Offside

In the sharp, winning, and multilingual Offside, Christina Diaz Gonzalez's second graphic novel for middle-grade readers, soccer players learn to overcome language barriers and selfish attitudes to bring their newly coed team to victory.

Thanks to Nicky, an outspoken star player on the girls' soccer team, the Jackson Middle School boys' team has gone coed. Al, a Brazilian American team member, is furious about playing with girls because his father believes that comingling on the field makes a "mockery" of the sport. Nicky, for her part, wants the team to be coed so she can take advantage of the better resources allotted to the boys' team. Meanwhile, blond-haired, white-skinned Palmer, who is sidelined this season because of an injury, becomes friends with Spanish-speaking students Fabiola and Seba, who also make the team. Practices are uneasy as Nicky and Al jockey for their own interests. However, a proposal to get the city to turn an abandoned lot into a soccer field would allow both teams to have access to the same training facilities--if the kids can work together.

In Offside, Gonzalez (Invisible) deploys what has become a signature of sorts: the entirety of the text is bilingual dialogue that showcases people from different backgrounds working together. It is also a clever learning device for students practicing a different language. Artist Mari Costa (Forgive-Me-Not) impressively fits energetic illustrations into scenes overflowing with text bubbles. Colorist Lark Pien's punchy hues and detailed shading are especially effective. The diverse characters and their layered personalities elevate this graphic novel from a clichéd story of teamwork to one of understanding and empathy. Offside is right on goal. --Luis Rendon, freelance reviewer