Under the Lights and in the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer takes an unprecedented look inside the lives of professional football players around the world – from precarious positions in underfunded teams and leagues, to sold-out stadiums and bright lights. Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Gwendolyn Oxenham tells the stories of the phenoms, underdogs, and nobodies – players willing to follow the game wherever it takes them. Under the Lights and in the Dark takes us inside the world of women's soccer, following players across the globe, from Portland Thorns star Allie Long, who trains in an underground men's league in New York City; to English national Fara Williams, who hid her homelessness from her teammates while playing for the English national team. Oxenham takes us to Voronezh, Russia, where players battle more than just snowy pitches in pursuing their dream of playing pro, and to a refugee camp in Denmark, where Nadia Nadim, now a Danish international star, honed her skills after her family fled from the Taliban. Whether you're a newcomer to the sport or a die-hard fan, this is an inspiring book about stars' beginnings and adventures, struggles and hardship, and, above all, the time-honored romance of the game.

Alex has a hard time adjusting to her new school and her new soccer team.

Gina tries to be the star of the soccer team at her new school, but her teammates do not like her showoff moves.

“Perhaps most importantly, Javaherbin shows that being poor doesn’t stop people from having lives and dreams. A lovely story about soccer, gender, and hope.” — Kirkus Reviews When Paulo Marcelo Feliciano becomes a soccer star, crowds will cheer his famous name — and his mother won’t have to work long hours. For now, Paulo spends his days working on a fishing boat and taking care of his little sister, Maria: she teaches him reading, and he teaches her soccer moves. At the end of the day he can finally play soccer with his friends. But when a player on Paulo’s team is injured, will they finally change the rules and let a girl show her stuff? Set in a country whose resilient soccer stars are often shaped by poverty, this uplifting tale of transcending the expected scores a big win for all.

Get your cleats ready; this is going to be an epic game! Soccer is full of stories about the great players and the amazing GOOOOOOOOOOALS. But soccer also has a wild side, and tons of wacky stuff happens week after week. Some of the stories in this book are weird, a bit odd, and definitely on the crazy side. Others are about amazing (and not so amazing) records and those passionate fans in the stadiums. In all, these are the totally epic, true, and wacky soccer facts and stories that every fan should know. So, start dribbling and be ready for an epic run to the goal!

A windy hill, a summer sky, a perfect day for kites to fly. Sister Bear and Brother Bear join their friends for a sun-filled, fun-filled day in this sweet, rhyming book.

Maisy and her friends enjoy a game of soccer.