Soccer Bugs

SOCCER BUGS is a sports book for young readers that combines fast-paced soccer action with powerful social issues -- including bullying, diversity, divorce, memory loss and identity. Set in small-town Illinois, the ghost of Abe Lincoln and his dog Fido offer a twist that is both entertaining and educational.

Ten year old Rio Planck witnesses first-hand how his adopted grandpa molds a ragtag bunch of rejects into a championship soccer team. The "Lightning Bugs" feature a superstar striker who uses bilateral cochlear implants to hear, and a hyper-focused goalkeeper who is on the autism spectrum. When their aging coach develops Alzheimer's can no longer guide them, the young players use the lessons they've learned on and off the field to complete their surprising season in spectacular, nail-biting fashion.