Our Beautiful Game
As seen:
By Lou Kuenzler (Author)
avg rating
7 reviews
A stand-out novel inspired by the incredible true stories of female football legends like Lily Parr and Alice Woods.
They can take our ball, but they can never stop the game.
Polly Nabb is no stranger to trouble.
When her brother Joe is sent to serve in the trenches, all Polly wants is to kick a ball about and forget the war. Mam has other ideas, and makes her stay home to help with endless chores. But football is something Polly is prepared to fight for – it’s her life! She’s determined to do whatever it takes to fulfil her dream and show the world that football is not just for boys . . .
The war years: a time of trailblazing female footballers, like the legendary Lily Parr, who played to sell-out crowds. Polly’s dramatic wartime story celebrates those bold young players who changed attitudes to women on the pitch and salutes the unsung heroes on the Home Front too.
‘Absolutely magnificent! A glorious tale of football, friendship, feminism and social history.’ Emma Carroll
‘A very entertaining and enjoyable read.’ LoveReading4Schools
‘A powerful story.’ Sophie McKenzie
‘A gripping read.’ School Reading List
TweetReviews
Inspirational and joyful, this book is a great read for anyone, no5 just football lovers. Standing up for women’s rights.
I liked all the character's and it was a good book
Loved it
Fun to read
A sympathetic and realistic account of life for working women and girls during World War 1 and an engaging story of the first women’s football teams and their successes (before the FA ruled against them). Based largely on the story of Lily Parr and the Dick Kerr Ladies team it is full of period detail. Polly Nabb is a lively and charismatic heroine - we root fo4 her all the way. There is a discreet LGBT subtext- I’m not sure it is needed (from a plot point of view) but it works nonetheless. Thoroughly enjoyable and for children of Ellen and over.
lclapham.staff@sidneystringeracademy.org.uk
What a great read with lots of great facts woven into the story. Loved the characters, their humour in dark times and their passion for a game that didn't want them competing with the men when they returned from WW1. A great piece of social history - brilliant.
Even though I’m not a football fan, I found the story and characters engaging. Set in the period of the First World War, this middle grade historical fiction title has good reach for the upper primary classroom to explore the role of women in sport.
