Families who loved Ten: A Soccer Story by Shamini Flint often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling anxious or powerless due to family conflict or divorce. 'Ten: A Soccer Story' follows eleven-year-old Maya in 1986 Malaysia. As her parents' marriage falls apart, she pours her energy into her love for soccer, a game everyone tells her is for boys. She fights to build an all-girls team at her school, discovering her own strength and creating a new community in the process. This book is an empowering read for ages 9-12 that models resilience and self-advocacy. It beautifully shows how a child can carve out a space of their own and find stability through passion and friendship, even when their home life is uncertain.