READ & REVIEWED: The Southsea School Squads by Leanne Teo + Giveaway

The Southsea School Squad is a middle grade series by Singaporean author, Leanne Teo, featuring stories about school-going athletes at Southsea School with themes of friendship and teamwork.

The Southsea School Squad is a three-book middle grade series by Singaporean author, Leanne Teo, featuring stories about school-going athletes at Southsea School.

Book 1: The Dream Team – 12-year-old Aly Lee-Andrews has to scramble to recruit a brand-new lineup for Southsea’s junior girls’ basketball squad.

Book 2: Cross-Court Competition – Stephanie “Tan-nis” Tan has always lived in the shadow of her tennis-star sister. When she discovers a new sport, Padel, she risks clashing with her tennis-loving family.

Book 3: Ripple Effect – Swimmer Yuna Chong starts over in a new country and school. She must learn to fit in with new classmates and teammates, while competing as a swimmer and managing diabetes.

I really enjoyed how each book highlights a different sport and athlete, while also shedding light on the struggles young competitors face. In The Dream Team, Aly and her newly formed squad barely get attention from their coach, who prefers to focus on the boys’ team, leaving them to fight for recognition as underdogs.

The stories also go beyond sports and competitions, weaving in themes that resonate with kids. In Cross-Court Competition, Stephanie learns to take risks and carve her own path, while in Ripple Effect, Yuna shows resilience as she navigates friendships and misunderstandings at her new school, especially with teammates and a teacher who don’t fully grasp her condition.

Thank you, Southsea Books, for sending me this delightful series now available at Kinokuniya, Book Bar & Woods in the Books. I would recommend this for 8-12 year olds, especially those who love their sports! It is also worth highlighting that the books are formatted to be dyslexia-friendly and low-vision-aware. And thanks to Southsea Books, we are giving away this book series - head over to my Instagram post for a chance to win!

Disclaimer: The book was provided by Southsea Books for our review. As always, all opinions are ours.

©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.