Twelve-year-old Nick loves soccer and hates books, but soon learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams.

"Jack and Annie search for the fourth secret of greatness for Merlin the Magician in Mexico City at the 1970 World Cup Games. They hope to learn something new from soccer player great, Pele"--Provided by publisher.

When a young rabbit quits soccer after a disappointing first game, her family encourages her to keep trying.

Always turning to her Wheel of Fortunes, a cardboard circle covered with wisdom she's collected from fortune cookies, for answers and a dose of luck, 12-year-old Maya must find the courage to write her own fortune to answer her deep-down questions.

"A talented young soccer player in Greenfield is given the honor of being a child mascot at an international soccer tournament in Brazil, but when an anonymous letter insists that she doesn't deserve to go, the Aldens investigate"--Provided by publisher.

After moving to California, seventh-grader Devin is afraid she will not make the soccer team but finds, instead, a team is so bad that she is compelled to take the lead and turn it into something the players and coach can all be proud of.

Eighth-grader Ethan Isaac is looking forward to the soccer season, but he gets a shock when he finds out that their new coach is Ms. Brezinka, his tough seventh grade science teacher--some of the players quit the team, but Ethan does not have that option, and he soon learns that Ms. Brezinka is as demanding a soccer coach as she was a teacher.

"Justin is thrilled to be on a soccer team. But at his very first practice, he is approached by a tall girl who calls him "Shorty." She tells him he's too little to be on the team and that he should just go home. Justin doesn't know what to do. He loves soccer, but he doesn't want to be teased"--Provided by publisher.