Soccer chapter books · Ages 9–14
Marco Rivera has no team and no boots. Six books take him from an empty lot to FC Porto.
Marco Rivera has no team, no boots and no coach. What he has is a cracked wall behind a parking lot on Cesar Chavez Avenue, and he shows up to it every single morning. Six books take him from that lot to FC Porto.
The complete series
Each book is a complete story with no cliffhangers. Start at Book 1 for the full arc, or jump in anywhere.
"No team. No boots. Just drive."
Marco Rivera plays alone on a cracked lot in East LA. No team, no boots, just a wall he shows up to every morning. Then he walks through the gate of a real team, and Coach Ray notices the kid who reads the game like no one else.
"Invisible. Essential. Always two seconds ahead."
Coach Ray moves Marco to the one role most players never notice: running the game from the deepest position on the field. Then Lucas Vega arrives. Top prospect. Same position.
"He saw himself in the kid at the fence."
Every morning a boy named Jay Cross shows up at the park fence, with the same look Marco knows from the inside. Three years ago, that was him. Leaving the gate open isn't enough.
"One chance. One shot. Everything on the line."
Marco gets a real trial with a real team. Wanting it isn't enough. He has to prove he belongs and trust the one thing he's always had: his read of the game.
"Inside the academy, everyone is good. Only a few will stay."
Marco is inside. So is every other kid who worked twice as hard to get there. Coach Reeves doesn't ask who trained hard. He asks what they learned.
"From an empty lot to the world stage."
Marco leaves LA for FC Porto, learning the demands of Portuguese soccer and earning his place through the game-reading he built on the Cesar Chavez walls.
The story
Marco Rivera lives in East LA and is obsessed with one thing: soccer. He doesn't have a team. He doesn't have proper boots. But he has a wall, and he shows up to it every single morning.
When Coach Ray notices the kid who never gives up, everything changes. Marco starts a journey that takes him from an empty lot to the biggest stages in the world.
"No team. No boots. Just drive. And a dream."
Six books, one pass
Free reader bonuses
Printable guides and a scout quiz, built from the moments in the books. Free, no catch.
5 wall drills any kid can do alone, plus a 7-day wall log.
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5 mental skills from Marco's playbook. No ball needed.
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Simple fuel for young soccer players: before, after and on game day.
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10 honest questions. Could you play for First Eleven?
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Before Marco, there was Coach Ray.
Ray Castillo was nine, the third of three brothers, and third in line for one pair of soccer boots. This is how the man in the gray cap became the coach who changes Marco’s life. A 12-chapter story you won’t find on Amazon, free when you join the First Eleven readers list.
Readers' Favorite · professional reviews
I found myself cheering for Marco every step of the way. He reminded me of real sports figures like Michael Jordan or Mia Hamm. This book was difficult to put down.
A riveting children's sports tale that does a great job of showing the real grit behind getting better at the game. Hart explains geometry and field vision in a way that makes sense.
A fast-paced sports story for kids that masterfully explores the psychology of youth sports and the subtle art of mentorship.
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My nephew is turning 9 and he loved this book! … Getting a 9 year old to enjoy reading is a gift that this book has given!Kindle Customer · Amazon review · The Empty Lot
What stood out most to me wasn't just the soccer action, but the way the author captures the journey of a young player learning that talent alone isn't enough.Shawn M · Amazon review · The Empty Lot
It’s a fun book that encourages kids to believe in themselves and the power of working together.Tracy Johnson · Amazon review · The Empty Lot
Read all reviews and sample the first chapter on Amazon.
See the seriesMini challenge
Five shots. Read the keeper, then pick your corner. Think like Marco: decide before he does.
Pick your corner
About the author
M.M. Hart is the pen name of a husband, father of three daughters, and lifelong soccer obsessive who started writing stories because his kids needed books that felt real.
There were three moments that made him fall in love with the game. The first was the 1994 World Cup final, Brazil against Italy, and the greatest penalty shootout of his childhood. The second was 26 May 1999, Manchester United against Bayern Munich in Barcelona: losing with seconds on the clock, then Sheringham, then Solskjaer, and ninety thousand people forgetting how to breathe. The third was a Japanese cartoon about a boy who loved soccer more than anything in the world.
He writes two series for young readers: First Eleven and When They Were Little.
When he is not writing, he is watching soccer. When he is watching soccer, he is probably already planning the next book.
Contact the authorThe Shared Boots
Before Marco, there was Coach Ray.
Ray Castillo was nine, the third of three brothers, and third in line for one pair of soccer boots. This is how the man in the gray cap became the coach who changes Marco’s life. A 12-chapter story you won’t find on Amazon, free when you join the First Eleven readers list.