The Life and Career of David Beckham

June 23, 2014
Thorough and easy to read, this work covers soccer star David Beckham’s boyhood success, determination to star for Manchester United, and his high-profile marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Adams, as well as his successful corporate ventures and his selection to the prestigious Order of the British Empire. While it would be easy to begrudge Beckham his many successes, Reavis’s focus on the athlete’s hard work and dedication makes it hard not to root for him. And while sometimes it seems as if the author is fawning over her subject, the classy way in which Beckham handles adversity, such as when his countrymen hated him for receiving a red card in the ’98 World Cup or when his benching by Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello in 2007, drives home the point that the adulation is well earned. Sports historian Reavis works in short nuggets that touch on a wide variety of topics including Beckham’s family, Adams’s backstory, Major League Soccer’s short existence, Olympic traditions, and Old Trafford stadium. Those short asides, plus storytelling, journalism, and quotations from the likes of Prince William, make this a fun look at the life of a good sport who turned soccer stardom into worldwide fame. (Photos)

June 1, 2014
While this isn't an authorized biography of modern soccer's biggest celebrity, it certainly could have beenin her introduction, sports journalist Reavis describes herself as overjoyed at the chance to write a book about Beckham, and her admiration comes through on every page. That's not to say it isn't carefully researched. From the free-kick specialist's promising start to his retirement from play in 2013, covering big games, team changes, and a high-profile personal life, facts and quotes are fully sourced and footnoted. Frequent subheads within chapters quicken the pace, and useful end matter (stats, milestones, a reading list) will make this a useful choice for budding Beckhamologists.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)