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Cinderella #1
Cinderella in Cleats
It started just like any other Whitney, her best friend, Jason, and their fathers tossed an old football around in the park. But when her dad dies of a heart attack, Whitney doesn't realize her passion for the sport and her friendship with Jason will never be the same.
Two years later, Whitney's ready to begin the long journey of re-discovering her love for football, encountering a sexist coach, an unethical but irresistible opponent, a mustard yellow T-shirt, and Jason along the way.
How many boys, romance, and hits on the field can Whitney handle before it becomes too much and she's forced to throw in the towel on her dreams?
Two years later, Whitney's ready to begin the long journey of re-discovering her love for football, encountering a sexist coach, an unethical but irresistible opponent, a mustard yellow T-shirt, and Jason along the way.
How many boys, romance, and hits on the field can Whitney handle before it becomes too much and she's forced to throw in the towel on her dreams?
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2010
31 people are currently reading
1508 people want to read
About the author
Carly Syms
10 books122 followersCarly Syms Hill is a 30-something-year-old graduate of Wisconsin and Northwestern. She was born in New Jersey where she wrote her first book in the second grade and fell in love with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars a few years later, sparking her love affair with football that led to CINDERELLA IN CLEATS.
Carly lives in the Phoenix suburbs, and spends her days hanging out with her husband and stepdaughter, playing with her zoo of animals (3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 hamster, and 2 fish!), writing, working in marketing, exploring the desert and cheering on her favorite sports teams!
Carly lives in the Phoenix suburbs, and spends her days hanging out with her husband and stepdaughter, playing with her zoo of animals (3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 hamster, and 2 fish!), writing, working in marketing, exploring the desert and cheering on her favorite sports teams!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
June 21, 2012
This review can also be found on Reading to Stay Alive
So, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end. Unfortunately, there was no plot and absolutely zero character development.
I went into this novel with very high hope. I read Catching Jordan in the past and the book was so unbelievably epic that I just had to get my hands on this one for just a possible glimpse back into that world. Instead of a strong willed female lead, I received a shallow, boy obsessed, immature and petty teenage girl.
The story line was almost impossible to follow and every single guy seemed to fall at Whitney's feet the very second she decided to tryout for the football team. She ditched her best friend for her man, and before that she tried to date her best friends ex-boyfriend. Umm, what the heck is wrong with this picture.
Stepping away from the plot, the writing was absolutely amateur. I don't know what the record is for number of times and author can use the word "like" but Carly Syms is definitely int he running for the record. Reading this was painful, I forced myself to go through with it because I have an incessant need to finish what I have started.
All in all, this book was not worth the $2.99 I spent on it. I wish I could take the time back that it took to read. I felt like I was in the mind of a twelve year old when it came to the reasoning that took place here. If any of this sounds appealing to you, then by all means read the book. Simply put, it wasn't for me. Maybe it's for you.
So, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end. Unfortunately, there was no plot and absolutely zero character development.
I went into this novel with very high hope. I read Catching Jordan in the past and the book was so unbelievably epic that I just had to get my hands on this one for just a possible glimpse back into that world. Instead of a strong willed female lead, I received a shallow, boy obsessed, immature and petty teenage girl.
The story line was almost impossible to follow and every single guy seemed to fall at Whitney's feet the very second she decided to tryout for the football team. She ditched her best friend for her man, and before that she tried to date her best friends ex-boyfriend. Umm, what the heck is wrong with this picture.
Stepping away from the plot, the writing was absolutely amateur. I don't know what the record is for number of times and author can use the word "like" but Carly Syms is definitely int he running for the record. Reading this was painful, I forced myself to go through with it because I have an incessant need to finish what I have started.
All in all, this book was not worth the $2.99 I spent on it. I wish I could take the time back that it took to read. I felt like I was in the mind of a twelve year old when it came to the reasoning that took place here. If any of this sounds appealing to you, then by all means read the book. Simply put, it wasn't for me. Maybe it's for you.
March 14, 2012
That was a waste of money. The characters were terrible, they changed their minds frequently and there was nothing solid on any of them. I thought for a brief moment that Scott may step up but the main character very quickly destroyed hope on that. This book was completely unrealistic from the boy asking her out on the sideline to her getting so caught up over a boy that she played a football game bad.
I was hoping for a good sports story with a strong girl character. Instead, I got this pathetic girl who was so boy crazy she couldn't focus on anything and a weak story line that actually had very little football in it. The characters were just disappointing and why Jason walked away was ridiculous.
I was hoping for a good sports story with a strong girl character. Instead, I got this pathetic girl who was so boy crazy she couldn't focus on anything and a weak story line that actually had very little football in it. The characters were just disappointing and why Jason walked away was ridiculous.
January 24, 2011
This book was a big let down. There were to many loose ends. What about Scott? Colt seemed like a great guy and then bam he was a jerk. The whole colt situation really did not sit well with me. And what about Sophie and Scott, that really needed to be explained. At the epilogue was just horrible. Jason couldnt stand to be with a girlfriend better at football then him. That did not really make sense since he loved her all those years and then let that get in between them. The book would have been better without that unwanted information. I did enjoy the book at first but I just think it could have been so much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2014
Some would say this contains spoilers, I say that you can't be spoiled in this book, because theres no major twists, plot, or high expectations that this will hold a special place in your heart.
This was disappointing, in terms of books I have read similar to this one. The characters weren't developed really well, and the main character. ... Whitney why did she tell everyone her business like straight way? who does that? she didnt even do it face to face it was on the phone, she there tell this boy her whole life story on the phone its so impersonal it really pissed me off. And she pretty much drops her friend just 'cause.
This story doesn't really have a plot, it's lacking in everything, this is basically a short story, you couldn't even tell children to read this to inspire them. except to say "get back on that horse een if you were traumized....shit happens!" and there are better books that can do that. There weren't any funny characters that coild have saved it for me.
I Swear the girl cared more about boys that the game **Major eyeroll**
This was disappointing, in terms of books I have read similar to this one. The characters weren't developed really well, and the main character. ... Whitney why did she tell everyone her business like straight way? who does that? she didnt even do it face to face it was on the phone, she there tell this boy her whole life story on the phone its so impersonal it really pissed me off. And she pretty much drops her friend just 'cause.
This story doesn't really have a plot, it's lacking in everything, this is basically a short story, you couldn't even tell children to read this to inspire them. except to say "get back on that horse een if you were traumized....shit happens!" and there are better books that can do that. There weren't any funny characters that coild have saved it for me.
I Swear the girl cared more about boys that the game **Major eyeroll**
October 17, 2012
I didn't really know what to expect from this book because it had some mixed reviews but I wound up liking it a lot!
Whitney's a strong character who won't quit even when she keeps having to deal with more and more struggles while she tries to play football. I thought from the reviews that there might be too much romance and not enough football but it was a good balance. enough to keep people who may not love football interested but not so much that it loses the sports element of the story.
definitely recommend this
Whitney's a strong character who won't quit even when she keeps having to deal with more and more struggles while she tries to play football. I thought from the reviews that there might be too much romance and not enough football but it was a good balance. enough to keep people who may not love football interested but not so much that it loses the sports element of the story.
definitely recommend this
November 9, 2021
This was an enjoyable read. This is a high school football story involving the relationship of Jason and Whitney, who knew each other since they were 3 years old. However, after the death of her father, their relationship changed. Jason stopped hanging out with Whitney. I thought the story was cute and quick. I found the story intriguing because it showed women in a male dominant sport of football. The ending was great. I can't wait to see the series continues. This was a nice retelling of Cinderella. Overall, a great read.
December 11, 2014
Oh...how I wanted this book to be good.
This book was meh.
The story was something unique, so points for that. The cinderella story is one that I like, so another one.
I just felt like I was reading something so choppy that it couldn't decide where it wanted to go. Characters would either change their minds too often for us to care, or not change at all.
However, those things fine in comparison to the ending.
I feel like the author said, "Oh no, I have to write an epilogue quickly", and tacked the ending bit on, trying to seem more realistic.
Why?? The story was fine until you completely ruined the entire story with that. Everything until that point was useless. I thought, "Thank you for ruining my time, author. I just read a whole book full of pointless desicions and actions.
Rant over.
This book was meh.
The story was something unique, so points for that. The cinderella story is one that I like, so another one.
I just felt like I was reading something so choppy that it couldn't decide where it wanted to go. Characters would either change their minds too often for us to care, or not change at all.
However, those things fine in comparison to the ending.
I feel like the author said, "Oh no, I have to write an epilogue quickly", and tacked the ending bit on, trying to seem more realistic.
Why?? The story was fine until you completely ruined the entire story with that. Everything until that point was useless. I thought, "Thank you for ruining my time, author. I just read a whole book full of pointless desicions and actions.
Rant over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2014
Huuum...
Bastante eeeeeew, no estuvo mal y esta bastante cortito.
Pero algo exagerado en algunos puntos, relaciones exageradas, practicamente la chica se enamorada de cada chico que esta lindo y se le cruza en el camino (y magicamente todos se enamoran de ella, y todos los chicos la aman), pero no deja de pensar en su ex-amigo-que-le-gusta-de-siempre, Jason, el cual la abandono cuando muere el papa de ella, y no se vuelven a hablar, pero ella despues de dos años sigue pensando en el cada dos por tres (el nombre de Jason sale practicamente en casa pagina!!!), lo que se vuelve algo cansino.
Ademas tenemos muchas situaciones sin sentido ,bobas y tontas.
La autora mete y saca personajes a lo bruto. Mete chicos aqui y chicas alla, y luego los saca sin decirte que paso despues con ellos, como con "la mejor amiga" de Whitney, Sophie. O con Scott. O el hermano mayor, Gregory. O Jeremy.
Incluso no te das cuenta del paso del tiempo, segun tu el capitulo siguiente sigue el mismo tiempo que llevabas en el otro, pero no. Resulta que ya habia pasado años, jaja no tanto, pero se entiende y tu ni en cuenta.
Y el final bastante incipido y sin mucho sentido.
No se, creo que lo unico que me gusto es porque tengo un gusto por los libros de chicas jugando deportes de hombres jaja.
Pero mis espectativas ni siquiera fueron muy altas al leerlo y ni asi las cumplio.
Una lectura rapida y la verdad muy sin embargo.
2 estrellitas y porque me agarro de buen humor ;P
Bastante eeeeeew, no estuvo mal y esta bastante cortito.
Pero algo exagerado en algunos puntos, relaciones exageradas, practicamente la chica se enamorada de cada chico que esta lindo y se le cruza en el camino (y magicamente todos se enamoran de ella, y todos los chicos la aman), pero no deja de pensar en su ex-amigo-que-le-gusta-de-siempre, Jason, el cual la abandono cuando muere el papa de ella, y no se vuelven a hablar, pero ella despues de dos años sigue pensando en el cada dos por tres (el nombre de Jason sale practicamente en casa pagina!!!), lo que se vuelve algo cansino.
Ademas tenemos muchas situaciones sin sentido ,bobas y tontas.
La autora mete y saca personajes a lo bruto. Mete chicos aqui y chicas alla, y luego los saca sin decirte que paso despues con ellos, como con "la mejor amiga" de Whitney, Sophie. O con Scott. O el hermano mayor, Gregory. O Jeremy.
Incluso no te das cuenta del paso del tiempo, segun tu el capitulo siguiente sigue el mismo tiempo que llevabas en el otro, pero no. Resulta que ya habia pasado años, jaja no tanto, pero se entiende y tu ni en cuenta.
Y el final bastante incipido y sin mucho sentido.
No se, creo que lo unico que me gusto es porque tengo un gusto por los libros de chicas jugando deportes de hombres jaja.
Pero mis espectativas ni siquiera fueron muy altas al leerlo y ni asi las cumplio.
Una lectura rapida y la verdad muy sin embargo.
2 estrellitas y porque me agarro de buen humor ;P
February 14, 2012
Wow... That really sucked!
I could not find even one redeeming quality in any one of the characters! They were all fickle and changed their minds so quickly I couldn't keep up. The relationships were completely unrealistic too. And she never hated Jason, she was always in love with him, daydreaming of kissing. And what a pathetic excuse for bailing on her when her dad died! Only the weakest of the weak, with no self-esteem, would forgive that jack-ass. Another annoying thing was how every single guy she comes across falls for her. Unrealistic and unrelateable! But probably the worst thing for me was that this was supposed to be a story about a girl who loved football above all else and just wanted to make her dead dad proud, but she spent more time jumping from guy to guy than thinking about football. This was so incredibly disappointing, and that's saying a lot because I didn't have ugh hopes for a story of a girl football player.
I could not find even one redeeming quality in any one of the characters! They were all fickle and changed their minds so quickly I couldn't keep up. The relationships were completely unrealistic too. And she never hated Jason, she was always in love with him, daydreaming of kissing. And what a pathetic excuse for bailing on her when her dad died! Only the weakest of the weak, with no self-esteem, would forgive that jack-ass. Another annoying thing was how every single guy she comes across falls for her. Unrealistic and unrelateable! But probably the worst thing for me was that this was supposed to be a story about a girl who loved football above all else and just wanted to make her dead dad proud, but she spent more time jumping from guy to guy than thinking about football. This was so incredibly disappointing, and that's saying a lot because I didn't have ugh hopes for a story of a girl football player.
December 10, 2018
Cinderella In Cleats was only okay. It was a very short read, with a unique plot. I love stories with the girl playing football, even though I've never seen or heard of a girl playing I still think its cool to read a novel about it. I enjoyed all of the football aspect of this book, it was very well written and very unique. However the young adult drama seemed seriously extreme even for a young adult book. There was one character in the book that I think didn't make very much sense, and he seemed to have a major role at first, then he just dwindled away without much explanation, so I felt like that character didn't need to be in the story. The ending also seemed very abrupt, and fast. I did enjoy the writing, and most of the characters. So for a short read the book was just okay.
March 30, 2014
I very rarely give a review but this was such a disappointment. Out of all the choices of boys she could have ended up with THAT was the choice?! Really?? No way would that happen in real life unless the girl was completely without self respect..boy treats you like crap and you are okay with that? I feel sorry for girls that think this is okay. Also the end/epilogue was the most rushed I have seen in quite some time. It's like even the author was disappointed in the storyline and just wanted it to end already lol.
October 11, 2012
Whitney is a junior in high school her dad died two years before and that's when her best friend Jason left but later we find out it's because he was in love with her and didn't know how to be there for her *rolls eyes* then later in the story she meets colt who she dates but tries to boss her around so Jason stands up for her their friendship renewed and they live happily ever after according to the epilogue
January 2, 2021
No empezó tan malo. Ella pierde a su papá en un juego de futbol americano y queda algo traumada y su mejor amigo le deja de hablar.
Luego el último año y por jugar tan bien, quiere ser parte de un equipo de fútbol americano y tiene q padecer todo por ser mujer. Hasta ahí no era tan malo. Se cambia de escuela y mil cosas horrendas.
Luego ella parece enamorarse de todos los chicos q encuentra, todos parecen amarla y dejar a sus novias por ella. Pero cuando eso pasa, ya dejan de ser interesantes. Siempre esta ese ex mejor amigo q solo la abandono y la dejo durante dos años, cómo un fantasma. No puede sacarlo de su cabeza. Y de golpe todo cambia, y me desmótelo nuevamente que estás autoras quieren dejar una huella con sus protagonistas fuertes e innovadoras, y terminan generando situaciones que son todo lo contrario.
Doy un ejemplo:
En su primer juego conoce un chico del equipo contrario que le invita a salir, y todo eso de ser mujer y buscar igualdad de derechos se termina de caer en la parte que da a entender: “perdí el partido pero al menos tengo el número de teléfono de un chico lindo” What?
Es una cargada? Jajaajaj para esta protagonista son más importantes sus enamoramientos tontos con cualkiera que jugar al fútbol. Realmente es tan buena pero termina cayendo en la típica mirada de personajes femeninos que detesto. Aquellos que perdonan ofensas fuertes sin una explicación lógica “te amaba pero me aleje x miedo” (?) eh? Enserio chicas, esa excusa no es perdonable, si alguien me dijera eso y yo tuviera que entender que dejo de hablarme cuando mi padre murio por sos años solo por miedo, realmente le daría una buena patada.
Estas cosas absurdas y el final rápido y sin sentido donde deja mil temas abiertos como Sophie su amiga con quien pelean y ella corta el teléfono peliadas, hicieron que fuera un desastre de libro.
Luego el último año y por jugar tan bien, quiere ser parte de un equipo de fútbol americano y tiene q padecer todo por ser mujer. Hasta ahí no era tan malo. Se cambia de escuela y mil cosas horrendas.
Luego ella parece enamorarse de todos los chicos q encuentra, todos parecen amarla y dejar a sus novias por ella. Pero cuando eso pasa, ya dejan de ser interesantes. Siempre esta ese ex mejor amigo q solo la abandono y la dejo durante dos años, cómo un fantasma. No puede sacarlo de su cabeza. Y de golpe todo cambia, y me desmótelo nuevamente que estás autoras quieren dejar una huella con sus protagonistas fuertes e innovadoras, y terminan generando situaciones que son todo lo contrario.
Doy un ejemplo:
En su primer juego conoce un chico del equipo contrario que le invita a salir, y todo eso de ser mujer y buscar igualdad de derechos se termina de caer en la parte que da a entender: “perdí el partido pero al menos tengo el número de teléfono de un chico lindo” What?
Es una cargada? Jajaajaj para esta protagonista son más importantes sus enamoramientos tontos con cualkiera que jugar al fútbol. Realmente es tan buena pero termina cayendo en la típica mirada de personajes femeninos que detesto. Aquellos que perdonan ofensas fuertes sin una explicación lógica “te amaba pero me aleje x miedo” (?) eh? Enserio chicas, esa excusa no es perdonable, si alguien me dijera eso y yo tuviera que entender que dejo de hablarme cuando mi padre murio por sos años solo por miedo, realmente le daría una buena patada.
Estas cosas absurdas y el final rápido y sin sentido donde deja mil temas abiertos como Sophie su amiga con quien pelean y ella corta el teléfono peliadas, hicieron que fuera un desastre de libro.
August 12, 2021
There aren't enough books in the world that highlight girls in sports, especially at the middle grade level and I was especially drawn to this novel because of it's short length. This would have been a perfect plug for some of my reluctant readers who love sports- if there had been any good qualities to it at all.
I'd like to start by saying I was really hoping to enjoy this, or at least appreciate it enough to recommend to my students. It started off well enough, but soon deteriorated into the worst kind of tropes and "I'm not like other girls" syndrome. Couple that with spelling errors and a few consistency issues and I'm surprised I was able to get through it.
Whitney, our main character, had a lot going for her as far as main characters go; her background was solid and I had no issue with the little bit of romance hinted at the start. What I did have issue with is how I soon lost track of how many boys were interested in Whitney or how many she was interested in. Football seemed to become more a footnote in the plot the more I read.
The worst of it, however, was how little support she received from other female characters and how much animosity she gathered from cheerleaders simply for being a girl who played football. On the other hand, there was a surprising amount of support from boys throughout the novel. Which, it's fantastic that platonic female/male relationships were highlighted, but it seemed incredibly unrealistic that so few of her teammates or rival players would undermine or oppose her playing; no matter how good she may be. The biggest reason for the one star review, aside from all its other failings, is how it absolutely destroys the idea that women can help and support women in sports or love.
I'd like to start by saying I was really hoping to enjoy this, or at least appreciate it enough to recommend to my students. It started off well enough, but soon deteriorated into the worst kind of tropes and "I'm not like other girls" syndrome. Couple that with spelling errors and a few consistency issues and I'm surprised I was able to get through it.
Whitney, our main character, had a lot going for her as far as main characters go; her background was solid and I had no issue with the little bit of romance hinted at the start. What I did have issue with is how I soon lost track of how many boys were interested in Whitney or how many she was interested in. Football seemed to become more a footnote in the plot the more I read.
The worst of it, however, was how little support she received from other female characters and how much animosity she gathered from cheerleaders simply for being a girl who played football. On the other hand, there was a surprising amount of support from boys throughout the novel. Which, it's fantastic that platonic female/male relationships were highlighted, but it seemed incredibly unrealistic that so few of her teammates or rival players would undermine or oppose her playing; no matter how good she may be. The biggest reason for the one star review, aside from all its other failings, is how it absolutely destroys the idea that women can help and support women in sports or love.
January 29, 2019
Pros: es un libro corto. Contras: todo lo demás. Digo, hablemos de relaciones tóxicas! En serio Whitney? Jason es un idiota, porque te dejo cuando más lo necesitabas y porqué? Porque estaba enamorado de ti y tenía miedo! Que clase de estúpido hace eso?? Y luego te trata como basura por dos años pero ahí estás tú, enamorada y deseando que todo vuelva a ser como antes. No seas ridícula, por Dios! OK, te acepto que ya no lo odies, porque es bueno perdonar, pero no a ese nivel. Aquella persona que diga que Jason y Whitney debían estar juntos está verdaderamente enferma. Y bueno, la historia pudo ser mejor. No la disfruté ni un poco.
August 2, 2018
Me atrapan mucho los libros de mujeres venciendo los estereotipos y tenía años con este libro por lo cual decidí darle una oportunidad.
Ahora bien qué me encontré?
Un libro en que la trama transcurre muy rápido, en una página todo está bien y en la siguiente todo se fue al demonio. Se nota que fue el primer libro de la autora porque hubo mucha discordancia.
No me gustó que la pusieran como una tonta que iba pendiente de los chicos, parecía cabeza hueca pero bueno el final rescata un poco lo que debía ser la protagonista siempre.
Ahora bien qué me encontré?
Un libro en que la trama transcurre muy rápido, en una página todo está bien y en la siguiente todo se fue al demonio. Se nota que fue el primer libro de la autora porque hubo mucha discordancia.
No me gustó que la pusieran como una tonta que iba pendiente de los chicos, parecía cabeza hueca pero bueno el final rescata un poco lo que debía ser la protagonista siempre.
March 20, 2017
0/5 stars
No real character development
No progression in plot
The boy obsessed, immature h spent all her time fielding off guys
The H only showed up in the beginning of the novel and the end
No real character development
No progression in plot
The boy obsessed, immature h spent all her time fielding off guys
The H only showed up in the beginning of the novel and the end
January 14, 2020
This is a good story, but unfortunately with an execution that's barely mediocre.
I might have given it an extra star just because I really wanted to like it.
I might have given it an extra star just because I really wanted to like it.
May 2, 2021
Sweet and simple
Quick and easy and predictable but sweet. I've read it before and was trying to remember the twist I was convinced there was, but it is a very sweet very simple plot line.
Quick and easy and predictable but sweet. I've read it before and was trying to remember the twist I was convinced there was, but it is a very sweet very simple plot line.
October 17, 2017
Cinderella in cleats
Was very interesting and fascinating at the same time. The best thing is that It is The perfect Cinderella story( in cleats )
Was very interesting and fascinating at the same time. The best thing is that It is The perfect Cinderella story( in cleats )
May 30, 2019
Meh. Cheesy and badly written story of a girl who plays high school football and finds romance.
April 28, 2020
I reread this book all the time. It’s not a long read but I always enjoy it :)
October 28, 2011
I read this on my kindle [:
[ Just a sample but it's really good ]
Cinderella In Cleats was just like A Cinderella Story but a little different. Whitney grew up with Jason and they had a friendship that lasted eleven years. It all ended when Whitney's dad died of a heart attack on the field. Whitney and Jason used to play football every Sunday with their dads together. Whitney , never really thought her and Jason would ever become more than friends but she was content with them being just friends. Everything changed when he got a new girlfriend and became that jock that was all into himself and got all the girls. Whitney didn't ever think that he would become someone like that , but she was wrong. Jason and Whitney started to drift away from each other ever since Whitney's dad's death. Whitney was always good at playing football but she hadn't played in two years. When football tryouts at school came up, she wanted to try out but she wasn't sure about it. Her friends told her that she had the skills to try out and she was good enough. When she went to the try outs a lot of the boys were actually surprised even the coach was being sarcastic saying that cheer tryout were the day before. She never let that affect her. Jason was trying out too and when he saw her he was the ONLY boy that was pointing out that girls shouldn't be allowed to play football and that girls playing football should be illegal. This actually surprised her because, she didn't think that he would really bring that up, but she was wrong. Anyway, Whitney tried out and she impressed the coach so well that she might be playing before Jason! After the tryouts Matt , Jason's brother even said Whitney was better than Jason ! She still had game even after two years. She takes after her father and her brother. After school , went to go tell her mom about the try outs and her mom was upset. Her mom didn't like the fact that , her daughter wasn't doing any girly things and she was doing a "boy's" sport. Whitney's mom even told her that is Whitney won't quit football at school , she was gonna have to get involved. After , that conversation Whitney called her brother in Texas. Whitney now realized, why her brother moved out. He told her not to worry about it because their mom remembered about when Whitney's dad used to play football .
[ Just a sample but it's really good ]
Cinderella In Cleats was just like A Cinderella Story but a little different. Whitney grew up with Jason and they had a friendship that lasted eleven years. It all ended when Whitney's dad died of a heart attack on the field. Whitney and Jason used to play football every Sunday with their dads together. Whitney , never really thought her and Jason would ever become more than friends but she was content with them being just friends. Everything changed when he got a new girlfriend and became that jock that was all into himself and got all the girls. Whitney didn't ever think that he would become someone like that , but she was wrong. Jason and Whitney started to drift away from each other ever since Whitney's dad's death. Whitney was always good at playing football but she hadn't played in two years. When football tryouts at school came up, she wanted to try out but she wasn't sure about it. Her friends told her that she had the skills to try out and she was good enough. When she went to the try outs a lot of the boys were actually surprised even the coach was being sarcastic saying that cheer tryout were the day before. She never let that affect her. Jason was trying out too and when he saw her he was the ONLY boy that was pointing out that girls shouldn't be allowed to play football and that girls playing football should be illegal. This actually surprised her because, she didn't think that he would really bring that up, but she was wrong. Anyway, Whitney tried out and she impressed the coach so well that she might be playing before Jason! After the tryouts Matt , Jason's brother even said Whitney was better than Jason ! She still had game even after two years. She takes after her father and her brother. After school , went to go tell her mom about the try outs and her mom was upset. Her mom didn't like the fact that , her daughter wasn't doing any girly things and she was doing a "boy's" sport. Whitney's mom even told her that is Whitney won't quit football at school , she was gonna have to get involved. After , that conversation Whitney called her brother in Texas. Whitney now realized, why her brother moved out. He told her not to worry about it because their mom remembered about when Whitney's dad used to play football .
October 11, 2012
Being in the Philippines, I did not go to school that has football team. So let me ask first. Is it really possible for a girl to join football team??? I'm just being realistic and not sexist like Coach Harringer, this is just pure curiosity. I've watched tons of movies with football, and the sport is undeniably muscle and strength. And with how Whitney was described, could she really be able to play the game without getting hurt? It is this just for the fun of the story?
I've seen extreme ratings for this book. It's either 2 or 5 stars, so I've mixed feelings in reading this. At first glance, the title and the summary is totally interesting. A girl in the football wrld amongst all boys is definitely a Cinderella story. However ,when reading, I was disappointed. I was expecting a lot of football actions and how will Whitney proves she deserves to be part of that world. Of course she proved that but... it's like there are other things i her mind that annoys me. First, there are this boys that shows attraction to her and suddenly, she finds herself gettign attracted as well. And when that certain boy is quite complicated as she expected and she finds another boy that she caught the attention, she willingly moves on with the next. But then, she finds herself falling inlove all over again with Jason. Her reactions towards boys is so annoying and so immature. But annoyed as much as I am, I honestly got nervous during the games. Holding my breath praying she does not mess up and finally prove she is good enough as a quarterback. And I literally sighed with relief when everything is going well.
The story is quite fast, at times I get confuse on what is happening since it immediately jumps from one scene to another with a snap of a finger. It's all about Whitney. Her insecurities, flirting and drama. I never had a chance to get to know Jason that much. I find him interesting and nice but sadly, I am stucked to WB's mind.
I expected a great story and was disappointed. I was looking forward to the match against WB and Jason and it just went into the epilogue like no big deal, when it feels like all this time the story was building up for this game. A good plot was wasted.
*** More of my reviews @ The Bookgineer (http://www.thebookgineer.blogspot.com) ***
I've seen extreme ratings for this book. It's either 2 or 5 stars, so I've mixed feelings in reading this. At first glance, the title and the summary is totally interesting. A girl in the football wrld amongst all boys is definitely a Cinderella story. However ,when reading, I was disappointed. I was expecting a lot of football actions and how will Whitney proves she deserves to be part of that world. Of course she proved that but... it's like there are other things i her mind that annoys me. First, there are this boys that shows attraction to her and suddenly, she finds herself gettign attracted as well. And when that certain boy is quite complicated as she expected and she finds another boy that she caught the attention, she willingly moves on with the next. But then, she finds herself falling inlove all over again with Jason. Her reactions towards boys is so annoying and so immature. But annoyed as much as I am, I honestly got nervous during the games. Holding my breath praying she does not mess up and finally prove she is good enough as a quarterback. And I literally sighed with relief when everything is going well.
The story is quite fast, at times I get confuse on what is happening since it immediately jumps from one scene to another with a snap of a finger. It's all about Whitney. Her insecurities, flirting and drama. I never had a chance to get to know Jason that much. I find him interesting and nice but sadly, I am stucked to WB's mind.
I expected a great story and was disappointed. I was looking forward to the match against WB and Jason and it just went into the epilogue like no big deal, when it feels like all this time the story was building up for this game. A good plot was wasted.
*** More of my reviews @ The Bookgineer (http://www.thebookgineer.blogspot.com) ***
January 24, 2015
YA, girl-power, underdog, sports story
For eleven years of her life, Whitney and her best friend Jason played football with their fathers in the park until the day her father died of a heart attack. After that, Whitney lost not only her father, but her best friend. Jason just never came around again. During the following two years, he became a star on their high school football team as quarterback, but Whitney stopped playing. Then suddenly, in the fall of her junior year, she decides she's ready to play again, but her position is quarterback, the same as Jason's, and Jason is none too happy to have to go up against his extremely talented ex-friend in the tryouts for the team.
Unlike Cinderella in Skates by the same author, the central focus here is not a romance. Instead, the main plot is a girl-power, underdog, sports story, and the subplot is more chicklit than romance, because over the course of the book Whitney is interested in multiple boys.
It is a tribute to the author's great skill at writing about football that I, who have never understood or been a fan of football, had no trouble following the many football scenes and found them quite interesting.
Whitney is a fascinating character with a multifaceted journey, including the emotional journey of recovering from her grief for her father, rediscovering her love of--and great talent for--football, and experiencing herself as an attractive and fascinating young women to whom many good-looking, dynamic young men are very drawn.
I purchased this book in a Kindle edition. It is well formatted and edited, making it easy to read.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4
Subcharacters: 4
Writing: 4
Football Plot: 4
Chick-Lit Plot: 4
Overall: 4
For eleven years of her life, Whitney and her best friend Jason played football with their fathers in the park until the day her father died of a heart attack. After that, Whitney lost not only her father, but her best friend. Jason just never came around again. During the following two years, he became a star on their high school football team as quarterback, but Whitney stopped playing. Then suddenly, in the fall of her junior year, she decides she's ready to play again, but her position is quarterback, the same as Jason's, and Jason is none too happy to have to go up against his extremely talented ex-friend in the tryouts for the team.
Unlike Cinderella in Skates by the same author, the central focus here is not a romance. Instead, the main plot is a girl-power, underdog, sports story, and the subplot is more chicklit than romance, because over the course of the book Whitney is interested in multiple boys.
It is a tribute to the author's great skill at writing about football that I, who have never understood or been a fan of football, had no trouble following the many football scenes and found them quite interesting.
Whitney is a fascinating character with a multifaceted journey, including the emotional journey of recovering from her grief for her father, rediscovering her love of--and great talent for--football, and experiencing herself as an attractive and fascinating young women to whom many good-looking, dynamic young men are very drawn.
I purchased this book in a Kindle edition. It is well formatted and edited, making it easy to read.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4
Subcharacters: 4
Writing: 4
Football Plot: 4
Chick-Lit Plot: 4
Overall: 4
September 26, 2012
I really don’t like giving bad reviews. I love writing the bad reviews, but I don’t like saying mean things about a book. Cinderella in Cleats was, quite honestly, crap. After reading Catching Jordan, I really wanted to read another football book, so I chose a cheap book off Amazon. Unfortunately, Cinderella in Cleats was disappointing and horrifyingly bad. I cannot believe I put up with the crappy, non-existent plot, characters and romance.
When her father died playing football, Whitney not only lost her father, she lost her love of football and her best friend and secret crush, Jason. A couple of years later, after avoiding football and Jason, Whitney finally gives in and tries out for the school football team. When her sex comes in the way of the decision to recruit her; Whitney makes the rather abrupt decision to move schools and join another school football team. This new team and coach are a lot more welcoming than her previous school’s ones. Unfortunately, there are some unwelcoming opinions from some of the student body. So when Whitney makes several bad decisions in a row, what will everyone think of her now? And will she jeopardise her position as quarterback.
There was virtually no plot and the characters where a mess. There was also no obvious editing; the grammar and punctuation were that bad. I think I could've written a book with better editing.
I really did not enjoy this book and was really, very disappointed.
When her father died playing football, Whitney not only lost her father, she lost her love of football and her best friend and secret crush, Jason. A couple of years later, after avoiding football and Jason, Whitney finally gives in and tries out for the school football team. When her sex comes in the way of the decision to recruit her; Whitney makes the rather abrupt decision to move schools and join another school football team. This new team and coach are a lot more welcoming than her previous school’s ones. Unfortunately, there are some unwelcoming opinions from some of the student body. So when Whitney makes several bad decisions in a row, what will everyone think of her now? And will she jeopardise her position as quarterback.
There was virtually no plot and the characters where a mess. There was also no obvious editing; the grammar and punctuation were that bad. I think I could've written a book with better editing.
I really did not enjoy this book and was really, very disappointed.
January 13, 2012
It was ok I had to re-read lines to understand because of spelling mistakes, missing words and bad grammar but it was an ok read. Whitney has been a tom-boy her whole life and football is big part of it until her father dies of a heart attack while playing their regular Sunday game at the park. After her father past she hated football and hated Jason even more for not being there for her when she needed her best friend they haven't talked for 2 years until Whitney decides that is time for her to try out for the football and even then he is just plain rude.But once she tries out she is hands down the best Quarterback they have but the coach won't allow her to be on the team because she is a girl. So Whitney decides to take matters into her own hands and tries out for another school and is put on the team but everyone at that school does not like her and is making her stay there impossible and when she loses her first game it becomes worse then before until she starts winning then she starts getting noticed and getting a big fan base especially lots of guys interested in her. All Whitney wanted to do was play football and get her life back and she does in more ways then she expected.
July 26, 2012
Whitney is not your ordinary girl, she loves football and plays it really well. Her dad, her BFF Jason, and his dad play every Sunday in the park. One Sunday the unthinkable happened, her dad has a heart attach and dies. This devastates Whitney and she not longer has anything to do with playing football. Her BFF Jason and her fall apart, he no longer talks to her and she feels so lonely.
Two years later, Whitney's ready to begin the long journey of re-discovering her love for football, she finds out the coach is very sexist, her mom is not happy about her trying out, and her brother (who is away at college) is ecstatic. She isn't sure if she should continue to continue with football since her mom is so upset, but her brother encourages her further. After all Jason plays on the high school football team as well. Whitney is now ready for lots of future experiences.
This book is a great book for teenagers 12-16 especially for those who love sports and girls that are your classic tomboy. I read this on my KindleFire. Also a ALA quick-pick for reluctant young readers.
Two years later, Whitney's ready to begin the long journey of re-discovering her love for football, she finds out the coach is very sexist, her mom is not happy about her trying out, and her brother (who is away at college) is ecstatic. She isn't sure if she should continue to continue with football since her mom is so upset, but her brother encourages her further. After all Jason plays on the high school football team as well. Whitney is now ready for lots of future experiences.
This book is a great book for teenagers 12-16 especially for those who love sports and girls that are your classic tomboy. I read this on my KindleFire. Also a ALA quick-pick for reluctant young readers.
June 4, 2011
Liked the concept better than the execution.
with the others that this book needs an editor - looks like it was Kindle self-published, so that might be why. Still, the author could definitely have used help on this - in particular, there were things like the main character wanting to be "apart of something" and places where the tense changed.
The point of view choices weren't great either. The book switches between third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person, and not consistently enough to make it seem like an organized choice. (Prologue and Epilogue in 3rd/omni, most of the book in first, and one random section in 3rd/limited.)
Could have used some editing on some of the plotlines, too. What was the point of the drama with the best friend and her ex? It didn't serve any narrative purpose that I could tell.
I felt the football scenes were awkwardly described, but I can't pinpoint why.
with the others that this book needs an editor - looks like it was Kindle self-published, so that might be why. Still, the author could definitely have used help on this - in particular, there were things like the main character wanting to be "apart of something" and places where the tense changed.
The point of view choices weren't great either. The book switches between third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person, and not consistently enough to make it seem like an organized choice. (Prologue and Epilogue in 3rd/omni, most of the book in first, and one random section in 3rd/limited.)
Could have used some editing on some of the plotlines, too. What was the point of the drama with the best friend and her ex? It didn't serve any narrative purpose that I could tell.
I felt the football scenes were awkwardly described, but I can't pinpoint why.
January 9, 2011
This book is so out there that I don't know where to begin. First it needs to be edited! There are so many typos and missing words (at one point the main character's name changed to Paul from Jason. Simple things like at the very beginning of the book it says that Jason and Whitney live hours apart and then later in the book just minutes apart. It was very annoying and distracting to read so many misplaced words. I understand that this was a cinderella type story with Whitney becoming a quarterback and all, but it got way out there when she had so many guys falling at her feet. At times Carly Syms seemed to not know what direction she wanted to take the book in - so she went off in many different ones leaving undeveloped story lines. The characters were so unbelievable that it was hard to care for any of them. Overall - it was just ok.
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