Girls and women have always found a way to play soccer, in spite of bans, challenges, rules, and backward-looking attitudes. Today, soccer is the most popular women’s sport in the world. A new YA book by Boston College alumna Clelia Castro-Malaspina chronicles the history of women’s soccer from its birth in 19th century England to its rise as a global powerhouse. Girls with Goals (Holler/Quarto, 2025) has been described as “a love letter” to women’s soccer and the female athletes who have inspired girls all over the world. Kirkus Reviews calls Girls with Goals “a spirited, well-told success story” with a “vivid narrative.” Castro-Malaspina is the founder of Mossy Pines Creative, a children’s book editorial business, and the author of Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment.