A fantastic historical fiction book for young people. Really engaging and inspiring. I really enjoyed this❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Unfortunately around the start of the pandemic I requested a lot of books on cover alone.

I didn’t realise this was children’s fiction and at 34 years old I’m not the target audience.

I will not be reading this novel.

One of my favourite things in books is when the author takes a real life event or a real life person and writes a fictional account of their world. This is why I absolutely loved Kicking Off by Eve Ainsworth.

It is the story of a munitions factory in Preston during the First World War. It is about the girls who stood up and took on the jobs that were usually done by the men. It is about the bravery and courage to make social change when the world was feeling so precarious. And it was about football.

You may think that the beautiful game is hardly world changing but when you think about the fight that women had to be able to take part in football - and about how it is only in the past few years that women's football has become as popular as it has - then you can see the relevance of a book set over 100 years ago. Girls need more books celebrating them in sport.

Kicking Off was a joy to read.

Kicking Off! by Eve Ainsworth is available now.

For more information regarding Eve Ainsworth (@EveAinsworth) please visit www.eveainsworth.com.

For more information regarding UCLan Publishing (@publishinguclan) please visit their Twitter page.

Loved this book. Such a great teen writer but also providing enough research and information for people of all ages. You may not have an interest in football but I’m sure you’ll still enjoy this book. Such a great read and it’s easy to read - kept me reading all in one setting!

I'm not really a fan of football or historical fiction but I had read and loved other books by Eve Ainsworth, so gave this a go and I was very glad that I did. This story is so engaging and realistic, the characters are incredibly believable and complex and it wasn’t long before I was rooting for Hettie and her friends. Hettie has the usual family problems for 1917; her beloved 16 year old brother has gone to war, her father is very strict and traditional in his beliefs, especially when it comes to his daughters and her mum is a housewife.. Doing her bit for the war effort, Hettie begins work at the munitions factory Dick, Kerr & Co. and this leads to her being instrumental in the creation of a women’s football team. She overcomes many obstacles from people believing that women have no right to be playing 'the beautiful game' but also receives support from unexpected places and in so doing develops confidence in herself. I love that this was based on a true story and it’s encouraged me to find out more about these courageous women who stood up to society to play the game they loved.

An extremely well researched book about a factory in my old hometown. I grew up hearing tales about the women’s football team and already had an admiration of them. This book is a tribute to them and a good story for any young girl interested in playing the game.

In this book we see how during the war effort young girl Hettie takes over her brother's factory job only she's making ammuntion and making friends with the fellow worker girls who get her playing football which she enjoys immensely only when an injury stops her playing her manager helps her still boost the women's team as they take on matches despite her gloomy strict father's words against her actions and eventually dramatic news comes about her brother's arrival home will be have survived the war?

A great look into what life during the war would be been like for these young women inspired by their true lives becoming a team together and the worry they faced about their families and friends away fighting too.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

An inspiring story of women's football kicking off in Lancashire during the First World War. Compelling and moving, a very enjoyable and informative read.

This captivating book is set during World War 1, in Preston, England and is based on a true story It is a beautiful book about courage, passion and following your dreams. Hettie, who has a brother fighting in the war, works in a local munitions factory, Dick, Kerr and Co. She forms powerful relationships with some of the woman in the factory, who create a football team, even through there are barriers in their way and disapproval in abundance.. The reader is taken on a journey back in time and it is a privilege to get to see this era through Hettie's eyes and experience her world.

Thank you so much Eve Ainsworth for this book - I will definitely recommend it to my class. Thank you Net Gallery for the ARC. it was a privilege to read it!

Ah this was so cute and heartfelt, I would have loved this when I was growing up and really into football. It is set during world war one, around a family of four and a munitions factory. Hettie has just started to work at the munitions factory near her home, as the men head off to war, including her brother Freddie who has been called up. At the factory, Hettie meets lots of women also working who take her under their wings in the dangerous, exhausting environment.

The women at the factory are all connected by their love of football. Hettie played with Freddie when she was younger but now her Dad frowns upon it, and doesn't want her to play. When the women challenge the men's factory team to a game, Hettie helps her team win.

This is a really heartwarming story - I loved the family dynamics, and all of the great female role models Hettie gained in her life. I liked Hettie's friendship with her brother Freddie a lot. Overall I am glad I received an arc from netgalley for this book which was such a great surprise for me!

Kicking Off: Dick, Kerr Girls, based off a true story, it's a wonderful story, that delves into a forgotten ladies football team from the first world war. It's extremely well researched and an absolutely fascinating read.