
Martina the Soccer Star
by Susanna Isern
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Jun 03 2025 | Archive Date Jun 12 2025
Publisher Spotlight | NubeOcho
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Description
Martina loves soccer and is thrilled when she gets to play on her school’s soccer team. She’s not so thrilled however, when, during her first game, she realizes the other players don’t know how to play as a team and think girls aren’t as good as boys. Martina and her new soccer friends from the park decide to create their own team, the ‘Fire Ants’. When they enter their first championship they meet Martina’s school team. Will the Fire Ants show them how to play as a real team?
Featured Reviews

*Martina the Soccer Star* by Susanna Isern is an inspiring and heartwarming story about a young girl with a passion for soccer. Martina loves the game so much that she decides to join her local team, only to find that the team is focused on one player and is much more competitive than she is. Martina believes that a team should work together and put the group’s success first, but her new team doesn’t share her values. They also give her a hard time for being a girl. Undeterred, Martina leaves the team and forms her own, made up of both boys and girls from the neighborhood, all of whom are interested in working together rather than seeking personal glory. Martina’s team ends up making it to the league championship, where she has the chance for redemption.
The illustrations in this book are vivid, colorful, and full of energy, perfectly capturing the excitement of the game and the emotions of the characters. The message of teamwork, inclusiveness, and standing up for what’s right is both lovely and important. I highly recommend this book to parents of sporty kids, as well as to PE teachers and coaches who want to encourage collaboration and sportsmanship. I would rate this 5 out of 5 stars. I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and NubeOcho.