Discover the Kicking Goals Series by Sam Kerr and Fiona Harris, Illustrated by Aki Fukuoka

Kicking Goals is the debut middle-grade series co-written by Sam Kerr and Fiona Harris, with illustrations by Aki Fukuoka. Kerr is currently the captain of the Australia women’s soccer team, the Matildas, and a leading goal scorer for Chelsea in the English FA Women’s Super League.

BR Kids readers were first introduced to The Flip Out, book #1 in the Kicking Goals series. Now, the much-loved soccer series is on to book #5, Cup Countdown.

Kerr says: ‘Through these books, I hope to share some of my personal stories of growing up, of pushing boundaries and chasing my dreams.’ The Kicking Goals series does exactly this, and so much more! It’s perfect for children aged 7+, and whether they’re soccer novices or superstars, there’s so much to take away from these books.

This series serves as perfect binge-reading material for any footy-mad kids during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Below, we list all five books so you can see what each one is about!

Kicking Goals #1: The Flip Out

Sam Kerr is an Aussie Rules fan through and through. When she’s excluded from her team she doesn’t know what to do. Netball? No thanks. Chess? Bleugh. Her best friends Dylan and Indi think she should flip from Aussie Rules to soccer – and it doesn’t seem so bad at first. The coach is OK. The team seems nice enough … But with Chelsea the school bully on her case and the pressure of learning new rules weighing her down, will it all be too much? Will Sam give up – or will she make the flip?

Buy a copy of The Flip Out here.

Read our review here.

Kicking Goals #2: A New Knight

After a rough start, Sam Kerr settles in to playing soccer for the Knights. But there’s so much to learn – new rules and positions and strategies … Lately, it seems like soccer is the only thing she can think about. When she finds out she’ll have to wear a dress (gross) and dance in front of a hundred people (terrifying) at her cousin’s upcoming wedding, Sam feels like she’s all but had enough. So why isn’t her best friend Indi supporting her? And why is school bully Chelsea suddenly a bit … nice? Will Sam be able to mend her friendships – and score a few goals in the meantime – before it’s too late?

Buy a copy of A New Knight here.

Read an extract here and our review here.

Kicking Goals #3: Sports Day

It’s official! Eleven-year-old Sam Kerr is a fully-fledged soccer tragic! So, when the school’s annual Sports Day comes around, she is disappointed when soccer isn’t on the list of activities.

Sam goes on a mission to get her beloved game added to the program. With help from her best friends, Indi and Dylan, she petitions her classmates to create the first-ever soccer team in the history of her school. But will Chelsea stir up trouble and ruin everything?

Buy a copy of Sports Day here.

Read an extract here and our review here.

Kicking Goals #4: Finals Fever

Sam Kerr has only been playing soccer for a few months after switching from AFL and now her team are playing in the finals! Sam can’t believe it! But when her best friend, Dylan, is appointed team captain, Sam is worried that his shyness might get in the way.

She is also busy on the home front. New neighbours have moved in next door and Sam has become friends with Jake and his younger brother Will. But strange things start happening. After losing her new water bottle, her soccer boots and then when her dog Penny disappears from the garden, Sam has had enough. It’s time to get to the bottom of the mystery while at the same time preparing for her finals match. There is a lot to deal with for the young soccer superstar!

Buy a copy of Finals Fever here.

Kicking Goals #5: Cup Countdown

The 2006 World Cup is around the corner and thirteen-year-old Sam Kerr is pumped! Even though the games are being played on the other side of the world, Sam and her best friend, Dylan, are planning to get up early to watch the games live on TV. They couldn’t be more excited!

But there’s more for Sam to get excited about when she’s invited to trial for a rep soccer team. Sam starts to question if she’s really ready for the big time. Will watching the World Cup convince her that she wants to play in the rep team, or will the juggle of school, training and games all become too much for a girl who has just started high school?

Buy a copy of Cup Countdown here.

Read our review here.