Susie Strickland has been kicking a ball around ever since the day she could walk. It is her favourite thing in the whole wide world to do! Susie practises every chance she gets and, because she practises so much, she is the best striker in her whole school! One day, Susie is on her way to school when she gets splashed from head to toe when a boy riding his bicycle past her purposefully rides through a big puddle. He thinks that what he has done is very funny indeed. Susie, needless to say, does not agree.Later that day, Susie goes to soccer practise as usual. She and her team-mates are introduced to a new team-member. His name is Spencer and - that's right - you guessed it...he is the very same boy who splashed her that morning! Now, the fact that this boy splashed her on purpose on her way to school is bad enough. But then Susie learns something else about him. Not only is he the newest member of her school soccer team, but he is a striker... just like her! Susie is so used to being the best striker in her school. How is she going to handle this new competition? Game day arrives. Susie's team is not doing so well and the coach decides to replace her with Spencer. What will happen next? Will Spencer be as good as Susie? Or might he even be a better striker than her? Will Susie be able to handle another player being as good (and possibly even better than) she is? Read on to find out!The story of Susie Strickland teaches children about the value of healthy competition and the importance of being a team-player. Any child who has ever participated as a member of a team of any form - sports-related or otherwise - will be able to relate to Susie Strickland. Young readers will benefit from the story's message that being the best "player" is not the most important thing in life, but what makes us winners is always trying our best and never playing dirty, even when others do! An important story which conveys the rules of good sportsmanship to children in an age-appropriate and fun way.
