Bella Takes the Lead

Bella not only plays travel soccer, but she is what is called internally motivated. This means that Bella wants to play soccer at the highest level she can achieve, and that her parents are not pushing her to play.With her two best friends, Lindsay and Megan, Bella helps both of them to become friends to each other. She does not find this easy, but rather a bit disconcerting when she experiences jealousy, perhaps for the first time. Coach Tammy is Bella's first paid coach versus a parent coach, and she is also Bella's first adult motivator when she guides Bella to "take the lead," meaning leading the team. Matt is a friend to Bella, but also her first "love" interest. Perhaps they will date, especially after fireworks on the beach!Bella Takes the Lead is a book about soccer, but will also interest readers who enjoy any higher level sports and competition, as well as those who wish to read about school and relationships with girls and boys. Touched on in this story of fiction are psychic dreams, whom to trust in the retelling, and their impact on friendships.Traveling to a beach for a first soccer tournament is exciting for Bella, and as the season goes on she is comfortable in her role as a team leader. Any reader who is nervous about anything, and wishes to be confident, will enjoy Bella Takes the Lead. Bella is a girl any reader would like to befriend, she's funny, loves her friends, family, and her pet bunny!Of course there are soccer games detailed in this book, but also friendships, teammates, family, students and school events, and simply everyday life. Bella's away tournament brings clarity to everything Bella is learning about and opening to in this story. Her close friends, Lindsay and Megan, will entice readers to wish for a possible series starring each of them!