Customer Reviews

PrettyTOUGH

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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Charlie Brown is not a team player. This is what she tells the new soccer coach when she is recruited to play soccer on her school's losing soccer team. And with a name like hers, you can't help but sympathize. Charlie would rather surf all day than play on the same team as her perfect sister Krista. The stereotypical IT girl, Krista is blond, athletic, popular, and beautiful. Everything Charlie is not, and for that reason alone, the two hate each other. And suddenly going out for the soccer team seems like the perfect way to spite Krista. But what neither Charlie nor Krista expected was that Charlie would actually make the team. Or that should she would stay...

Pretty Tough is a novel that re-defines all of those stereotypes that run deep in YA literature. This is a novel with an empowering message: girls can be athletic, brainy, tough, and fashionable. All the while Tigelaar gives a strong and unflinching look at how seemingly unimportant decisions can make a lasting effect, especially on those you love. The true depths of the bonds of sisterhood are realized in this heartwarming and heart pumping novel full of love, acceptance, drama, strength and forgiveness.

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Whoo hoo. Finally a book about real girls. Not those stuck up wannabes. I loved everything about this book - the characters, the sports, the dialogue and especially the end. Liz is truly a great writer. I'll read anything she writes.

The two Brown sisters, Charlie and Krista, used to do everything together, they used to play soccer together, go to birthday parties and even paint their nails together, but then everything changed... It must have been that one day in the cafeteria 3 years ago, Charlie's best friend at the time, Regan, made fun of Charlie and insulted her in front of everybody, and Krista just sat there scared to do the right thing. Ever since Charlie and Krista have gone their separate ways, Charlie quit soccer to do surfing, but Krista still played soccer. One day Charlie was asked to try out for their school soccer team for their school, Beachwood. Charlie took the spot on the team thinking it would tick Krista off, but did it really bring them closer together?

Pretty Tough is a fantastic read. Ms. Tigelaar provides an outstanding account of young women learning about life and the importance of teamwork that young people and adults alike can enjoy. I highly recommend this book!

Sisters Charlie and Krista Brown do not get along. Krista is the perfect child, popular and a star soccer player with a movie star best friend and a quarterback boyfriend. Charlie (yes, her name is Charlie Brown) is a rebel, a surfer who hates her sister and everything she stands for. When the new soccer coach recruits Charlie to try out, Krista is furious, and Charlie's only trying out to torture her sister. Can these sisters put their differences aside long enough to do what's best for the team?

Pretty Tough is a great book about sisters, sports, and girl power. The point of view alternates between Krista and Charlie, both of whom have good reason to distrust each other. Krista isn't nearly as confident as she appears, and Charlie is a talented underachiever deeply hurt by her falling out with her sister. The soccer team gives them a chance to heal the breach, and the confidence to change their lives off the field. It's refreshing to read about contemporary girls who are interested in something other than boys, especially since sports is such an important part of so many students' lives. I really enjoyed this book, and recommended it for any teens who want read about strong girls.

This book should be put on everyones list who has a young female athelete. It would make a wonderful Xmas gift for every sportsminded girl. Finally there is something for girls when prior to this there was only things that were boy oriented. KUDOS to PRETTY TOUGH. GIRLS CAN BE PRETTY AND TOUGH. MS

My daughter greatly enjoyed the book and I liked that the girls in the story were serious athletes and worked so hard at their sport. My only caution is that the book was actually too old for her (she is 10) - not in reading difficulty but in some of the content. The high school situations were fairly tame, but still more advanced than she needed to be thinking about (boyfriends pressuring for sex!). She confessed to me partway through that it was somewhat inappropriate for her, and, after reading it myself, I did let her finish it, but somewhat reluctantly. It sparked some worthwhile conversations, but these conversations could have waited at least 2 years. I wish I had known before I bought it for her - and before my mom bought her 2 of the other "Pretty Tough" books. I would have waited 2 years and then it would have been good for her.

Taken from my blog [..]

Pretty Tough is a great book about sisters, soccer, and finding your place. Liz Tigelaar is an author I haven't heard much about but one that I will be watching from now on.

Charlie Brown has not had the best couple of years. She has no friends, can barely stand her sister, and there is no sign of anything changing in the near future. All that changes when Martie Reese recruits Charlie for the varsity soccer team. At first, soccer is a way to steal the spotlight from her sister but then things change. Can Charlie really have everything: soccer, friends, and even a boy? Or is it really too good to last?

Charlie and Krista Brown were not very good protagonists to begin with. Both were whiny and immature. It took a while for them to change at all but I eventually grew to like them. I liked their friends a lot more and I really wished they played bigger parts in the story.

The soccer was the best part of the book. I don't know anything about soccer but the games and practices were all so detailed it felt like I had been playing the game my whole life. The soccer really just tied everything together.

Overall, Pretty Tough is a great start to this series. I loved the sports, guys, and girl power. I can't wait to dig in to the next book in the series.

Charlie Brown is unpopular and withdrawn. Krista Brown is anything but. The one thing they have in common: the high school soccer team. How will they make it through the year?? I really enjoyed this book!!! First of all, it is about soccer. Second of all, they're playing it in Malibu, CA. If you love soccer, you have to read this book. It does have a few mistakes in it (not just grammatically), but it's easy to overlook them. Don't make the mistake of passing this book up!!!

Pretty Tough is a must read for everyone --- if you are an athlete or a sister, you will definitely relate to it. I read this book from start to finish - you won't be able to put it down!
Liz Tigelaar wrote an amazing story with such a meaningful ending! The best book I've read this summer!!!