Fan Works Books

If you're a girl who dreams of writing books, check out this cool one by a 12-year-old. Read it from cover to cover. Look at the photos. See how it's organized. You'll not only get inspired and get a feeling for what it takes, you'll also learn alot about soccer. Good job, Leah!--Catherine Dee, author of The Girls' Book of Wisdom and The Girls' Guide to Life

As an author, I meet many, many people who tell me, "Oh, I'd love to write a book!" But they never do it. They need to take lessons from Leah Lauber. She wrote a book chronicling her amazing journey following the extraordinary accomplishments of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Passionate about soccer, Leah attended many of the history-making soccer matches not just as a fan, but also as a reporter. She interviewed her role models: Mia Hamm, Lorrie Fair, Cindy Parlow, Briana Scurry, and many other team members. Leah incorporated these interviews and game coverage into articles she wrote for Florida's largest newspaper, the St. Petersburg Times.

These accomplishments are admirable. But there's more to this story ... Leah did all this when she was just 12 years old!!! By following her twin passions for writing and soccer, Leah first achieved her dreams of meeting and talking with her heroes, attending the Women's World Cup, and reporting for a major newspaper. Then she reached her dream of writing a book. And what a book! Colorful photos and vivid writing truly bring women's soccer to life.

As you read "Soccer Dreams," you'll get caught up in the excitement of the sport and the thrill of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team victories -- whether or not you're a fan. Leah's book makes you feel like you're right there in the middle of all the action. The book brims with added bonuses. Page 6 features reproductions of autographs Leah obtained from members of the national teams from both the U.S. and Norway. Section 3 is an absolute goldmine -- here's where you'll find Leah's unedited interviews with the national soccer team players.

Get this book for your daughters, it will inspire them to follow and reach their dreams. Get this book if you love soccer. Get it if you enjoy the thrill of a game, a good read, or a close look at sports history. I give this book 5 stars plus. An inspiring, motivating masterpiece!

-- Graciela Sholander (...)

I began this book with some skepticism. I'm not at all a soccer fan and was afraid I'd find it boring -- or poorly written, given the author's young age. But Leah Lauber won me over by the second page! Her fresh voice, enthusiasm for the subject matter, and beyond-her-years writing skills make Soccer Dreams a pleasure to read. I was hooked by her chutzpah in dreaming big dreams and finding ways to make them come true. And I learned a lot about the sport and the women who play it. Lauber's book gave me a new respect for these outstanding athletes, not just for their prowess on the soccer field but for their character, loyalty, and sense of teamwork and camaraderie off it. Lauber's journey covers not only her trek across the country to follow the team through the realization of its dreams, but her own increasing skill and confidence as a writer. I expect we'll see more great things from this talented young author.

When I got ready to read Soccer Dreams, I wasn't sure if it was something that would interest me. I'm not much of a sports person and know almost nothing about soccer. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I didn't need to know anything about sports at all to enjoy the book.

While the book is about 12-year-old Leah's experiences reporting on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team for the St. Petersburg Times, it is also about a girl following her dreams. Leah takes the reader with her as she applies to be a reporter for the newspaper's X-Press Team -- a select group of kids who write a special section of the paper on various topics for other kids. A soccer player since she was seven, Leah is able to meet the players, cover the team's practices and be there for their victory at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Championship. Like any good book, the story has its ups and downs, its victories and defeats, but it is real life, and seeing it through Leah's eyes makes it all the more real.

I very much enjoyed reading the book, as well as seeing the letters and newspaper columns she wrote, the tickets she saved, and the color photographs her father took of her adventures. Her writing style is clear and natural and she knows how to tell a good story. If she writes like this now, I can't wait to see what she will do in the future!

Twelve year old Leah Lauber was more than an enthusiastic soccer fan -- she also landed a job as a Junior Reporter for the St. Petersburg Times covering the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cub. Soccer Dreams is the unique story of how for one year, a young girl covered the story of how the team prepared for the event, and how they went on to win this prestigious soccer event. Written with the help and assistance of her family (Leah's yonger sister Nicole and her grandmother, Nanny Pat Lauber, transcribed hours of Leah's interviews and recorded comments during seven different sessions with almost every member of the women's team, and her mother, Rya, worked on the book's cover design and her fahter sorted through hundreds of photos and scanned them into the computer for use in illustrating the thoroughly engaging text), Soccer Dreams is "must" reading for all young soccer enthusiasts and would be a popular addition to any gradeschool, junior high, or community library Sports collection.

Through poetic and personal writing combined with powerful and passionate photographs author Tammy Lechner magnificently depicts and explains the Cubs Fans' journey of hope and faith. This book belongs in the home of anyone who loves the Chicago Cubs. I cannot imagine a Cubs fan who would not see this book as coming from their own heart and soul, and describing their own story of why the Chicago Cubs are loved by so many. It is a one-of-a kind, must-have, long-awaited visual narrative of the Cubs fans devotion that travels through time from winter to spring, summer to fall, visiting Chicago, Arizona... Banks, Williams, Sandberg and Grace... and fellow Cubs fans from Chicago to St. Louis to San Diego.

This book is truly a labor of love and it shows! There are more photos and more Cubs information in this book than I could have possibly imagined. A must-have book for any Cubs fan.

If your a Red Sox fan, Yankees fan, Dodgers fan, or Angels fan, your not going to be particularly thrilled with this book. You'll like it, but not love it. However, if you are among the millions, world wide, that love their Cubs you must own this book. It's nostalgia and current. Great photos and a story worth telling. For every Cubs fan that needs help getting through the winter, in Chicago, this book is a must have.

Bob Kozlowski

Every picture and caption will trigger a flood of Cub fans' personal memories in pursuit of "the Dream". Great visual insight to every aspect of Cub fandom.

This book captures the true spirit of the Cubs' fans. It is a moving, uplifting, nostalgic story with wonderful photos. I have already given away three copies. This makes a great gift not only for Cubs' fans but for any baseball fan.

I have not been to a ballgame yet but when I do, i will bring this book with me. It is a great guide with tips on how to get a baseball(get to the game early, etc.) I am glad that there is someone from New York who agrees with me about the kid who reached onto the field in Yankee stadium. Recommended for any baseball fans. END

We snagged a baseball within 24 hours after the book arrived, at Shea Stadium, from reliever Armando Benitez. Never thought it would be possible!!

My ten year old grandson is a baseball nut. His greatest dream is to snag a ball at a major league baseball game. I gave Zack Hample's HOW TO SNAG MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLS to him and he can't wait for the season to start so that he can put into practice what this so smart book teaches him to do.

This book will put a major league baseball in your hands. I stumbled on some of the tips Zack explains in trying to get a ball myself. But Zack outlines many more - most common sense - but easy to overlook unless you have the single-minded devotion to major league baseball acquisition that characterizes Zack. This is a book for all little boys and girls, even those over ten (or forty) years of age, whose passion is to hold their own major league baseball.

I was shown this book by a friend and just had to have it.These are truly never before seen pics. What a Tribute. The Photos in this book are strikingly clear. Over a year has gone by since the implosion, and i have seen nothing like this out there.

Large and Full of life is what i have to say. Every page i turned in this book, took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. Beginning with the seren look at one of the vets famous ramps we all traveled, to the utter kaos of broken concrete and and strewn metal.The Fan has created a long lasting and fabulous tribute to Philadelphia and Veterans Stadium.

This book is 'Phantastic'. As I looked through the pages, the memories instantly flooded my mind. I grew up attending games at Veterans Stadium. Thanks to The Fan for this intimate look at a Philadelphia legend!

excellent book for allpurpos

This is a lovely publication on hand fans. It gives a concise and accurate history of fans - including some new information. It concentrates on European fans up to the early 20th century and is beautifully illustrated with examples from the Victoria and Albert musuem in London. If you are interested in fans either as a costume accessory, or because you collect them this book is worth adding to your collection.

If you like Genesis (I'm refering to the British rock band, not the first book of the Old Testament), or if you just love good photography, then you will love _From One Fan to Another_ by Armando Gallo. Make sure to also get _I Know What I Like_ by the same author/photographer. _I Know What I Like_ contains the story of the band from the sixties through the eighties, and it includes many awome photographs, some in black & white and some in color. _From One Fan to Another_ contains a bit of text, but is mostly a ton of color photos that tell the band's history in a visual way. Some of the photos are just the fellows at home or on the street, but the most striking ones are of the concerts with light shows that match the brilliance of the music. Even before they became successful enough to afford expensive light shows, Genesis made remarkable use of what little budget they had, and this can be seen in photos of their shows from the seventies.

1995 was the 'recovery' World Series. The 1994 series was cancelled. Yes, the event that had survived two World Wars, the Federal League intrusion of 1914, and the death of the reserve clause could not survive an internal war between millionaires and billionaires. The only loser was the fans.

Enter the Atlanta Braves. The team of the first half of the 1990s, the Braves entered the series yet to win it all despite three previous division titles.

Enter the Clevland Indians. Forty years - an entire generation - since their last World Series appearance. Forty-seven years since their last triumph in 1948. And who did they beat for that title? The Braves!!

Greg Maddux. Kenny Lofton. Albert Belle. Tom Glavine. Chipper Jones. Carlos Baerga. Jim Thome. Ken Hill. Steve Avery. David Jstice.

They're all here in living color. A great book for your coffee table.

The Rough Guides are really meant to be tourist type publications, and in general, this book is. There is a bit of information about soccer in there as well, when talking about the teams. It focuses on the bigger money soccer playing countries, teams and stadiums and how to get there, where to stay, and how to get the odd beer while you are there.

The irreplacable book for the travelling football fan. I would like to see some more detail (getting tickets can still be a bit confusing even with the directions in the book), and stadia maps would be helpful for deciding where to sit. Perhaps these problems have been corrected in the 2nd edition.

But still an excellent book, and besides, where else are you going to go for this information? There's nothing else like it. Well worth the money even if you only use it once or twice.

I was interested in trying to bone up on my soccer so I could converse intelligently with my relatives in Italy, and this book fit the bill perfectly. Written most directly for use by English-speaking fans who might actually travel to see the powerhouse teams covered, the book is still a fantastic primer on the history of the clubs, and the current gossip as of time of publication (1998.) If you're new to soccer and looking for a little insight into the world of Europe's beautiful game, or just want to read a comprehensive overview of the field that's not afraid to voice a strong opinion or two, this book will not disappoint.

If you're thinking of traveling to Europe to catch any games, you must get this book. Not only will it help get about town to the match but inspire you to go catch a match, even if it's a lower division club like FC Paris. :)

Covers every major club in every European city. Trophies, players, great moments all covered in very readable style. Excellent tips on transportation, lodging and dining. Perhaps the most interesting section is the "Ultra Culture", detailing the hooligan aspects of the respective teams and cities. In other words, where not to go. Fantastic reading. Can't wait for the next edition

After my chance meeting with the author on her YouTube channel Katchka1, I bought the book and was instantly filled with the joy and sadness that is John Lennon in my heart. After being a devoted fan of the Beatles and especially John Lennon since I was 8 years old in February 1964, I was completely devastated by his murder and I don't think I'll ever truly get over it. This book from a stranger says to me..."I'm with you and I KNOW how you felt and still feel". The author, Judith Furedi, and I share the same best friend and big brother we never knew.

If you loved John Lennon and the Beatles, this book is for you. It is many books in one: a poetry tribute, a journal, a John-Lennon inspired scrapbook, an object of art, an artistic table-top book, a book for collectors to display and to share. You may even use this book as your personal diary, to add your own art or writing, or to jot down daily notes, ideas or appointments. Whatever pleases you! Ms. Furedi's book will help you remember John's spirit while allowing you to nourish your own creativity and document your own activities.

This is such a beautiful, intimate book! It moves with grace and makes John's life and presence so vivid! You can read the book over and over to give you a sense of healing and closeness to John. I love the interactive part that brings out your inner artist. That's sooo John!

Judith Furedi's book, Dear John, has to be one of the most sensitive books I have ever seen about New York and it's lost minstrel, John Lennon. Each time I open its pages, my heart sighs again with nostalgic joy because I feel not only pain, but innocent love. It is a book to keep next to your bedside for inspiration when your soul has lost track of its wistful dreams.

Judith Furedi not only captured the spirit of us all in her open and honest poetic style, she reached out and touched upon a life force that John Lennon exuded and which can still be felt now 23 years later.

Dear John: Letters From A Fan In NYC, is one of those books that affects positive change from within. It is powerful. It is truth. It is........really real.

Kudos and thanks to Judith for her honesty and her artistry.