Playing with the Boys: A Pretty Tough Novel

I was very inspired after reading this book. It made me feel like if i try hard enough i can do whatever i want. Also that a girl is just as good if not better than a guy. We can do anything they can and do just as good a job.

Lucy's father forced her to move to Malibu right after her freshman year of high school. She's heartbroken to leave her best friend and the house where everything reminds of her mother. The first week has been rough, but then she starts soccer tryouts. Lucy loves soccer and being a part of the team. She's devastated when her name is not on the list. However, the coach pulls her aside and tells her that the football team needs a quick replacement kicker and she should try out. At first, Lucy thinks the idea is crazy, but the more she thinks about it the more she likes it. She makes the team, but doesn't have the instant camaraderie that she's been craving. Instead, the team members give her a hard time. Her father has forbidden her to join the team, so she lies. He thinks she's joined the cheerleading squad. He will discover the truth soon and then Lucy will have to figure out how hard she'll fight to remain on a team that doesn't want her. Lucy Malone's determination and strength leads her to go where no other girl in school has gone before - the all-boys football team. Once on the team, she doesn't shy away from all the pressure, the grief, and her father's objections. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

Lucy Malone has just moved to Malibu, California, and even though she's got a totally awesome room in an amazing new house, things aren't going well. All her friends are back home in Toledo, Ohio, and it doesn't seem like she's going to be making any new friends soon. But opportunity soon presents itself in the form of soccer tryouts. Lucy was on the varsity soccer team at her old school, so being on the team in Malibu would be a chance to show off something she's good at. But she's not good enough; she doesn't make the final cut for the team and is heartbroken. Lucy doesn't feel that she has anything going for her now until the soccer coach Martie suggests Lucy use her strong and accurate kick to try out for the boys' varsity football team. At first, Lucy is skeptical; after all, she is a girl who wants to fit in. But then she gives it a try and makes it. She soon finds out that football may be her calling. Unfortunately, her father forbids her from playing football, but that doesn't stop Lucy. Lucy constantly feels like she has to prove herself. Along with joining the football team comes hazing and potential friends. Throughout the novel, Lucy's tentative friendships with members of the soccer team, the football team, several popular cheerleaders, her father, and a very sweet boy named Benji are tried. Lucy finds out which friendships are worth it, and comes to terms with her father. Playing with the Boys was a thoroughly enjoyable novel, even though I didn't understand most of the football terms. I am definitely not a sports person, so I found it relieving that I was learning all about football along with Lucy. The novel was very straightforward and slightly predictable, but it didn't make the story any less sweet. I recommend this book to people who like sports novels, such as Pretty Tough also by Liz Tigelaar, Screwball by Keri Mikulski, and Dairy Queen and The Off Season by Catherine Murdock. I actually haven't read any of these novels yet, but am planning on it because Playing with the Boys was such a fun novel to read. [...]

A great story! This book encourages young women to unleash the potential to play one of the best sports on earth. As a female football player, I hope more young women see that they aren't limited to just being one of the girls.

Playing with the Boys is even better than the first book in the Pretty Tough series. I love how gutsy Lucy is - how she shows that girls can do anything they want. I laughed and cried along with her and after reading this book, I may want to try out for the football team. What a great way to meet guys!!