Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

It's never fun to be the kid that never wins ribbons or prizes in sports. I can say I was the younger sibling that didn't have the desk full of trophies from tennis or cross-country. My parents never pushed me in that field, but I felt it. All the time.

Rosie is an only child, but she hates the pressure of racquetball. She keeps telling her dad she's not good at the sport, and he tells her she'd be happy if she won a medal. (Yeah, that's parent-of-the-year material right there.) After tossing her racquet in the trash, Rosie goes to town and meets a new friend after tripping on her bike. Blair is a racquetball master, and maybe can help get Rosie the medal she needs to quit the sport entirely. To top it all off, Blair is really cool and everyone loves her.

A really fun story, that also shows why communication is important. We need to set our boundaries, while also remembering that when the joy vanishes in a hobby, it's okay to say you are done.

The details here are unique, probably the first I've seen racket ball as a plot element. Detail aside, it's a fairly standard narrative of parental expectations, especially as relates to sports.

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. The downfall was that I requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before the book was archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

The titles gives a big clue about what the graphic novel is about.

Rosie’s father wants her to compete in a racketball tournament. As much as Rosie tries, she never quite gets the perfect Z serve.

Rosie’s arch nemesis in racketball is Erica Garcia. Erica goes out of her way to make Rosie feel small and not good enough. Rosie feels like all her dad wants is for her to win the tournament. She tries to formulate a plan with Blair her new friend to win a medal for her dad but things don’t quite go to plan. Some heartwarming elements to this story.

Really great graphic novel with chapters. I would say this graphic novel is for upper key stage 2 and secondary school children as it has some quite grown up concepts.

This graphic novel is adorable and sweet. Absolutely fell in love with the diverse cast of characters and was pleasantly surprised by the depth that the storyline. A definite must read for perfectionists and kids that feel like giving up is the only option when you aren't great at something right away.

Match Point is a fun middle grade graphic novel about racquetball and friendship. The artwork and storyline are perfect for the target audience. Add this to middle grade graphic novel collections at both school and public libraries.

"Match point" is a beautiful graphic novel about friendship and staying true to yourself!

It was very easy to follow the story and it was also beautifully illustrated. However, at times the story was a bit uncomfortable to read as all the characters were a bit stubborn.

However, I enjoyed the different diversities and the associated representations were very interesting and well presented.

The ending was a bit too quick for me though. It would have been more exciting to learn more about the father's apology.

Overall, I liked the graphic novel and would recommend it especially to sports fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Book for this EARC!

The art was really pretty, the font used was readable and the diversity was so heart warming to read. But something about the final message just doesn't sit right with me. I wish we could've spent a little more time with Rosie's dad's apology, because it was brushed off quite quickly. Also I'm not really sure if I like her relationship with racquetball in the end - I thought we were moving towards the complete opposite, which would've been more interesting to read. But overall it was a good story, it managed to tackle quite a few topics apart from doing sports.

In this graphic novel, we follow Rosie Vo as she prepares for a racquetball with her dad coaching her. Her dad won the tournament ten years in a row when he was a kid and he is very hard on Rosie when she practices. She has started to hate racquetball because of this. Then a new kid named Hayden Blair moves to town and she also plays racquetball! Rosie hatches a plan to have Blair take her place in the tournament so that Rosie can get a winning medal and then maybe her dad will leave her alone. Together the girls bond and Rosie learns about friendship, trust, and standing up for yourself. This was a really great graphic novel! I loved the art style and the pacing of the story was nicely done.

I thought this was a great debut graphic novel, and I actually learned a few things about racquetball too. Graphic novels about sports AND friendship are my favorite ever, so this hit that mark for me. I appreciated the diverse cast of characters, including a deaf character.

This was a very cute read! I loved the colour palettes and just how expressive the characters were from their faces, to their clothes and hairstyles!


The story was painful, with the main character being stuck doing Shuttleball because her dad has a dream for Rosie to follow in his footsteps and be a champion but she absolutely hates it.

It's a story of friendship, and learning what works for you, and standing up for yourself and finding joy in a way that suits you!

So...I'm definitely not the target audience for this book (unless you count the fact that I purchase middle grade books for my school library). I'm not even remotely interested in racquetball, which made it feel like I was slugging through this at time. There's a LOT of racquetball action--which younger sports fans might appreciate and enjoy.

The most interesting plotline for me was Rosie's complicated relationship with her father. Though well-intentioned, the pressure he put Rosie under was frustrating...and I would have loved to see that end with a little more development instead of just being "all better" after one talk.

Not bad, I'm just pretty picky when it comes to graphic novels.

Who knew Racquetball could be so interesting? When Blair moves into town, she is exactly the person Rosie needs to help her get out of her racquetball coaching with her Dad, 10 time championship winner. Rosie is navigating tough feelings, which she opens up about to Blair as the story unfolds. There are many things Rosie finds out she doesn't understand. She learned about friendship. She finds friendship in places she didn't expect it. One thing she doesn't expect though, is to find that racquetball can be fun, in the right way. A solid sports read for fans of friendship stories and working through family drama and feelings. Readers will love Blair and Rosie and cheer as Rosie comes into her own.

Match Point made me want to play racquetball! Our two main characters are from completely different worlds and have vastly different feelings about the game. I am not a sports fan at all but the wonderful characterizations of the main characters and their family, mixed with their very different feelings about the sport drew me in. I very much look forward to future books by this author. The art was wonderful and it had a beautiful ending. I will highly be recommending this to friends!

The storyline centers around two young girls, one of whom harbours negative feelings towards the sport due to the high expectations her father places on her during practice and the other who holds a deep passion for the game and its community. Despite their initial differences, the girls quickly form a close bond and confide in each other about their vulnerabilities, ultimately growing as individuals. Another aspect that I found admirable was the parents' willingness to listen and gain insights from their children. It was enjoyable to read a book about racquetball and the strong friendship depicted within.

Match Point follows two girls: Rosie and Blair. One who hates racquetball due to the consistent pressure of her dad who used to be a racquetball player and the other being obsessed with racquetball. When tournaments roll around, Rosie’s committed to beating her rival. Can she seek help from her new friend, Blair?

This book was so cute. I loved how Rosie and Blair came together as friends despite only having one thing in common. It was a nice feeling of watching Rosie and her dad overcome their problems. The only thing I wish i could’ve seen was Rosie and Blair maybe dating?? I could see the potential in them having a relationship in which they are more than just friends!

"Match Point!" by Maddie Gallegos is an exciting addition to the graphic novels genre, tailored for the Middle Grade audience. The book's dynamic visuals and engaging storytelling create a thrilling sports narrative that resonates with young readers. Maddie Gallegos' artistic talent and skillful narrative make "Match Point!" a page-turner that captures the excitement of competition and teamwork. This graphic novel is a perfect choice for those who enjoy stories that combine sports action with relatable characters, providing an immersive and enjoyable reading experience for middle-grade readers.

I really enjoyed this one! A delightful story of new friendship, family dynamics, and of course, sports! This was a great way to learn more about racquetball, and I loved how the sport was woven into the story. The illustrations were fantastic, full of vivid colors, action, and heart.

This book gives me "Awkward" and "Sisters" vibes. I think this will be great for fans of those books. I can't wait for people to love it as much as me.