writer (Sea Witch, 2018) and former sports journalist Henning offers up a scrappy contemporary debut in the vein of Morgan Matson. Sports fans and romance lovers unite?there's plenty to satisfy both teams here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)