“Sports literature needs more stories of women who dare. More inspirational stories like Susie’s.”
BILLIE JEAN KING
“Susie courageously tells her story of being part of a team, the sisterhood of sports, the pull to do more, the passion to help others, and all the growth that happens in between life’s most wonderful adventures of marriage and kids. I am so proud of Susie for sharing her story because by her action other people will be encouraged to live out their dream as well.”
JULIE FOUDY
"Susie has written a fun page-turner of a book that I think everyone can relate too. And I can’t wait to see the upcoming documentary!”
KRISTINE LILLY
“It is an honour to hear that I was a little girl’s first soccer hero. It is so important to see and support all players and fans of our beautiful game.”
PELÉ
“In Raised a Warrior, Susie has written a passionate and thoughtful account of a young woman struggling to discover who she is in a world that is constantly telling her who she should be. This book tells a story about one girls very personal coming of age, but in its theme it is a reflection on the constant internal push and pull that we often have to do, as women, to find ourselves beneath all of our socially ingrained beliefs of who we are supposed to be.”
KELY NASCIMENTO-DELUCA
“Susie’s story is authentic, emotional and thought-provoking. And it couldn’t be more relevant."
ROSE LAVELLE
"How we look at gender in sports is changing. Raised a Warrior is going to help shape the narrative of the current movement.”
DONNA DE VARONA
“Raised A Warrior is a powerful account of women in soccer told by the remarkable Susie Petruccelli. A lifelong soccer player, Susie recognises the life changing potential of the game we all love. Any young player who reads Raised A Warrior will be inspired and there can be no higher accolade than that.”
HRH PRINCE ALI BIN AL HUSSEIN OF JORDAN
“Susie’s powerful and inspiring story is a worthy winner of the Vikki Orvice Prize and a true testament to what it means to be a woman in football.”
JANE PURDON
"Susie does a spectacular job of weaving her own personal experiences into the story of women's soccer's growth over the same time period, and she does it in a way which resonates deeply with so many of us who had similar experiences playing. Whether you follow the sport or haven't kicked a ball since rec soccer, you can relate to Susie's stories and the wider themes she presents throughout the book."
JEFF KASSOUF
“Susie’s story reveals her highs and lows of growing up as an aspiring footballer through the US collegiate system. But her account is more than just friendships and frolics. She recognises the reasons for her experiences, and then those of others female players around the world - when she embarks on a film making tour. We can all do our part for equal access for girls, whoever we are.”
POLLY BANCROFT
“A football love story, from adolescence to the Harvard captaincy to an eclectic pursuit of the beauty in the game, Raised a Warrior is both a deeply personal story and a fascinating narration of the growth of women's soccer through the US college system and the women's national team. A rattling good read from a daughter of Title IX.”
MOYA DODD
“Raised a Warrior is an extremely moving tale of a young girl’s journey through to adulthood in parallel and intertwined with women’s soccer. It is an account which charts the terrific highs and incredible bonds forged by soccer in teams and families but also how impactful fissures in those units on and off the pitch can be at such an informative stage - when a young person is discovering who they are and how they fit into the world and confronting their sexuality, their childhood and their limitations. Susie finds soccer opens doors for her without a knowledge of why and how those opportunities exist. Her political and social awakening, the discovery of the effects of the revolutionary Title IX legislation and its influence on her life and a shattering of illusions in governing bodies and instead the development of an appreciation for the struggles from the bottom up that have been necessary to force change, is as exciting a journey as her footballing one.”
SUZY WRACK
“Raised a Warrior is a compelling reminder that soccer has the ability to change our lives, drive our ambitions and deliver on our dreams. And that it’s also messy, complicated and represents far more than just a sport. Susie’s voice reflects a chorus of women who have played competitive soccer, and it’s a call to players all over the world to share their triumphs and struggles too. There’s no one way to be a woman in sport, but there is strength in knowing that others have walked a similar path.”
AMANDA VANDERVORT
"Susie has tapped into an inherent power in speaking out and telling a story to effect change. The human experience is driven by the need to feel connected to others. Storytelling allows someone to see a part of themselves in a world they never imagined, and only then, can they open their mind to a world beyond themselves.”
KELSEY TRAINOR
“If you think soccer is just a game, don’t read this. You’ll be disappointed to find out that a game of 22 players and a round ball can have such a profound effect on an individual. In this pulsating love affair with the beautiful game, Susie takes the reader on an intimate journey of self-discovery from a little girl who wants to play at the top to a warrior who recognizes the power of the game to change the world for the better – one empowered woman at a time. An absolute must-read for anyone who aspires to a more equal world/society, on and off the pitch!”
MISHA SHER
“This is an extraordinary book. The author is clear-eyed and unsentimental in telling us of her journey, as an athlete and as a person. This is no simple fable of pure-grit-conquers-all; sometimes things break and stay broken, some lemons don’t make lemonade. Petruccelli never flinches from that reality, and her openness lets us see our own lives more clearly. You will find no better encapsulation of why equality matters in soccer, the world’s universal language, and in life. Read it yourself, give it to your friends, and read it to your daughters and your sons.”
EDWARD RAMSDEN
"Susie's story is inspirational, heartwarming and fearless. In this book, she paints the perfect picture of what it's like to be girl trying to reach your dream when the odds are stacked against you. It is essential that this story gets heard far and wide."
FLO LLOYD-HUGHES
“A powerful insight into US women’s collegiate soccer, and an important memoir.”
PROFESSOR JEAN WILLIAMS
"Susie’s book takes us on an honest deep dive into the timely themes of gender, identity and sports. It’s about the often painful process of personal evolution and the rewards of reinventing yourself at any age."
ETHAN ZOHN
“Just as important as the accomplishments women make in sports on and off the field are the stories about them. There’s a lot of catching up to do on the coverage of women’s sport, but Susie’s journey is a vital and inspiring one. While reading this book, I thought of my own former teammates and moments on the field together that have made me woman I am today and the responsibility to ensure other girls have the same opportunities. This book celebrates what women have overcome in sports, but perhaps more importantly, shows that whether you’re a young girl from Southern California playing collegiate soccer, or a World Cup champion, we are all in this together.”
LUCY MCCALMONT
“Growing up in a patriarchal family where soccer was viewed through the manly lens of American football, Susie Petruccelli was determined to prove she could summon the same ferocity of her male counterparts in helmets and pads. She took this Mamba Mentality to Harvard where she battled through multiple injuries to help lead her team to a title only to realize that the real struggles for women’s soccer were off the field—and remained to be won before there could be equal footing in the sport she loved. This is the inspirational story of a soccer crusader traveling the world to shed light on how far women’s game has come and how far it still has to go.”
DAVID HIRSHEY
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