Stealing the Score
Written by Sylvia Liu
Published by Scholastic Paperbacks
The World Cup is coming to town!
Soccer superfans Ethan, Sasha, and Mateo are thrilled that the biggest sporting event in the world is coming to their backyard. When a contest offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend the World Cup is announced, they are all ready to do whatever it takes to win. To do so, they must complete a scavenger hunt throughout Miami to find a replica pair of the lucky cleats worn by their favorite player, El Botín (or The Boot).
Best friends Ethan, a competitive soccer player, and Sasha, an online footy gamer, are wary of privileged soccer influencer Mateo at first. But they can’t seem to stop crossing paths with him, and reluctantly join forces. What starts as a strictly strategic alliance to solve the scavenger hunt clues takes a turn when El Botín’s real cleats go missing. The fate of the whole tournament could be in jeopardy—unless the new friends can uncover the truth!
Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: February 2026
Available As: Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older
Community Represented: Chinese/Chinese American, Venezuelan/Venezuelan American
Themes: Cross-Group Friendship, Genre: Action Adventure, Genre: Mystery, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Sports
Setting: United States (Miami FL)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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Book Guide – Stealing the Score
Source: Scholastic