Touch and Go

Star Striker #2

by Mary Amato

Albert and the Zeenods are back in this second book in the thrilling Star Striker series about unlikely friendships and interstellar soccer.

Albert and his Zeenod teammates might not be the best soccer players in the universe but there's nothing Albert would rather do--and no one he'd rather play with. Plus at least they made it to the second round of the big interplanetary tournament.

When their coach is wrongly arrested by an intergalatic police force, Albert and the Zeenods must work to clear their coach's name and stay in the tournament. But Albert can't keep his head in the game, putting the whole team's win in jeopardy. Can Albert come through for his friends and find justice for their coach?

Action-packed, yet filled with humor and heart, Star Striker is the second book in a series that combines a sports friendship story with an exploration of social justice and the importance of compassion for others.

Genres: Science Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

Published November 29, 2022

About the author

I write fiction for young adults and children and enjoy connecting with my readers. Adults (ages 18 and up) who are interested in writing, please check out my Meditative Art/Writing Workouts, a donation-based twice monthly online group.
https://www.maryamato.com/meditative-...

Reviews

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albert and the Zeenods are preparing for their 2nd game in the intergalactic soccer game (called johka by most non-Earthlings). Albert knows there's a lot on the line for his teammates. They hope that winning will help highlight the subjugation of their people on their home planet by an invading force. Those aliens are quite powerful, though, and their latest move is imprisoning the Zeenod's coach and framing her for the attempt on Albert's life in the last tournament. Albert, the rest of the Zeenods, Albert's neighbor dog Tackle, and the real would-be assassins (Mekh and President Lat...whom readers get the inside scoop on) all know the truth. But it is still a question of who will win. There are still people out there who want to eliminate Albert from the tournament. But he's more worried his personal shortcomings may lose things for his team. The next game is on an ice planet where skating is incorporated into the game. Albert wants to prove he can do this right away to his team, but he keeps doing things like breaking an arm (good thing alien tech is great at healing bones). Can Albert actually help his team move on, or will he be the reason they return to their dystopic home planet?

Albert has more lessons to learn. Tackle is the bestest dog. Mekh is quite a complex character. And I like how this book balances personal growth, exotic and imaginative soccer fun, plus high stakes action/thriller moments, and human alien rights issues.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are attempts to blow up Albert. Two broken arms (easily healed thanks to alien tech). And some others receive serious injuries on the soccer field (but again, easily healed). An alien cuts himself to escape prison.
Ethnic diversity: Most characters are aliens of different origins (some of which repress others).
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Unjust imprisonment. Politicians using positions for personal gain. Repression of people groups. Part of Albert's alien soccer training are breathing/thinking exercises, which kind of imitate forms of meditation (it is not religious at all in the story).

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second installment of this offbeat series that mixes intergalactic soccer, specifically average boy Albert who was beamed up to the spaceship to meet the Zeenods and was asked to play on their team as a way to help foster some space peace.

In this installment, a little more is at stake but Albert is willing to work together with his new teammates and solve the mystery of their coach. It's a unique scifi story, for sure.

[Sophie Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note that I did not read the first book in the series. It was a bit confusing, but the author did a great job of describing the backstory. I think it was a great story and it was an exciting adventure. There is a mystery mixed into it, which adds more excitement. Overall, it was a great story.