School Library Journal
10/01/2020
Gr 5 Up—Inspired by a commencement address she gave at Barnard College, this adaptation of Wambach's adult title is a series of inspirational vignettes built around the idea of empowering young people to "find their voice, unite their pack, and change the world." Each of the book's eight chapters begins with an old rule versus a new rule breakdown. For example, the first chapter's old rule is "stay on the path," but the new rule is "create your own path." The text addresses the distinctions between each old rule and the corresponding new rule. The brief, conversational essays draw from Wambach's own experiences, not only as an elite athlete and cocaptain of the U.S. National Soccer team that won the Women's World Cup in 2015 but also as a daughter, sibling, spouse, stepparent, and friend. Many of the lessons center on leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork, and perseverance. However, values such as tolerance, vulnerability, creativity, and gratitude are also promoted. Each chapter concludes with a recap of the preceding essay's key points in a few lines of prose. Wambach provides a message that young people can and will relate to and embrace. She delivers that message with great effect in this powerful, little book. VERDICT Recommended for middle school and high school library collections. This will appeal to sports enthusiasts as well as those who can't tell a basketball from a soccer ball but love an encouraging word.—Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX
School Library Journal - Audio
12/01/2020
Gr 5–8—Wambach is a two-time member of the Olympic Women's Soccer Team, and a true leader for not only her teammates but for young girls around the world. She is a FIFA World Cup champion and has the highest all-time international goal-scoring record for male and female soccer players. Adapted from her adult book, which was inspired by her commencement speech at Barnard College, in this edition she offers her message to younger girls. She believes the rules of engagement for girls have changed. Wambach starts each chapter with the old rule, and the new rule followed by an illustration. For example, she starts in chapter one with "Old Rule: Stay on the path. New Rule: Create your own path." She ends each with a call to the "wolfpack," helping them find a way to lead. Read by the athlete herself, the book's message rings true with a serious and matter-of-fact approach. She reads with assurance and her good experience is one to share. It is as if Wambach is standing in front of the listener and speaking. Even though each example is from her experience as a soccer player and deals with team-building, perseverance, and good sportsmanship, listeners of all ages will benefit from her advice in many situations. Wambach is also an activist for gay rights, making this audiobook a good choice for an even broader audience. VERDICT Listeners of all ages will find ways to apply Wambach's advice whether they play sports or not.—Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton H.S., Linden, MI
Kirkus Reviews
2020-09-01
Soccer star and activist Wambach adapts Wolfpack (2019), her New York Times bestseller for adults, for a middle-grade audience.
“YOU. ARE. THE. WOLVES.” That rallying cry, each word proudly occupying its own line on the page, neatly sums up the fierce determination Wambach demands of her audience. The original Wolfpack was an adaptation of the viral 2018 commencement speech she gave at Barnard College; in her own words, it was “a directive to unleash [the graduates’] individuality, unite the collective, and change the world.” This new adaption takes the themes of the original and recasts them in kid-friendly terms, the call to action feeling more relevant now than ever. With the exception of the introduction and closing remarks, each short chapter presents a new leadership philosophy, dishing out such timeless advice as “Be grateful and ambitious”; “Make failure your fuel”; “Champion each other”; and “Find your pack.” Chapters utilize “rules” as a framing device. The first page of each presents a generalized “old” and “new” rule pertaining to that chapter’s guiding principle, and each chapter closes with a “Call to the Wolfpack” that sums up those principles in more specific terms. Some parts of the book come across as somewhat quixotic or buzzword-heavy, but Wambach deftly mitigates much of the preachiness with a bluff, congenial tone and refreshing dashes of self-deprecating humor. Personal anecdotes help ground each of the philosophies in applicability, and myriad heavy issues are respectfully, yet simply broached.
A powerful resource for young people itching for change. (Nonfiction. 10-14)
