You’ve got to be especially wary where I live, in San Francisco, where many “progressive” schools believe every kid should be in the school play, on the team etc. Girls, too often aren’t taught how to deal with that, or even told that to engage in competition is bad. I think it’s crucial to teach girls how to compete openly and ethically for victories that matter, so they don’t funnel those drives into backhanded ambitions too often focused on beauty, boys, and popularity, the venues through which girls have historically been allowed to win power. So I especially value this book, because it shows girls that competition is OK, which is something I wish I’d learned in sports and way beyond. I don’t understand her drive and skill because I wasn’t into sports as a kid. But she does cry when she doesn’t play well and says things like, “I’m terrible, I’m the worst.” And when she gets mad, she cheats. I obviously want to encourage her passion and skill. I feel like Mia wrote this book just for my daugter Lucy who is incredibly athletic at everything she tries– soccer, T-ball, basketball, air hockey (she didn’t inherit this from me.) At six years old, it is kind of rare to see a kid so aggressive, not wandering off the field or playing house in the goal. But its shown as a real life story, in a way kids can understand Mia has intense emotions readers witness her learning how to deal with. Obviously the message here is that its not whether you win or lose, its how you play the game.

“Maybe she’d score a goal, maybe she wouldn’t.”

The next day she is allowed to play again, and when she doesn’t make the goal “she feels tears in her eyes.” She hears whispering that she’s going to quit, but she realizes she loves playing soccer even more than she hates losing, and she keeps playing. Quitters can’t play on my team.” Mia is forced on the sidelines, just watching.

The next day when she shows up to play, her brother won’t let her. Her older brother puts his arm arund her and says, “Better luck next time.” But Mia says “I quit,” and storms off the field. Goal! Everybody on her team would cheer.”īut then Mia has a bad day, and she doesn’t score any goals there’s no cheering for her. She’d kick the ball straight into the net. Her toes kept the ball exactly where she wanted it. It’s about her childhood when she spent her days playing soccer with her family. This book is by famed soccer player, Mia Hamm.

Winners never quit by mia hamm