Nancy Clancy: Soccer Mania

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 27, 2015

Review

This is the sixth installment in the Nancy Clancy series by O'Connor. Third grader Nancy loves Mr. Dudeny's school project of the Graveyard of Boring Words and the Superb Synonyms that would replace each one, but playing on the soccer team that her father coaches ranks below the friendships and the refreshments. As Nancy's team goes through sharing players with a competitive team, negative sideline parents and after game pizza parties, they learn to work as a team to become the best "against-the-odds, final-second, come-from-behind-tie" team. O'Connor presents the transitional reader a clearly focused story line which will resonate with young athletes and enthusiastic cheerleaders. O'Connor, as in all of her Nancy books, challenges the reader with rich vocabulary alternatives that are defined for the younger reader within the text. Glasser's illustrations show some expression and shows a multi-cultural cast. All the characters from the popular Fancy Nancy picture books are found in this offering for 2-4 grade readers.

Overall Book Score: good