One of my favorite books in elementary school was Meghan Rose Has Ants in Her Pants by Lori Z. Scott. When I heard that she also writes YA novels, I was curious to see how they would compare. I was excited to find out that her sense of humor carries over to her most recent YA novel, Offsides.

Summary

Dani Stevens is juggling a lot her senior year of high school: making the soccer playoffs, her relationship with her best friend Sol, her parents’ busy work schedules, and… boys. She and Sol vowed to try new things their senior year, but their varied interests are pushing them in different directions. Dani struggles with branching out from her introverted side. On top of that, a news story about sex trafficking makes Dani begin to feel that she’s getting a little paranoid. She begins to question those around her and becomes concerned about a girl in her neighborhood, Macie. But is Macie the only target in Dani’s neighborhood?

Review

Offsides is told from Dani’s point of view, and the title is referenced throughout the book. The novel begins with Dani in the middle of a soccer game and includes other scenes of her playing soccer. (There is a list of soccer terms and definitions as well as resources for reporting human trafficking in the back of the book.) Even though I don’t know much about soccer, I was able to keep track of what was going on. I think readers who understand more about soccer might enjoy these scenes more, though. The plot pace is slow, making the book an easy read even though it addresses difficult topics. Dani’s jokes and other lighthearted moments help balance the tension.

“Maybe this year I could learn to come out of my shell. Blend in with the crowd.

Except the bus doors shut before I reached them, and I had to knock to get on.

So … then again, maybe not.” (16)

The contrast between Dani and Sol is well written, and I could identify with both of them. The contrast between the two boys interested in Dani, Elijah and Hayden, is interesting, too. Their interactions with Dani foreshadow the novel’s ending. I think Christian readers can especially learn from them, as they consider which one shares and encourages Dani’s faith.

Dani’s character develops throughout the story, and her faith develops, too. Early in the story, we learn that prayer is an important part of Dani’s mother’s life, but not so much for Dani. As the story progresses, Dani prays more often and is able to see the power of prayer.

Offsides does a good job of raising awareness of human trafficking without being too graphic. Like Dani, the reader doesn’t know who to trust. The ending is satisfying, and the last few chapters are my favorite part because they tie up all of the story’s plots. I recommend Offsides to young adult readers, ages 16 and up, and I think girls (particularly soccer fans) would enjoy this book the most. If you like Offsides, you may like Purple Moon by Tessa Emily Hall, as Dani reminds me of the protagonist, Selena.

GIVEAWAY!

Author Lori Scott is giving away a copy of Offsides. To enter, leave a comment on this post by June 2.

Kathryn Dover lives in South Carolina with her family including five cats, a dog, three fish, and many house plants. She recently graduated from Presbyterian College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and was a valedictorian of the Class of 2024. She’s not sure what she wants to do as a career, only that she wants to write, but is trusting that God has a plan for her life to use her in a powerful way. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography, playing with her pets, and growing plants.