Forward A memoir

Before retiring in 2015, soccer forward Wambach scored an astounding 184 international goals more than anyone, male or female, in the history of the game. Anyone who watched her play, marveling at her predatory instinct, physicality, and toughness may have assumed she was emotionally just as invulnerable. Her candid, thoughtful memoir, however, reveals a side of Wambach invisible to the TV cameras, a personality where Intense Abby and Chill Abby are in constant conflict. A competitive and dominant athlete from an early age (she once scored so many goals she was asked to join the boys' league), Wambach thrived on competition but also had an ambivalent attitude about the sport, simultaneously craving and resenting the approval brought by her success. The realization that she was a lesbian, something her parents weren't thrilled to discover, only raised the stakes. The book follows the rhythms of Wambach's professional life: cycles of training and competition for Olympic medals and World Cups, exuberant victories and devastating losses. Through it all, Wambach seeks love and acceptance (she writes more about her romantic relationships than those with teammates) and, increasingly, self-medicates emotional and physical pain with pills and booze, brushing off the concerns of those around her. When nagging injuries and other factors herald the inevitable end of her career, Wambach's fear that soccer is all she knows makes it all the worse. While the sports stories are included, this is not a book celebrating on-field triumphs: it's a book about one woman's journey to put her remarkable talents into context and accept herself. It's also about a struggle toward peace: Wambach credits a well-publicized DUI arrest in Portland, Oregon, this past April as a turning point, and readers will be rooting for this complicated, forthright woman. A cut above the standard sports memoir.--Graff, Keir Copyright 2016 Booklist

Athletes are said to live two lives: their sporting careers, which come with a built-in expiration date, and everything afterward. Wambach (b. 1980) is now at the end of her first "life," having retired in 2015 as one of the most successful and beloved soccer players of all time. Among her achievements are Olympic gold medals, a Women's World Cup championship, and numerous international records. Wambach is currently navigating the in-between time, finding purpose in working for equality and motivating young people. This memoir chronicles her battles with gender discrimination, homophobia, alcohol and substance abuse, and the difficulty of maintaining balance between her public and private lives. A deeply honest, moment-by-moment description of her 2016 arrest is especially jolting. -Wambach's conversational style and unique story make this an appealing choice for older students and sports fans; a YA edition was published as a companion title. VERDICT One of the most accomplished athletes of her generation tells her story with honesty and heart. A relevant choice for any modern sports -collection.-Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.