One Life

June 1, 2020

Not strictly memoir, People Who Love To Eat Are Always the Best People collects Child's standout observations on France, love, travel, life, and, of course, food: "The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." In One Life, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion Rapinoe considers not only her athletic career but her highly publicized stance on social justice issues, showing how her beliefs are rooted in childhood experience. "Maisie Dobbs" all-star mystery writer Winspear changes tack with a memoir showing the impact of World Wars I and II on her family, her parents' life with the Romani, and her childhood in rural Kent, all the while promising This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 28, 2020
In this sweeping and impassioned memoir, U.S. soccer star Rapinoe recounts her extraordinary athletic career and her path to becoming a global social activist. A Northern California native, Rapinoe shares fond memories of playing soccer as a child and in high school, followed by her scholarship to Portland University in the 2000s. After earning a spot on the U.S. Women’s National Team and winning a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, she went on to two Women’s World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019. The narrative is nicely shaped by co-writer Brockes and mixes Rapinoe’s on-field experiences with those from her private life, including her coming out in 2012 and her relationships with former teammate Abby Wambach and WNBA player Sue Bird. Rapinoe also discusses issues of social justice, among them her fight for pay equity with the U.S. Men’s National Team and her decision in 2016 to kneel during the national anthem in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. “Real change lies within all of us,” she writes, “it is in the choices we make every day.” Rapinoe’s passion for inclusion and equality shines throughout this appealing book, and her hard-won take on the intersection of sports and activism isn’t to be missed.

Starred review from October 1, 2020
Soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe has left a lasting mark with a professional sports r�sum� that includes two FIFA World Cup Championships, a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and her selection as Sports Illustrated's 2019 Sportsperson of the Year. One Life is an uplifting memoir that spans from her early childhood to the spring of 2020. Rapinoe grew up in a conservative California town surrounded by a large family, including a twin sister, who nurtured her passion for soccer and supported her career as she rose up through the national ranks. As much as sports fans will enjoy career anecdotes, it's her refreshingly frank details of self-discovery as a lesbian that will prove equally inspirational and sure to help break down stereotypes. In 2016, Rapinoe's public life veered in a new direction when she took a knee for the national anthem in solidarity with football's Colin Kaepernick, resulting in public condemnation, even a later Twitter feud with President Trump. She ultimately finds balance as a gay athlete and activist, using her voice and platform to speak out, whether it's fighting gender discrimination or advocating for equal pay and human rights. A compelling testimony for equality in sports with a resounding message of hope.Women in Focus: the 19th in 2020(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

October 15, 2020
The soccer superstar discusses her life on and off the field and how she has used celebrity in the service of social justice. Rapinoe grew up in "an athletic family" in small-town Northern California. Early in childhood, she and her identical twin, Rachael, revealed exceptional physical gifts. Both began playing soccer on a boys team at age 6 and quickly overshadowed peers with their "instinctive hand-eye coordination and physical fearlessness." Later, they played on an all-female team their father created until both were selected to join a bigger, more competitive one in Sacramento. As their soccer skills developed, the sisters discovered a passion for justice of all kinds. "My sister and I have this in common: nothing riles us up more than bullying, cheating, unfairness," writes the author. Eventually, this passion for social justice became the cornerstone of Rapinoe's stances on such issues as LGBTQ+ rights, pay equity in sports, and the Black Lives Matter movement. When the author reached college in 2004, she surpassed Rachael as an athlete and received an invitation to play in the FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand. In 2006, she joined the U.S. national team as the "youngest and least experienced player." A major knee injury put her out of contention for the 2008 Olympic team but also taught her the meaning of patience and humility. After college, she turned professional and, in 2012, publicly came out as a lesbian. After a World Cup victory in 2015, Rapinoe became a vocal advocate for pay increases for female athletes, and in 2016, she took a knee to protest racial injustice. This candid memoir about an outspoken White athlete who has consciously "extend[ed] [her] privilege" to those marginalized people both in and out of the sporting world is sure to engage general audiences and soccer fans alike. An inspiring memoir that will thrill soccer fans as well as social justice activists.

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December 1, 2020

During the 2019 Women's World Cup, Rapinoe took center stage with her electrifying play on the field and her outspoken criticism of the Trump White House. In this debut, coauthored by journalist Brockes, Rapinoe takes readers through the moments in her life that led to her being on the global stage. While there are many details in the book that soccer fans will enjoy (especially her friendship with former U.S. Women's National Team Coach Jill Ellis), what is most impactful is when she talks about her activism work. In 2016, Rapinoe was one of the first athletes, after Colin Kapernick, to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Here, she details the responses of her family, friends, and teammates. Additionally, she discusses her decision to publicly come out as gay, and address marriage equality. Lastly, the athlete writes about her relationship with WNBA superstar Sue Bird, and the impact she has had on her life and career. Readers who know about Rapinoe's career will still learn incredible details and will continue to draw inspiration from her story and work. VERDICT Essential for all readers. Rapinoe shares much wisdom throughout, and her words are a call for action to continue to fight societal inequalities.--Pamela Calfo, Bridgeville P.L., PA

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.