The Recommended Reading Order for The Kicks
Written by professional soccer superstar and Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan, The Kicks is a highly engaging middle-grade series that follows twelve-year-old Devin Burke. When Devin moves from Connecticut to California, she is forced to leave her beloved soccer team behind. Joining the struggling Kentville Kangaroos (known as "The Kicks"), she must step up to become a leader on and off the field.
Because the series follows a continuous timeline where Devin and her teammates grow, face escalating competitive challenges, and navigate the evolving social dynamics of middle school, readers should follow the books in order of release. The chronological order matches the publication order exactly, making it easy to follow the girls' journey from their first disheveled practices to their final matches.
The Kicks Books in Publication and Chronological Order
- Saving the Team (2013) – Devin moves to California and joins the struggling Kentville Kangaroos, trying to turn the winless team around.
- Sabotage Season (2013) – As the playoffs approach, mysterious occurrences and pranks threaten to derail the team's hard work.
- Win or Lose (2014) – A new co-coach brings strict rules that cause tension and test the team's unity.
- Hat Trick (2015) – Devin starts middle school and must balance tougher academics, new friendships, and soccer rivalry.
- Shaken Up (2015) – An earthquake shakes Devin's confidence, and she has to overcome her anxiety to lead her team.
- Settle the Score (2016) – The Kicks face a high-stakes spring tournament and must learn to play through pressure.
- Under Pressure (2017) – School grades and intense soccer expectations push Devin to her limits.
- In the Zone (2018) – The team enters a major summer league, forcing Devin to work on her mental focus and resilience.
- Choosing Sides (2018) – Devin is scouted for an elite club team, forcing her to choose between personal ambition and loyalty to her best friends.
- Switching Goals (2019) – Roster changes and new co-ed soccer opportunities force the Kicks to adapt to fresh field dynamics.
- Homecoming (2020) – Devin returns to Connecticut for a visit, facing her old teammates and reflecting on how much she has changed.
- Fans in the Stands (2021) – The final chapter in the series sees the squad wrapping up their season, focusing on the legacy they want to leave behind.
What to Know Before You Start Reading
Before diving into the Kentville Kangaroos' world, there are a few important things to keep in mind to enhance your reading experience:
- Age Group and Reading Level: The series is published by Simon & Schuster and aimed primarily at middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12). The language is accessible, fast-paced, and highly relatable, making it an excellent option for reluctant readers, particularly young athletes.
- Authentic Sports Knowledge: Because Alex Morgan is a World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, the soccer scenes are exceptionally authentic. Readers will learn genuine soccer terms, tactical strategies, and the realistic physical and mental demands of youth sports.
- Character Progression: Devin begins the series as a seventh-grader trying to find her place in a new school. As the books progress, she learns about leadership, sportsmanship, handling disappointment, and managing interpersonal conflict with friends and rivals.
The Amazon Prime TV Adaptation
In 2015, Amazon Studios adapted The Kicks into a live-action family comedy series. The pilot debuted in June 2015, and the full ten-episode season was released in August 2016. The show starred Sixx Orange as Devin Burke and followed the general premise of the first few books, focusing on Devin's relocation from Connecticut to California and her efforts to revitalize the Kangaroos.
While the TV show was well-received by fans for its positive messaging and sports focus, it only ran for one season. The television adaptation diverges slightly from the books by adding new subplots and changing some characters' traits to fit a episodic TV format. The book series remains the definitive way to experience the full, uninterrupted story of Devin's middle school soccer career.
Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. Saving the Team
Devin Burke has always been the star player on her soccer team back in Connecticut. But when her family relocates to Kentville, California, she finds herself on the Kentville Kangaroos—a team that is disorganized, lacks proper coaching, and has a habit of losing every game. Devin must find the confidence to step up, unite her new teammates, and prove that they have what it takes to win.
2. Sabotage Season
Now that the Kicks have started winning, they have a real shot at the playoffs. However, someone seems determined to ruin their chances. Mysterious incidents start happening—from ruined equipment to leaked strategies. Devin and her friends have to play detective to find the culprit before their championship dreams are ruined.
3. Win or Lose
The Kicks get a new co-coach, which sounds like good news until his ultra-strict training methods and rigid game plans suck the fun out of playing. Devin is torn between wanting to be a cooperative team captain and wanting to stand up for her team's happiness on the field.
4. Hat Trick
Starting middle school is tough enough, but Devin also has to deal with playing on a new field with older girls. When she makes friends with a girl who plays for their biggest rival team, the Pinewood Panthers, Devin's loyalties are tested. She has to learn that friendship can exist off the field, even when you're competing on it.
5. Shaken Up
An earthquake hits California, leaving Devin feeling unsettled and anxious. To make matters worse, the Kicks' regular goalie is injured, and the replacement is not fitting in well. Devin must learn to manage her personal fears while keeping her team's spirits high during a turbulent season.
6. Settle the Score
With the spring season underway, the pressure is on. Devin faces tough competition and personal doubts as the team prepares for a critical tournament. It is a story about overcoming performance anxiety and learning that sports are as much about mental strength as physical skill.
7. Under Pressure
Devin's busy schedule catches up with her as she struggles to balance her schoolwork with demanding soccer practices. When her grades begin to slip, her parents threaten to pull her from the team. Devin must learn time-management skills and how to speak up when she is overwhelmed.
8. In the Zone
The Kicks enroll in a competitive summer league. The warm weather and intense matches test everyone's stamina. Devin has to work hard to keep her teammates focused and motivated when fatigue and summer distractions threaten to break their focus.
9. Choosing Sides
Devin is offered a coveted spot on a highly selective regional club team. While this is a massive step toward her dream of playing professional soccer, it means she would have to leave the Kicks and her best friends behind. Devin faces her hardest decision yet: prioritizing her personal career or staying loyal to her squad.
10. Switching Goals
Roster shake-ups bring new faces to the Kicks, including co-ed matches and new positions. Devin has to step out of her comfort zone as a forward and learn how to play different roles on the field, discovering that a true leader is flexible and always supports the team's needs.
11. Homecoming
Devin gets to travel back to Connecticut for a friendly tournament. She is excited to see her old friends, but she quickly realizes that they have all moved on and changed. Playing against her old team forces Devin to realize how much she has grown as a player and a person since moving to California.
12. Fans in the Stands
In the final book of the series, Devin and her friends face the end of their middle school journey. They want to make their final games count, but they also have to prepare for the transition to high school soccer. It is a heartwarming conclusion about legacy, lasting friendships, and the love of the game.
Practical Reading Guidance
For parents, teachers, or young readers looking to start the series, here is some quick guidance:
- Can they be read as standalones? While each book has a self-contained plot focusing on a specific tournament or issue, the overarching character relationships and Devin's growth build directly from one book to the next. It is highly recommended to read them in order.
- Is there any order disagreement? No, there is no disagreement in the reading community. The publication order matches the chronological timeline perfectly, and there are no spin-offs, prequels, or side novellas to complicate the sequence.
- Best Starting Point: Start at the very beginning with Saving the Team. It establishes Devin's move, the introduction of the Kentville Kangaroos, and the main friendships that form the core of the entire series.