Vote for the G.O.A.T.

While recovering from an injury incurred during summer practice, 12-year-old soccer star Meg Mancuso considers what her life would look like without soccer. Though she’s heartened to learn that the forced downtime means her constant aches and pains from athletic burnout have lessened, Meg fears letting go of her father’s dreams for her future. Meanwhile, Meg’s fashionista classmate, Jo Belmonte, who uses a crutch to aid mobility issues caused by juvenile arthritis, schemes to liberate their school’s goat mascot, Babette. Though the principal promised to improve living conditions for the beloved livestock, he’s yet to follow through on his plan. Meg and Jo become unlikely allies in the quest for goat rescue—and shoot to the top of the principal’s suspect list when Babette mysteriously vanishes. As the tweens investigate the goat-napping, they gather a score of skilled allies. Terese (Free Period) expertly balances various intersecting plotlines that touch on parental pressure, first crushes, chronic illness, bodily autonomy, and animal rights advocacy. Centering an intersectionally diverse cast across Meg and Jo’s alternating first-person POVs, Terese delivers a joyful slice-of-life romp about finding oneself and uplifting others. Ages 8–12. Agent: Miranda Paul, Aevitas Creative Management. (Aug.)