Hope Solo

December 1, 2012

Gr 5-10-This memoir was adapted from Solo: A Memoir of Hope (Harper, 2012). Starting from her childhood, the athlete gives an account of the difficulties she has overcome-her father's absenteeism and eventual homelessness, poverty, a difficult stepfather. Solo used soccer as a means of escape and eventually came to play professionally, competing in both the Olympics and the World Cup. As the years went by, she built positive relationships with her family and repaired her relationship with her father, who served as a source of inspiration for her as she both struggled and succeeded. The main tension in terms of Solo's career, and the turning point of the memoir, was when she spoke out publicly against getting benched during the 2007 World Cup. She faced harsh team backlash for the next year, even though her comments were mostly directed at her coach at the time. Still, despite a shoulder injury and being ostracized by her teammates (which eventually dissipated after a new coach was brought in), she persevered and helped lead the team to victory. Soccer fans will enjoy the frequent and vivid descriptions of intense play, but even readers who are not familiar with the game will be able to share in Solo's enthusiasm for the sport. Most importantly, her story underscores the importance of the support of her family, albeit an unconventional one. A good choice for students who need to a biography on a strong, influential woman.-Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

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