Stories of the highs and lows of top-level women's football
Gwendolyn Oxenham is the author of Finding the Game: Three Years, Twenty-five Countries and the Search for Pickup Soccer (St Martin's Press) and the director of Pelada, an award-winning documentary. She has written for The Atlantic, Sports Illustrated, and Slate, and has an MFA in creative writing. A Duke University soccer alum who played for Santos FC in Brazil, she currently lives in Dana Point, California.
A terrific collection of stories of the adventures undertaken and
the struggles faced by players around the world'
*Guardian, selected for The best books on sport, 2017*
Oxenham is one of my favorite soccer writers; she connects on a
deeply human level with the people who are the soul of the global
game. I love this book.'
*Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated senior writer, Fox Sports TV*
The book's true virtues are in its complexities and portrayals of
the players whose lives are interesting both on and off the field .
Oxenham understands a good sports story must work as a mirror to
reflect the world around it. And, like Friday Night Lights or
Seabiscuit, Under the Lights and In the Dark does just that . This
work is truly a testament to women's soccer and women in sports. It
is also a fun story for both sports fans and plain old readers
alike.'
*Gretchen Lida, Washington Independent Review of Books*
What a fine thing that a superb writer has found these 'untold
stories' . and remedied that situation.'
*The Boston Globe, The best books of 2017*
The book, just like women's soccer itself, is actually a tapestry
of interwoven stories, all connected by different color threads to
create one big, stunning masterpiece. And like a tapestry, Oxenham
weaves the beauty of her storytelling with the bruteness of a slide
tackle to make the book a must-read for any fan of the women's
game.'
*Allison Lee, The Equalizer*
Gwendolyn is the master at finding incredible soccer stories. These
are stories that need to be heard - told in a way that leaves you
begging for more.'
*Julie Foudy, ESPN, USWNT captain, two-time Olympic gold medalist &
World Cup champion*
A startlingly good book. Oxenham is a marvelous observer. These are
moving, uplifting stories from around the world - what top soccer
is like when there's no money or fame in it and you just do it for
love.'
*Simon Kuper, author of Soccernomics*
Twelve uplifting and incredible stories telling the risks and
rewards of pursuing a career as a professional women's football
player. A fantastic collection of pieces that get to the heart of
what some of the world's best and most talented players have
overcome - from homelessness to motherhood to homophobia, in order
to play the game they love - often without the guarantee of fame
and fortune should they succeed.'
*The Athletic UK writers' favourite football books*
The book, a blend of stand-up-and-cheer triumphs and bittersweet
cautionary tales, is a revelation, and it is a must-read for anyone
curious about not just women's soccer, but the beautiful game.'
*The Globe and Mail*
If you care one iota about women's football, stop what you're
doing, order this book right now - both to understand the true
state of the game and to support Oxenham in her work. This is an
essential read.'
*Men in Blazers podcast*
An eye-opening, cohesive collection of fascinating stories that
will help bring women's soccer to the next level. Appropriate for
high school students, public libraries, and all readers interested
in the future of the sport.'
*Library Journal*
One of the most compelling sports books I have ever read'
*Female Coaching Network*
Oxenham has a nice, inclusive, easy to understand writing style.
The twelve-year-old girl reading this as part of her English
homework will be as engrossed as the 60-year-old who never dreamt
that these things could happen to a female soccer player. That's a
fantastic skill to have as a writer.'
*Gorey Guardian*
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