The Empty Lot by M.M. Hart tells the story of Marco Rivera, a 9-year-old boy from East LA whose passion for soccer is confined to a small, cracked parking lot. Lacking a real team, Marco sharpens his control by passing a half-filled plastic bottle off a concrete wall. Everything changes when he spots a local team practicing on a nearby grass field. He spends days studying their movements from the fence until the head coach invites him to show his skills at an upcoming tryout. This opening pushes him to trade his street-honed skills for the fast pace of real grass, actual game setups, and older kids who aren't about to make it easy for him. While dealing with old, worn-out shoes and the trash talk from his rivals, can Marco actually turn his private training into a permanent spot on a competitive youth soccer roster? Better yet, where will this incredible opportunity take him?

The Empty Lot by M.M. Hart is a riveting children’s sports tale that does a great job of showing the real grit behind getting better at the game. What really impressed me was the tremendous amount of detail in the matches and training sessions, especially when Marco breaks down how the players across the field move before the ball even leaves their feet. Hart explains geometry and field vision in a way that makes sense, making you feel like you’re looking at the field through a player’s eyes. The book avoids having the opposing players on the other teams come across as one-dimensional, generic antagonists. They actually add creativity and tension to the plot, while challenging Marco to rethink everything he thought he knew about spacing and timing. The pacing is energetic, and the evocative details about Marco’s neighborhood and family life give the story a lot of heart. As an avid sports fan, I appreciated that Hart takes time to highlight the mental side of sports, not just the physical strength behind it. Overall, it’s an engaging read that I’d easily recommend to middle-grade readers, especially young athletes who love following the tactical details of soccer.

What happens when a boy with no team and no coach refuses to stop practicing? First Eleven: The Empty Lot by M.M. Hart is the story of nine-year-old Marco Rivera, who aspires to play soccer at a higher level, even though he starts with basically nothing. He spends countless hours trying to get better and better alone in a cracked parking lot behind his apartment in East Los Angeles. One day, Coach Ray spots him and is so impressed that he asks the kid to join the Eagles. Marco soon realizes he needs to adjust, but eventually finds his place on the team. As the season progresses, Marco improves his skills, makes friends, and faces stronger opponents. Through it all, his family is there as his number one fans. Along the way, Marco learns a very important lesson that helps him succeed. What discovery does Marco make that could help him make his dreams come true?

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing." Those words from soccer champion Pelé reminded me a lot of Marco's journey in The Empty Lot by M.M. Hart. I found myself cheering for him every step of the way, and enjoyed seeing how much he grew on and off the field. My favorite part was seeing how Marco viewed the game. He paid attention to little things that others didn’t see. The lessons he learned made him even more determined to be a better player. He reminded me of real sports figures like Michael Jordan or Mia Hamm. This book was difficult to put down, even for someone like me who isn’t a soccer expert. Fans of sports stories, coming-of-age novels, and underdog journeys will want to pick up a copy of this fantastic book.