You can do it by Marcus Rashford

This is a book with heart. It is an opportunity for children to hear words of encouragement from someone who has both struggled with poverty and racism, and also succeeded in sport. The author of this book is a global superstar playing soccer at an elite level for England and Manchester United. This career gives him a platform to be noticed, but in this book, he reveals his own personal history as a child of poverty and the people from his past who have made a big difference in his journey. He is also famous for missing a goal in a critical game in penalty time. The disappointment of letting down a nation is not something that is easy to forget, but Marcus Rashford shares in this book the truth that everyone makes mistakes and learning from them is also possible. The remarkable voice of kindness also flows through his life and his benevolent care of children in poverty via his food charity initiative is also used as an example for young readers.

The voice within this book is gently encouraging and personal. It reveals a man of heart who understands struggle, but also can inspire others to be the best version of themselves. He highlights the value of team, the opportunities for kindness, the value of small moments and the way to rise above disappointments and negativity, and all of this directly addressed to young people. Soccer players will be most likely to pick up this book because of Marcus Rashford’s name on the cover. It is a book that will be enjoyed by persistent readers, not because it is hard to read, but because kindness is not compelling to read about, even though kindness is naturally attractive. However, this is worth recommending if only to encourage kindness in our young. Presentation includes illustrations and highlighted quotations in black and white, and also end of chapter action points.

Themes: Positivity, Resilience, Kindness, Soccer, Racism, Marcus Rashford.

Carolyn Hull