A middle grade adaptation of soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe’s New York Times bestselling memoir, One Life. Rapinoe takes us from her childhood in California where she learned to play soccer with her twin Rachael and began her commitment to social justice; through high school, college and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team; to 2016 when she became the first high-profile White athlete to take a knee in support of Colin Kaepernik and racial justice; and also her lawsuit with USWNT teammates against the United States Soccer Federation over gender discrimination.
The book opens with a relatable letter to Rapinoe’s 13-year-old self, in which she observes, among other things:
If you knew then what you know now … Maybe you would have realized that you were gay. And funny. And outgoing. And one of the best soccer players around….. I’ve been asked a lot through the years, why I came out as gay … for me, it was important, really important to the rest of the community I live in. If you are feeling uncomfortable about speaking out about something, instead of doing it for yourself, do it for someone else…. Putting yourself out there is hard, but it’s so worth it.
Readable, inspiring, and doesn’t shy away from discussing Rapinoe’s lesbian identity or coming out.
With Emma Brockes. Adapted for young readers by Sarah Durand.
