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Vote for the G.O.A.T.
From the author of National Book Award-longlisted Free Period comes a new hijinks-fueled comedy about finding your voice, perfect for fans of Carrie Firestone and Lisa Yee!
Sporty Meg and fashionista Jo don’t have much in common besides being 7th graders at Somerset Middle School, where everyone is obsessed with being voted the Greatest of All Time and celebrated at the Harvest Ball. But when their mascot Somerset Babette (aka the world’s cutest goat) is kidnapped, Jo and Meg are wrongfully accused of being the culprits.
The burned-out soccer star and chronically-ill overachiever band together and assemble a rag-tag squad to steal the goat back. Banter, activism, self-care, double-crosses, big shenanigans, and even bigger feelings follow as the girls fight to change how animals are treated at their school and achieve true freedom for their four-legged, sweater-chewing friend in this laugh-out-loud middle-grade heist centering friendship and bodily autonomy.
Sporty Meg and fashionista Jo don’t have much in common besides being 7th graders at Somerset Middle School, where everyone is obsessed with being voted the Greatest of All Time and celebrated at the Harvest Ball. But when their mascot Somerset Babette (aka the world’s cutest goat) is kidnapped, Jo and Meg are wrongfully accused of being the culprits.
The burned-out soccer star and chronically-ill overachiever band together and assemble a rag-tag squad to steal the goat back. Banter, activism, self-care, double-crosses, big shenanigans, and even bigger feelings follow as the girls fight to change how animals are treated at their school and achieve true freedom for their four-legged, sweater-chewing friend in this laugh-out-loud middle-grade heist centering friendship and bodily autonomy.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2025
6 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Ali Terese
3 books29 followersAli Terese is a middle grade and YA author who writes funny and heartfelt stories including FREE PERIOD (Scholastic - 2024) and VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T. (Aladdin / Simon & Schuster - 2025). Her work has received the National Book Award - Longlist honor, a School Library Journal starred review, an Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award, and a Kids’ Indie Next selection. FREE PERIOD is part of the Chicago Battle of the Books and Texas's Lone Star Reading ListVisit Ali online for book bonuses, giveaways, and resources like discussion guides, recipes, craftivism projects, and more at aliterese.com.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 23, 2025
In this very busy book told through dual points-of-view, Jo, who has juvenile arthritis, and Meg, a soccer player, work together with others to try and find out who goatnapped their school mascot, Babette, a goat. Jo wants to improve conditions for Babette and starts a free Babette plan, if they can find her. When Meg is injured, the doctor wants her heal before soccer in the fall, but her dad keeps pushing her. Meg gets mad. Will she play again? Jo says let’s kidnap Babette back. Who did take the goat, and will they get her back in time for the school’s big Harvest Ball?
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 24, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jo Belmonte is very interested in fashion design, as well as Somerset Babbette, the goat who is the school mascot. She's been trying to get the goat a better living environment, but the principal keeps changing things. As a new school year starts, she's dealing with a particularly bad flare up of her juvenile rheumatoid arthritis while waiting for insurance to approve a new medication for her. To complicate matters, she has four older brothers in high school! Meg, on the other hand, has her own issues to deal with. An avid soccer player, Meg has ignored a twinge in her hamstring until a random movement at a game makes it a critical injury. The doctor recommends rest and crutches, but Meg's father thinks she should ice it and get back to playing. Luckily, she doesn't take his advice! For a while in the summer, Meg goes to stay with her quirky Nana Rose at her retirement facility, where she contemplates the school year without soccer. The big interest for the upcoming school year is a student competition to be elected the Greatest of All Time, with students working on projects that contribute to the school. There's also a massive Harvest Ball that occupies their thoughts. Jo is still working with her friend Arvin, whose father has a farm, to improve conditions for Babette, but when the goat is stolen, Meg jumps in to help investigate. The school year is very busy with plans for the dance, the G.O.A.T. competition, and finding Babette, and having to deal with physical problems while also doing school work becomes difficult for both Jo and Meg. Jo has treatments and therapy, and Meg must work on a return-to-play plan while missing her soccer teammates. There's a happy ending, with Jo sharing a sweet kiss with Vanessa.
Strengths: It was interesting to see a character with juvenile RA, since I've only seen this in Mendez's Aniana del Mar Jumps In and Otis' At the Speed of Lies. There's just enough information about treatment and coping strategies that Jo's other interests aren't overwhelmed by her health concerns. Meg's sports injury is something that I see a lot more of at school, but which is woefully underrepresented in literature, and I loved the idea of a return-to-play plan. The author's personal experience with both of these issues lends a lot of realistic detail to the story. Of course, there's the dance, the hunt for the goat, and the competition to move the story along as well. Like this author's Free Period, there's some LGBTQIA+ representation as well.
Weaknesses: There was a LOT going on, and since this switched between Meg and Jo's perspective, it was sometimes hard to keep track of all of the activities. I also had a hard time believing that the G.O.A.T. competition would take place.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed busy realistic school stories like Kelly and Mbalia's On Again, Awkward Again, Ryan's Mountain Upside Down, or Arango's It's All Or Nothing, which also involves a sports injury.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Jo Belmonte is very interested in fashion design, as well as Somerset Babbette, the goat who is the school mascot. She's been trying to get the goat a better living environment, but the principal keeps changing things. As a new school year starts, she's dealing with a particularly bad flare up of her juvenile rheumatoid arthritis while waiting for insurance to approve a new medication for her. To complicate matters, she has four older brothers in high school! Meg, on the other hand, has her own issues to deal with. An avid soccer player, Meg has ignored a twinge in her hamstring until a random movement at a game makes it a critical injury. The doctor recommends rest and crutches, but Meg's father thinks she should ice it and get back to playing. Luckily, she doesn't take his advice! For a while in the summer, Meg goes to stay with her quirky Nana Rose at her retirement facility, where she contemplates the school year without soccer. The big interest for the upcoming school year is a student competition to be elected the Greatest of All Time, with students working on projects that contribute to the school. There's also a massive Harvest Ball that occupies their thoughts. Jo is still working with her friend Arvin, whose father has a farm, to improve conditions for Babette, but when the goat is stolen, Meg jumps in to help investigate. The school year is very busy with plans for the dance, the G.O.A.T. competition, and finding Babette, and having to deal with physical problems while also doing school work becomes difficult for both Jo and Meg. Jo has treatments and therapy, and Meg must work on a return-to-play plan while missing her soccer teammates. There's a happy ending, with Jo sharing a sweet kiss with Vanessa.
Strengths: It was interesting to see a character with juvenile RA, since I've only seen this in Mendez's Aniana del Mar Jumps In and Otis' At the Speed of Lies. There's just enough information about treatment and coping strategies that Jo's other interests aren't overwhelmed by her health concerns. Meg's sports injury is something that I see a lot more of at school, but which is woefully underrepresented in literature, and I loved the idea of a return-to-play plan. The author's personal experience with both of these issues lends a lot of realistic detail to the story. Of course, there's the dance, the hunt for the goat, and the competition to move the story along as well. Like this author's Free Period, there's some LGBTQIA+ representation as well.
Weaknesses: There was a LOT going on, and since this switched between Meg and Jo's perspective, it was sometimes hard to keep track of all of the activities. I also had a hard time believing that the G.O.A.T. competition would take place.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed busy realistic school stories like Kelly and Mbalia's On Again, Awkward Again, Ryan's Mountain Upside Down, or Arango's It's All Or Nothing, which also involves a sports injury.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
July 5, 2025
Ali Terese has given her readers another hilarious story about friendship, learning to take care of yourself, and fighting for what you believe in. This story is told through dual points-of-view. Meg is a soccer player who is dealing with an injury that might destroy her athletic dreams and her relationship with her dad. Joe has juvenile arthritis and desperately wants to create a better life for the goat Babette, the school’s mascot.
When Meg and Joe witness Babette being kidnapped, they must join forces to save her while figuring out how to also save themselves. Middle school rivalries, dangerous rescue missions, and a principle with a bad attitude create havoc for Meg and Joe. But with humor and lots of adventure, their quest to save Babette leads them to uncover the ultimate victory of self-love. This fun and entertaining novel is another home run for Ali Terese!
August 27, 2025
This is a wonderful dual POV heist story filled with humor and suspense. When Babette, the school mascot, is "goatnapped", two girls with very little in common team up and put together a group to steal her back. Starring Meg, a soccer phenom who desperately needs a break, and Jo, a fashionista dealing with juvenile arthritis, the book includes interesting and important themes of sports burnout and chronic illness. These issues are likely relatable to many young readers and a wonderful way to build empathy in others. I loved the focus on providing a better life for the goat, and I also enjoyed the teamwork and the positive messages about bodily autonomy. Another thing I love about this book as well as Ali Terese's remarkable debut, FREE PERIOD, is that she shows how kids can be change-makers in their communities and fight for good causes. Five stars for this outstanding novel!
September 1, 2025
Vote for the G.O.A.T. takes a novel view of school sports, one that needs to be covered. I like the contrast between Jo and Meg, both struggling to gain control of their bodies in two very different ways. As a parent, I particularly identified with the dad who wants to instill toughness, hard work and a positive attitude in his child, but not knowing when to stop. While I'm a big fan of goats, the plot revolving around this odd and unfortunate school mascot was a little too distracting from the growth and change in the main characters. I did really appreciate the friendships formed, changed and lost througout the story. These are real experiences for kids and are handled without unneccesary drama, but with realistic awkwardness and mistakes. I liked the characters, but wish the main plot was a little less convoluted.
September 6, 2025
You might think you know what this book is about, but you’d be surprised. A delightful middle-grade story of two girls that seem dissimilar teaming up to save an actual goat that has been a living mascot of the school, somehow, for 30 something years. Goats don’t live that long. So they girls realize something is up. Plus the goat has had its field taken over for sports, so must now live in a parking lot spot.
Not cool for the goat, or for Jo, who takes care of said goat.
When the goat is stolen, the girls have to get together to figure out who stole it and how to get her back. But, should a middle school have a living mascot? That is the main question. And should every field be for sports. Can there not be wild spaces left to just be oneself.
Fun read. Interesting ideas thrown about, concerning sports injuries, as well as letting kids just have some nature in their lives.
Not cool for the goat, or for Jo, who takes care of said goat.
When the goat is stolen, the girls have to get together to figure out who stole it and how to get her back. But, should a middle school have a living mascot? That is the main question. And should every field be for sports. Can there not be wild spaces left to just be oneself.
Fun read. Interesting ideas thrown about, concerning sports injuries, as well as letting kids just have some nature in their lives.
June 3, 2025
While Meg and Jo's characters were well sketched out with their physical characteristics, inner thoughts, and by way of their interaction with third parties (grannies, love interests, authority figures like the principal) , often found some dialogues were unnecessarily lengthy. There were times when a few short sentences would have sufficed. Unless, middle schoolers really talk that way ?
There's also quite a bit of mini stories within the overall plot that found distracting. Description of the book (which drew me to it) seemed a bit different than read itself.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Aladdin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There's also quite a bit of mini stories within the overall plot that found distracting. Description of the book (which drew me to it) seemed a bit different than read itself.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Aladdin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2025
Five enthusiastic high hooves for Ali Terese’s new middle grade novel, Vote for the G.O.A.T. !!!
Packed with authentic middle school mayhem, hysterical dialogue, and thought-provoking social themes, this contemporary story about two unlikely friends who find their strength by working together inspires while it entertains.
Meg and Jo don’t travel in the same circles at school. Meg is a soccer star sidelined by injury while Jo enjoys fashion and struggles with juvenile arthritis. But when their beloved school mascot, Babette the goat, is kidnapped, they join forces to rescue her. In the process, they learn to stand up for the voiceless and themselves. A fun and meaningful read, Vote for the G.O.A.T. will leave kids wanting more stories (and maybe a goat mascot)!
Packed with authentic middle school mayhem, hysterical dialogue, and thought-provoking social themes, this contemporary story about two unlikely friends who find their strength by working together inspires while it entertains.
Meg and Jo don’t travel in the same circles at school. Meg is a soccer star sidelined by injury while Jo enjoys fashion and struggles with juvenile arthritis. But when their beloved school mascot, Babette the goat, is kidnapped, they join forces to rescue her. In the process, they learn to stand up for the voiceless and themselves. A fun and meaningful read, Vote for the G.O.A.T. will leave kids wanting more stories (and maybe a goat mascot)!
June 1, 2025
Hilarious middle school mayhem! Jo and Meg are on a mission to save their goat-napped school mascot while also fighting for better goat conditions and fair outdoor opportunities for all students. In this book you'll get: school rivalries, cute crushes, high-tech sleuthing, stealth rescue missions, a spunky grandma, middle school smelliness, principal problems, and a rag-tag team of unlikely friends. At the heart of it all are strong messages of friendship, autonomy, and standing up for just causes. Jo's brother said it best: "You all are like a middle school tornado. Only with justice instead of wind."
July 8, 2025
Hilarious Hijinks with Heart!
In this laugh-out-loud page-turner, Meg and Jo team up with a diverse group of kids, use their unique strengths, and work together to rescue their school mascot, Babette (an actual live goat!).
Middle grade readers are sure to feel seen and learn to feel heard, all while cracking up at the hilarious hijinks and banter. This novel is a valuable resource for teachers and parents to spark conversations about self-care, friendship, and the just treatment of animals, while empowering students to create meaningful change in what matters most to them.
Highly recommended!!!
In this laugh-out-loud page-turner, Meg and Jo team up with a diverse group of kids, use their unique strengths, and work together to rescue their school mascot, Babette (an actual live goat!).
Middle grade readers are sure to feel seen and learn to feel heard, all while cracking up at the hilarious hijinks and banter. This novel is a valuable resource for teachers and parents to spark conversations about self-care, friendship, and the just treatment of animals, while empowering students to create meaningful change in what matters most to them.
Highly recommended!!!
July 14, 2025
Yet again Ali Terese has come out with hit! This book is witty and lighthearted in all the best ways, just like Ted Lasso. One of the things I truly love about her books is that she is always realistic in her solutions these kids face to make real change. It's never a quick solution that makes everyone happy. Instead, she focuses on how real decisions are made, based on monetary factors and how they ultimately benefit the side you are trying to convince to make the change. Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for allowing me to read this advance copy of one of my favorite middle grade authors!
July 20, 2025
Oh I laughed out loud so many times reading this! Terese is absolutely brilliant at balancing complex topics like parental pressure in sports and chronic illness with screwball hijinks that have you grinning as you read. Top that off with a gloriously bumbling villain figure, a cool grandma, and a ragtag goat-saving crew. So well done! Equal parts fun and thought-provoking, and the line-level writing is fantastic. Was lucky to get an early copy and am so excited for this to be in readers' hands.
August 31, 2025
I love the alternating perspectives by chapter, and the focus on athletic injuries which is under-represented in middle grade writing. The goat mascot, teamwork, and self-advocacy really stood out to me as highlights, too!
July 27, 2025
ARC Read: Heartfelt and hilarious––a story of two unlikely friends who find common ground through their love for the beloved school mascot, Babette. Together, they must find a way to free her.
July 30, 2025
Full review coming soon!
September 4, 2025
Listening to this audiobook, I got so emotionally invested in these characters. Very good for helping me reach my step goals each morning!
May 28, 2025
Ali Terese has done it again with a winning story full of heart, humor, and hijinks!
Soccer star Meg and fashionista Jo couldn’t be more different. But when they’re brought together by their converging convictions and Babette the goat, they find themselves on a journey of self-discovery and learning what it truly means to be a friend.
In Vote for the G.O.A.T., we get more of what we have come to expect from Ali’s stories: authentic kids, messy friendships, unhinged antics, characters that are both soft and strong, and, of course, unabashed fart jokes. Fans of contemporary humorous friendship stories and goats will love this book!
Soccer star Meg and fashionista Jo couldn’t be more different. But when they’re brought together by their converging convictions and Babette the goat, they find themselves on a journey of self-discovery and learning what it truly means to be a friend.
In Vote for the G.O.A.T., we get more of what we have come to expect from Ali’s stories: authentic kids, messy friendships, unhinged antics, characters that are both soft and strong, and, of course, unabashed fart jokes. Fans of contemporary humorous friendship stories and goats will love this book!
August 28, 2025
Ali Terese has a special knack for writing books that are hilariously entertaining while also having a powerful message about fighting for the things you believe in (and, in this case, bodily autonomy and having the right to decide your own limits). These characters are incredibly fun and funny and make you wish you could be their friend, and the madcap hijinks that the group of newfound friends goes through to save their school mascot is truly genius. Honestly, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Every kid should read it!
April 28, 2025
Vote for the G.O.A.T. is a hilarious, heartfelt, hijinx-filled story about standing up for yourself and what you believe in! Jo and Meg bring readers along on a laugh-out-loud heist and show them the strength of teamwork in making a difference both on and off the field. Full of fabulous friendships, middle-school mayhem, and all the first-crush feels, this empowering novel highlighting bodily autonomy is sure to be a game-changer.
August 22, 2025
One thing I particularly love about Ali Terese’s work is that she shows kids how they can be changemakers in their personal contexts. She models concrete ways that kids can make a difference in their school and local landscapes and fight for equity, equality and justice. She smartly captures the complex dynamics of power with school leadership, parents, and local funding. Her books make me think a lot about how I can be a changemaker in my given context, and encourage me that even if things feel so overwhelming and impossible at times, there are things I can do.
I really appreciated this about Free Period too, but I particularly loved so much about VOTE FOR THE GOAT. It’s funny, Meg and Jo have so much voice and personality, Roxy is a total chaos gremlin nerd and I love it, the workaholic family pressure vibes and chronic illness rep hit so true to home, and who can not love Babette? My ARC has so many flags in it of incredible lines. I think sometimes I got so caught up in the voice and cleverness that I lost track of what was happening, but I generally enjoyed—and really needed—this ride. I think young Meg really could’ve used this model for how to set boundaries and accept bodily limitations without shame. It also would’ve been really nice to know that other kids experienced chronic pain, but also that “the normal amount of pain is zero” and I don’t need to just “push” through.
Rep includes: juvenile arthritis, burnout, queer love interest, possible neurodivergence (Meg gives me wonderful neurospicy, ADHD vibes!)
I really appreciated this about Free Period too, but I particularly loved so much about VOTE FOR THE GOAT. It’s funny, Meg and Jo have so much voice and personality, Roxy is a total chaos gremlin nerd and I love it, the workaholic family pressure vibes and chronic illness rep hit so true to home, and who can not love Babette? My ARC has so many flags in it of incredible lines. I think sometimes I got so caught up in the voice and cleverness that I lost track of what was happening, but I generally enjoyed—and really needed—this ride. I think young Meg really could’ve used this model for how to set boundaries and accept bodily limitations without shame. It also would’ve been really nice to know that other kids experienced chronic pain, but also that “the normal amount of pain is zero” and I don’t need to just “push” through.
Rep includes: juvenile arthritis, burnout, queer love interest, possible neurodivergence (Meg gives me wonderful neurospicy, ADHD vibes!)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews