Soccer Dreams: My True Adventure Following the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, as a Fan and 12-Year Old Junior Reporter for the St. Petersburg Times During the History-Making 1999 FIFA Women's Worl

Rating:
Summary: Leah's Journey to the 1999 Women's World Cup
Review: "This is my true story of how, I, a twelve-year old junior reporter for the St. Petersburg Times, had my own dream come true, writing my way to L.A. ..." ~Leah Lauber

Leah Lauber has written a 92-page book about her once-in-a-lifetime adventure. She is soccer a fan and also a junior reporter for the X-Press Section of the St. Petersburg Times. This is Florida's largest newspaper. She is a soccer enthusiast and was able to meet her heroes, interview them and then witness sport history in the making. She has been playing soccer since she was seven.

During her one-year tenure with the X-Press Team, she wrote five feature articles that focused on Women's soccer:

An interview with U.S. National Team member Danielle Fotopoulos
"Soccer Diaries" which described Leah's soccer weekend in Tampa, Florida
A Woman's World Cup preview
An article on "What it Takes to Play on the National Team."
Her description of her trip to L.A. for the Woman's World Cup Finals.

This book was written to coincide with the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. If you have ever dreamed of being able to talk to your sports hero, you will enjoy this fascinating journey. Leah had the chance to witness a woman's sporting event that had 90,185 spectators and worldwide television coverage. The game was tied 4-4 until Brandi Chastain nailed a left-footer into the upper right corner of the goal.

This is a unique book filled with great photographs and many enjoyable articles by Leah who is definately an enthusiastic soccer fan with a great personality. Her writing style is fresh and creative.

There are three sections:

1 - Kicking Off: Stories about the love of the game and plenty of autographs.

2 - Meeting My Dream Team: Lea meets members of the team, reprints of X-Press articles, plenty of exciting game pictures and lots of pictures showing Leah interviewing team members.

3- Interviews and Quotes: Unedited interviews, quotes, and comments from the U.S. Women's National team. Leah asks great questions and team members give insightful answers. She also asks questions about the teams life when they are not playing soccer.

Leah has also written about the Irish Dancing World Championships and also loves to write movie reviews.

Of interest: Her great-grandfather, Joe Donovan, was a sports editor for the Newark Star Ledger in New Jersey. Her father, Chris, is a sports promoter and freelance photographer. This book is truly a unique family collaboration. Her grandmother, Pat Lauber helped to transcribe hours of interviews and comments recorded during seven different sessions with nearly every member of the team. This book is a great example of how parents can encourage their children to pursue their interests and see their own dreams come true.

Congrats Leah! What an amazing journey.

If you have ever played soccer or have children who are interested in this sport, this book will be a fascinating read. I've played a few soccer games myself and this brought back memories of my childhood and college days.

Soccer Dreams has a lot of personality and it a perfect gift for soccer fans everywhere!

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reporting, Brilliant Book!
Review: As an author, I meet many, many people who tell me, "Oh, I'd love to write a book!" But they never do it. They need to take lessons from Leah Lauber. She wrote a book chronicling her amazing journey following the extraordinary accomplishments of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Passionate about soccer, Leah attended many of the history-making soccer matches not just as a fan, but also as a reporter. She interviewed her role models: Mia Hamm, Lorrie Fair, Cindy Parlow, Briana Scurry, and many other team members. Leah incorporated these interviews and game coverage into articles she wrote for Florida's largest newspaper, the St. Petersburg Times.

These accomplishments are admirable. But there's more to this story ... Leah did all this when she was just 12 years old!!! By following her twin passions for writing and soccer, Leah first achieved her dreams of meeting and talking with her heroes, attending the Women's World Cup, and reporting for a major newspaper. Then she reached her dream of writing a book. And what a book! Colorful photos and vivid writing truly bring women's soccer to life.

As you read "Soccer Dreams," you'll get caught up in the excitement of the sport and the thrill of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team victories -- whether or not you're a fan. Leah's book makes you feel like you're right there in the middle of all the action. The book brims with added bonuses. Page 6 features reproductions of autographs Leah obtained from members of the national teams from both the U.S. and Norway. Section 3 is an absolute goldmine -- here's where you'll find Leah's unedited interviews with the national soccer team players.

Get this book for your daughters, it will inspire them to follow and reach their dreams. Get this book if you love soccer. Get it if you enjoy the thrill of a game, a good read, or a close look at sports history. I give this book 5 stars plus. An inspiring, motivating masterpiece!

-- Graciela Sholander (...)

Rating:
Summary: A fun book by a talented 12-year old Junior Reporter
Review: At first glance, "Soccer Dreams" by Leah Lauber looks like a kids book. It is...but it is also much more. For the most part it is a journalistic account of the history-making 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. To this end, the author is a talented 12-year old junior reporter for the Florida St. Petersburg Times. This book describes Leah's adventure following the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team as a reporter and avid fan.

Personally, I was particularly impressed with the tier-one photos in the book. The photos captures the excitement and brings the narrative to life. This compact (92-page) book is an ideal read (gift) for kids. It is a wonderful story of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. I especially enjoyed her wholesome interview of Danielle Fotopoulous and the interviews under the press tent at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Leah is lucky to have the tremendous support of her family and they certainly are fortunate to have such a special child. Recommended.

Bert Ruiz

Rating:
Summary: A MUST-READ, dynamic account from a 12 year old soccer fan
Review: From the moment I got this book, I was entranced, riveted by Leah Lauber's personal account as a reporter covering the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team for the St. Petersburg (FL) Times. I felt like I was there, so well-written was her recreation of the events - from the first moments when the Team prepared for the 1999 Women's World Cup - to the final winning game. The full-color photos (200 plus) add to the charm of this book, with plenty of photos of such soccer stars as Mia Hamm and others.
While I'd recommend this book to just about anyone as a great read, it is an especially good choice for soccer fans of all ages. Right now, I'm re-reading it with a young soccer player and he is just as riveted as I was by this book.
It'd also be an inspiring book for any youngster who wants motivation to reach for the stars and follow a goal..who knows, you could end up like Leah, making a book and inspiring others! Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Soccer Dreams Make Life Dreams Come True!
Review: Here�s a wonderful book written by Leah Lauber when she was a 12 years old fan and junior reporter for the St. Petersburg Times as she followed the history-making U.S. Women�s Soccer Team�s championship run in the 1999 World Cup.

The book is a real page-turner with behind-the-scenes photographs and interviews with such stars as Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain to name a few.

While the book captures the dream-come-true success of the Women�s U.S. Soccer Team, the real story is about Leah and her fabled journey from youth soccer to the locker room of the biggest event in women�s sports history. Her hard work and commitment to her dream is what made her story and eventually this book all happen.

This is especially inspiring to any girl who is involved in youth sports, music, or other arts, where there is a big dream, a special hero, and a love for the activity that makes the journey even more rewarding than the outcome. I know it sounds cliché, but this book captures one of the most significant ingredients to success: that great results only come when you have a deep love for what you do.

I hope that enlightened parents across the country will make sure that their daughters get a copy of this book for the wonderful story and personal inspiration that this book uniquely provides. A young girl with big dreams would be hard-pressed to find another book to identify more with than Soccer Dreams by Leah Lauber.

Rating:
Summary: Not Just For Soccer Fans!
Review: I began this book with some skepticism. I'm not at all a soccer fan and was afraid I'd find it boring -- or poorly written, given the author's young age. But Leah Lauber won me over by the second page! Her fresh voice, enthusiasm for the subject matter, and beyond-her-years writing skills make Soccer Dreams a pleasure to read. I was hooked by her chutzpah in dreaming big dreams and finding ways to make them come true. And I learned a lot about the sport and the women who play it. Lauber's book gave me a new respect for these outstanding athletes, not just for their prowess on the soccer field but for their character, loyalty, and sense of teamwork and camaraderie off it. Lauber's journey covers not only her trek across the country to follow the team through the realization of its dreams, but her own increasing skill and confidence as a writer. I expect we'll see more great things from this talented young author.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Awesome Pictures
Review: I have to admit, when I for got this book, the only thing I knew about soccer was a little black & white ball gets kicked into a net with people on the opposing team trying to take the ball away.

Now, I know a little bit more about soccer and a lot more about the U.S. Women's National Soccer team and their quest to will the 1999 Women's World Cup.

This book is filled with an "If you can dream it, you can do it" attitude.

Not only do you get to know some of Leah's background, making her a very credible source on the game of soccer, she also includes many of the steps she had to take to get from St. Petersburg to the big game. She worked really hard, she didn't just wake up one day and say, "I think I'll go to the World Cup game today."

The pictures are just awesome. The pictures of the games are amazing. There are also pictures of individual players when Leah was interviewing them.

The interview section was pretty interesting. It had questions that probably never made it on ESPN.

A Family That Plays Together Stays Together: This book was really a family affair. Leah's father, Chris, did a lot of photography and editing. Her sister, Nicole, transcribed interviews. Her grandfather, Ed, provided some photos. Other family members assisted with designing and editing. Leah's mom and sister are featured in several pictures, and went to the championship game in Pasadena, California.

The pictures alone, make this book worth it!

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring & Invigorating
Review: Soccer Dreams, written by then 12 year-old Leah Lauber about the momentous 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, makes a great gift for anyone young or old who loves soccer. Chock-full of more vivid color photos than you can shake a stick at, it comes in the size of a magazine, except more pages and at a much higher quality.

Leah takes the reader on a journey that proves both inspiring and invigorating. From the underappreciated yeoman's work of remote practice fields to the media feeding frenzy of The World Cup Championship Game, Leah provides us with gutsy and intriguing interviews and never-before-seen pictures along the way. For all of the more than 7 million plus American youth who participate in what has become America's most popular youth sport by a wide margin, Soccer Dreams makes a welcome addition to their book collection. It teaches valuable lessons of teamwork & setting goals to all. If you work hard and keep your eye on the prize, your dreams, believe it or not, can, and will, come true!

"It's not about one player, or two players but 20 individuals who collectively make an awesome team." - Julie Foudy

Rating:
Summary: Stirring memories, a wonderful accomplishment!
Review: This 92 page, 8.5 x 10.5 glossy book is a great overview of what many consider the greatest women's sporting event in history. It is written by then 12yo Leah Lauber who never gave up on her dream to follow the US Women's National Soccer Team in their quest to win the 1999 Women's World Cup. As noted by previous reviewers the book is filled with approximately 200+ pictures of both Leah and her adventures as a junior reporter for the St. Petersburg Times. Many of the pictures are spectacular and to my knowledge have never been seen before this book. There are many tremendous action shots of the games, most of which were taken by Leah's Dad, Chris -- though even Leah took some of the photos!

This book is reasonably priced for all that you get. It consists of 3 sections, 20 chapters in all, which include Leah's early interest in soccer and the US Women's National team, her diligence in meeting the team and overcoming numerous obstacles to get to the games and meet and interview her heroes, as well as the actual interviews and quotes obtained by Leah from most of the US Women's National Soccer team. Admittedly, the third section does become a bit redundant, but that is understandable given the circumstances and Leah competing against much more experienced journalists.

Again, I would concur with other reviewers that this book works at many different levels. It poignantly describes Leah's quest to follow her dream -- she never quit. It is truly a family affair involving Leah, her Mom Rya, her Dad (excellent photos, Chris)!, Leah's sister Nicole, her grandmother Pat, her grandfather Papa Big Ed, and numerous others. It is amazing that when no one would publish a book by a 12yo, the family pulled together and got it published themselves!

I, personally, enjoyed Leah's interviews with Michelle Akers, arguably the greatest women's soccer player to compete in this wonderful game. Also, her conversations/interviews with Danielle Fotopoulos, a tremendous athlete and the all-time leading college goal scorer for women's soccer, who befriended Leah along this journey/adventure. I love the picture of Julie Foudy on page 28 followed by the now infamous word "Foudious" coined by the reporter Tishoudy to mean "beauteous, elegant and graceful while in motion; of, or like Julie Foudy; Are you Foudious?" The picture of Leah on page 37 when she received the phone call that she had won the Hewlett-Packard photo contest is precious. The great picture of Brianna Scurry making her infamous save on page 51...well, as a referee, I will reserve comment(s) except to say that it is a "telling" photo...the real hero was the team itself, but if I had to pick one player it would be Kristine Lilly and her save on the goal line from a head ball subsequent to a China corner kick (see the picture on p. 50) The picture on page 54 of the members of the 1991 World Cup Championship team embracing the 1999 Champions is quite moving...

This is an inspiring, delightful book that not only savors great memories but also "teaches valuable lessons of teamwork and setting goals" (Chris Salzer, previous review of this book). The book can be enjoyed by everyone, however the primary audience may be younger children and adolescents...though as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Leah's Dad did email me and ask me to consider reviewing this book, and I thank him for the opportunity. Leah is 16yo (or 17yo)? now and I hope that she continues to follow her dreams...any parent would be proud to have a daughter like Leah. As they say, Terrific job, kid!" Recommended simply to enjoy oneself or to give as a souvenir or gift. A truly special momento to own...

Rating:
Summary: A "must" reading for all young soccer enthusiasts
Review: Twelve year old Leah Lauber was more than an enthusiastic soccer fan -- she also landed a job as a Junior Reporter for the St. Petersburg Times covering the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cub. Soccer Dreams is the unique story of how for one year, a young girl covered the story of how the team prepared for the event, and how they went on to win this prestigious soccer event. Written with the help and assistance of her family (Leah's yonger sister Nicole and her grandmother, Nanny Pat Lauber, transcribed hours of Leah's interviews and recorded comments during seven different sessions with almost every member of the women's team, and her mother, Rya, worked on the book's cover design and her fahter sorted through hundreds of photos and scanned them into the computer for use in illustrating the thoroughly engaging text), Soccer Dreams is "must" reading for all young soccer enthusiasts and would be a popular addition to any gradeschool, junior high, or community library Sports collection.