Crushing It

An ALA Rainbow List Book 2024 Northern Lights Middle Grade Book Award WinnerA Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book Junior Library Guild Selection“In this dynamic, touching, and authentic novel about the complexities of crushes, two former friends navigate the breakup of their friend group—the “Fearsome Foursome”—even as they unwittingly develop crushes on each other on an anonymous online school forum…Debut author Erin Becker skillfully takes on the middle-school tensions that arise when families, friends, sports teams, and love interests seemingly conspire to undermine us. Becker has convincingly captured the all-over-the-map feelings of middle-school relationships and created characters who are complex, sincere humans.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review“Two eighth grade soccer players manage messy families, fractured friendship, and confusing feelings in Becker’s charming debut, a delight for fans of realistic, emotionally deep novels. Becker lines up relatable problems and believably conflicted choices alongside a tender, slow-building romance and intense soccer matches.” —Publishers Weekly”[With] natural suspense and excitement…this fun, enemies-to-lovers lesbian middle-grade plot should appeal to fans and non-fans of soccer alike.” —Booklist“An authentic, character driven look at self doubt and identity.” —School Library Journal “Affirming family and friends surround the main characters as they struggle with changing relationships and insecurities about their identities. Fluttering romantic tension and fast, suspenseful pace…an engaging premise.” —Kirkus Reviews “Erin Becker’s Crushing It is an exceptional debut that explores the way friendships change during middle school. Mel and Tory are relatable characters, and their stories weave together so perfectly as both girls find their voices and footing, on the soccer field and off. This book has my whole heart and will resonate with so many readers.” —A. J. Sass, award-winning author of Ellen Outside the Lines and Ana on the Edge

Erin Becker (she/her) is an author and marketer living in Washington, DC. She grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was a Morehead-Cain scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and holds her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Crushing It is her first novel. When she’s not writing, you can find her at the gym, or occasionally playing soccer (though not nearly as well as Mel and Tory).