Common Sense Media Review
By Kya Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tween girl navigates puberty, grief in dynamic sports tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, 12-year-old Valeria "Magic" Salomón is the star player and the only girl on an elite soccer team. Led by her abuelo, Valeria dreams of Olympic stardom. After an embarrassing moment during semifinals, the team loses, and Valeria suddenly finds herself booted from the team. She finds a spot on an all-girls team, but there's a bit of a learning curve, and Valeria loses her confidence for the first time. Will Valeria be able to recapture her magic as a member of this new team, or will she need to let her soccer dreams go?
Is It Any Good?
This book is a genuine and heartwarming read about the struggle to show up as your full self in the world. The Beautiful Game is an inspirational and action-packed story that turns the trope of what it means to "play like a girl" on its head. Author Yamile Saied Méndez masterfully paints a nuanced picture of Valeria's complex relationship her own girlhood, but also with her family, friends, teammates, and herself. Some readers may decide Abuelo didn't earn Valeria's forgiveness, though their resolution does feel true to the characters and plot. Readers of all ages will be able to identify with Valeria's journey of self-discovery; she's easy to root for as she comes into her own and welcomes the beauty and joy that accompany being her kind of girl.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about humility in The Beautiful Game. Valeria is nervous about starting on a new soccer team. In order to gain their trust and have opportunities to play, Valeria must practice humility and adapt to the culture of her new team. Tell about a time when you were new to a group and felt out of place. How did you adjust, and how did the experience change over time?
Valeria can be stubborn and opinionated, which often lands her in tense emotional situations. As a result, she has to practice self-control to keep herself out of trouble. Have you found yourself in a situation where you wanted to react a certain way but knew it might come with negative consequences? How did you maintain self-control?
When Valeria is booted from her soccer team, she is determined to find a spot on another team to keep pursuing her dreams of soccer stardom. When faced with unexpected obstacles, how have you persevered to achieve your goals? What was the end result?
After the incident on the field, Abuelo stops speaking to Valeria for a month. How did that silence affect Valeria? Was it fair for him to ignore her? They eventually make peace, but he never explicitly apologizes. Do you think Abuelo earned Valeria's forgiveness? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Sports
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads , Grandparents ) , Friendship , Sports ( Soccer )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Humility , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little Brown and Company
- Publication date : March 3, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 18
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : June 10, 2026
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