Twelve-year-old Luke Espinosa dreams of becoming a great soccer player--a dream that seems impossible, since Luke has never played soccer and doesn't even own a ball. But one day he spots an old, discarded soccer ball and his spirits soar. With his own ball, he can practice every day until he' s good enough to make the school team. Then Luke discovers that his father, who left when Luke was a baby, is a professional soccer player. Now Luke is sure his dream is coming true. Soccer is in his genes. He'll go live with his father and learn to play the game he loves.

So when he's ridiculed and challenged by one of the school's star players, he makes an impossible promise. He agrees to meet the bully for a match--the bully's team against Luke's own team. The problem is that Luke doesn't have his own team . . . or any soccer skills . Then Luke gets a letter from his father, who says there's no room in his life for Luke. It's time for Luke to stop just dreaming...and find the inner courage to make his dreams come true.

00-01 Young Reader's Choice Award Program Masterlist