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Children's Fiction Mystery & Detective

Soccer Sabotage

A Graphic Guide Adventure

by (author) Liam O'Donnell

illustrated by Mike Deas

Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Initial publish date
Apr 2009
Category
Mystery & Detective, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Soccer
Recommended Age
9 to 12
Recommended Grade
4 to 7
Recommended Reading age
9 to 12
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781551438849
    Publish Date
    Apr 2009
    List Price
    $9.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781459821491
    Publish Date
    Apr 2018
    List Price
    $7.99

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

Nadia is playing for her local soccer team, and they have made it all the way to the national tournament—against some very determined opposition.

Unfortunately, Nadia's challenges don't just come from her opponents but from her teammates as well. After their coach is injured in a suspicious accident and the threats against the team mount, it is up to Nadia and her younger brother Devin to pull the team together and take a run at the championship. Another wild ride!

About the authors

Liam O'Donnell's profile page

 

Mike Deas est auteur-illustrateur de bandes dessinées, telles que Tank and Fizz and The Case of the Tentacle Terror. Il signe aussi les illustrations de la série Graphic Guide Adventure. Sa passion pour l'illustration a été entretenue tout au long de son enfance à l'île Saltspring, en Colombie-Britannique où il habite encore aujourd'hui.

 

MIKE DEAS is an author/illustrator of graphic novels, most recently Tank and Fizz and the Case of the Tentacle Terror. He is the illustrator of the Graphic Guide Adventure series. His love for illustrative storytelling comes from an early love of reading and drawing while growing up on Saltspring Island, British Columbia. Visit him online at www.deasillustration.com.

Mike Deas' profile page

Awards

  • Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
  • Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection

Editorial Reviews

"Soccer fans and just about anyone will enjoy reading this book whether they want to learn tips or read some mystery. It's definitely worth the read. Highly recommended."

CM Magazine

"Clever dialogue, and the full-color cartoons have a lot of action, particularly Nadia's hair-raising escape from the villain at the end. This entertaining story provides soccer instruction as well as mystery."

School Library Journal

"This book in the Graphic Guide Adventure provides plenty of soccer action; tips on how to dribble, pass, and protect the goal; and a solid mystery. Deas draws a multicultural cast, and it’s also nice to see the best kicker is not a slender little girl. The story should appeal to both boys and girls."

Booklist

"Providing the tips and making both male and female characters a strong part of this multi-cultural team, the author and illustrator have created a well-written and interesting story that should provide a following for other books in this series."

Puget Sound Council

"What makes this book unique is that O'Donnell/Deas give soccer tips with step-by-step illustrations and explanations using the characters for the reader to follow. O'Donnell/Deas then take those tips and incorporates them into the tournament games for the reader to see the actual skill demonstrated. Whether you like soccer or mysteries, this is a great book for curl up to. Recommended."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"Deas' illustrations are full of life. This is especially true in the soccer scenes, where vibrant colours and a sure hand give the images the impression of real movement."

Quill & Quire

Librarian Reviews

Soccer Sabotage: A Graphic Guide Adventure

Devin is the assistant to the coach of his sister’s soccer team, the London Lions. The Lions have made it to the Under-18 Canadian National Championships. Once they are at the tournament the team is faced with some serious challenges, not the least of which happens when their coach falls down a set of stairs and breaks his leg. Or did he fall? Devin’s sister Nadia is given the very difficult job of taking over as head coach as well as team captain. Devin, in the meantime, does a little sleuthing to find out what really happened to their coach. This little graphic novel includes useful tips to improve any player’s soccer skills. Students who are new to the graphic novel genre will also enjoy the colourful and well-drawn pictures.

A title in the Graphic Guide Adventure series. O’Donnell and Deas also collaborated on Ramp Rats.

Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. BC Books for BC Schools. 2009-2010.

Soccer Sabotage (Graphic Guide Adventure)

Nadia, who plays for her local soccer team, faces challenges from her opponents and teammates. After her coach is hurt in a suspicious accident, and threats against the team escalate, Nadia and her brother must pull the team together and take a shot at the championship. This read offers a clever blend of action, mystery and soccer tips.

Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Best Books for Kids & Teens. 2010.

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