The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain
STAR (noun): any large body like the sun, intensely hot and producing its own energy by nuclear reactions
SOCCER STAR (noun): Gracie Faltrain
Goal-kicking, super-girl, soccer star. Gracie Faltrain is on her way. To the National Championships. To Nick. To everything she's ever wanted. Or so she thinks. Gracie's about to find out that life is messy. And hard. And beautiful.
There's a shadow falling across her mum and dad. Her best friend is about to leave town. She's trying desperately to be with the right boy, on the edge of falling in love with the wrong boy. She's rushing headlong into screwing up, making up, trying to keep it all together. Welcome to the life and times of Gracie Faltrain.
Notable Book, 2005 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards (Older Readers)
About the Gracie Faltrain Series
Books in series order
- 1.The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain(2004)
- 2.Gracie Faltrain Takes Control(2006)
- 3.Gracie Faltrain Gets It Right (Finally)(2008)
Reading age: 12+ years
This series should be read in order.
Gracie Faltrain is in her final years of high school and consumed with all things soccer...well, soccer and Nick, who she's long admired from afar.
Gracie is absolutely sure about what she wants and how to get it. And she's just as sure about what's right for her friends and how to make it all happen. But being sure isn't the same as being right. People are complex; relationships are in flux; and sometimes you just can't see from the outside what's really going on with your friends, your family...and certainly not your enemies.
Gracie's best intentions become over-shadowed by her self-absorption, and it takes a while for her to realise that everyone has more going on in their lives than she could possibly imagine. Part of growing up is accepting other people's choices and learning that you can't control everything on or off the field - no matter how badly you want to.