Overview

"Elise comes from a long line of college athletes. More than anything else, she wants to wear the University of North Carolina uniform and play for the college where her parents went. It's a lot of pressure, but if she works hard, she just might make it. At least that's what Elise thinks before she notices that some of her teammates are outplaying her. And a UNC scout is visiting in a few weeks. That's where the pills come in. Taking ""performance supplements"" makes Elise feel great, and soon she's playing like a powerhouse. But will it last? And can she keep her secret without getting caught?"

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9781467703031

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Soccer is everything for high school athlete Elise. Part of the Counterattack series about various teammates on a high school girls' soccer team, Berne's tale features senior Elise. In the spring season of her final year, Elise anticipates earning a place on a college team. She is thrilled to learn a scout from her parents' alma mater will be observing her team in a month, searching for potential freshman candidates. Desperate to make a stellar impression, Elise scrambles for a quick method to increase her competitive edge, na vely deciding that the 'Winners Athletic Supplements' she discovers are the solution. Berne examines serious issues young athletes encounter, including the tremendous pressure to succeed--whether it is self-imposed or driven by parental influence--and body-image concerns. Elise, lacking confidence in her skills and struggling with self-esteem, quickly makes a series of poor choices in her quest for instant perfection. Her anxieties further manifest in body-image issues, and she embarks on dangerously unhealthy eating patterns. Elise's deteriorating physical and emotional conditions are effectively sketched in this fast-paced, slim novel. Ultimately, events culminate in near disaster, which leads to dramatic changes in Elise's sports and life goals. Berne's discerning tale combines vivid sports descriptions with a compelling storyline. --Kirkus Reviews--Journal The Counterattack series is one that surrounds an elite soccer team, The Copperheads. Each title has a storyline that deals with controversial issues both on and off the field. Each title is fast-paced, readable, and appropriate for both middle and high school readers. Online discussion guides are available for each book in the series. Each discussion guide includes writing prompts and student discussion questions that match Common Core Standards. --Library Media Connection --Journal Elise just wants her mother to notice how well she is playing soccer and to stop making little digs that she thinks will motivate her. In order to live up to the expectations laid before her from her coach, her mother, and herself, she decides to look for some help. Elise knows that she shouldn't take steroids, so instead she finds some pills on the Internet that promise to enhance her performance and steals her mother's credit card to pay for them. At first the drugs work wonders, but then, combined with her lack of eating, they cause Elise to crash while a college recruiter is visiting her high school. Ultimately, drugs don't make her game any stronger; in fact, they only cause her more problems. This high-interest, slim book is an accessible read for reluctant readers and soccer fanatics. --School Library Journal --Journal

Elise just wants her mother to notice how well she is playing soccer and to stop making little digs that she thinks will motivate her. In order to live up to the expectations laid before her from her coach, her mother, and herself, she decides to look for some help. Elise knows that she shouldn't take steroids, so instead she finds some pills on the Internet that promise to enhance her performance and steals her mother's credit card to pay for them. At first the drugs work wonders, but then, combined with her lack of eating, they cause Elise to crash while a college recruiter is visiting her high school. Ultimately, drugs don't make her game any stronger; in fact, they only cause her more problems. This high-interest, slim book is an accessible read for reluctant readers and soccer fanatics. --School Library Journal --Journal Soccer is everything for high school athlete Elise. Part of the Counterattack series about various teammates on a high school girls' soccer team, Berne's tale features senior Elise. In the spring season of her final year, Elise anticipates earning a place on a college team. She is thrilled to learn a scout from her parents' alma mater will be observing her team in a month, searching for potential freshman candidates. Desperate to make a stellar impression, Elise scrambles for a quick method to increase her competitive edge, na vely deciding that the 'Winners Athletic Supplements' she discovers are the solution. Berne examines serious issues young athletes encounter, including the tremendous pressure to succeed--whether it is self-imposed or driven by parental influence--and body-image concerns. Elise, lacking confidence in her skills and struggling with self-esteem, quickly makes a series of poor choices in her quest for instant perfection. Her anxieties further manifest in body-image issues, and she embarks on dangerously unhealthy eating patterns. Elise's deteriorating physical and emotional conditions are effectively sketched in this fast-paced, slim novel. Ultimately, events culminate in near disaster, which leads to dramatic changes in Elise's sports and life goals. Berne's discerning tale combines vivid sports descriptions with a compelling storyline. --Kirkus Reviews--Journal The Counterattack series is one that surrounds an elite soccer team, The Copperheads. Each title has a storyline that deals with controversial issues both on and off the field. Each title is fast-paced, readable, and appropriate for both middle and high school readers. Online discussion guides are available for each book in the series. Each discussion guide includes writing prompts and student discussion questions that match Common Core Standards. --Library Media Connection --Journal

Author Information

Emma Carlson Berne has written and edited more than two dozen books for young people. She holds a master's degree in composition and rhetoric from Miami University. Emma lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at http: //emmacarlsonberne.com/.

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