Common Sense Media Review
Inspiring memoir of soccer champion promotes bold advocacy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Megan Rapinoe's journey from a soccer-obsessed kid to one of the most influential athletes in the world is detailed beautifully in ONE LIFE. The memoir is filled with personal stories about her Northern California upbringing and her experiences practicing and competing in the sport she loves. As Megan's soccer career develops, she faces injuries, setbacks, and tough competition, but learns how to build her confidence back up again and again. She offers uplifting messages and encourages young readers to work hard, be true to themselves, and use their voices to make a positive difference in their communities. Pictures of Megan and her family and teammates appear throughout the book and help bring her story to life.
Is It Any Good?
This is an inspiring memoir that offers much more than a story about soccer. Megan's writing is engaging and conversational, combining personal stories with reflections in a way that keeps the narrative moving while also encouraging readers to think about important topics. Some of the most heartwarming parts of the book are her memories of her family: her parents and twin sister (the former U.S. soccer player Rachael Rapinoe), who tirelessly encouraged her love of soccer and supported her dreams, and her earlier memories of her older brother. She describes having a close and loving relationship with her dad, even though they do not always agree on political issues, and she's candid about how challenging that can be while remaining empathetic to him. Overall, Megan's choice to use her visibility and success to support and uplift others is gratifying to read about, and her dedication to soccer can be inspiring to any young person with their heart set on a goal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the value of teamwork. How do Megan and her teammates uplift each other?
What issues did Megan care about enough to speak out on? How does she show perseverance?
How can people disagree respectfully when they have different opinions?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Autobiography
- Topics : Activism ( LGBTQ+ rights , Gender equality , Racial justice ) , Sports ( Soccer , Olympics )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Razorbill
- Publication date : September 7, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 272
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : June 26, 2026
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