Soccer on Sunday is the 52nd book of the Magic Tree House Book Series.
Summary[]
Jack and Annie search for the fourth secret of greatness for Merlin in Mexico City at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. They hope to learn something new from legendary Brazilian soccer player, Pelé.
Chapters[]
- Seriously?
- Lucky Ducks
- Hurry Up for the World Cup!
- Follow Me!
- High in the Sky
- Annie? Roberto?
- Bye, Pele
- Game of a Lifetime
- GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!
- Candles in the Forest
Plot[]
Jack woke up from a dream about hanging from a cliff in Egypt, and Annie convinced him that it was time to head to the woods. They left in the early morning and made their way to the magic tree house. Once there, they discovered that their next mission involved learning the fourth secret of greatness from the legendary soccer player Pele. The magic tree house transported them to Mexico City in 1970, where they prepared to attend the World Cup final.
In Mexico, they landed in front of the U.S. Embassy and met Benny, a friendly guard, who provided them with directions to Aztec Stadium, where the World Cup final was being held. Benny was surprised that they had tickets to the game, as it was sold out. With his help, Jack and Annie navigated the busy streets to catch the metro, excited about their mission and the opportunity to meet Pele. They were eager to discover the secret of greatness from the soccer icon and experience the final match firsthand.
Jack and Annie were in Mexico City to attend the World Cup but made a mistake and ended up at a marketplace instead of a metro station. They realized their directions were wrong and asked for help. After correcting their path, they rushed to the correct metro station, navigating through the crowded platform and even losing their directions along the way. Despite the confusion and overwhelming crowds, they met a helpful local boy named Roberto, who was also heading to the game.
Roberto, who was celebrating his 10th birthday, guided them through the metro system, explaining soccer details and the teams involved in the World Cup. They finally reached the tram station near Aztec Stadium, where Roberto’s knowledge of the city and his calm demeanor helped them get to the game on time. Jack, Annie, and Roberto shared excitement as they approached the stadium, ready for the World Cup match.
Jack, Annie, and Roberto arrived at the Aztec Stadium, named after the ancient civilization. They joined a crowd of spectators in the parking lot, filled with people wearing bright clothes and waving flags. After showing their tickets, they entered the massive stadium, with Jack impressed by its size. They were directed to their seats, and the usher told them they had excellent tickets near the field. However, Roberto's seat was much higher up, which disappointed him.
Annie, wanting to do something kind for Roberto on his birthday, suggested they trade seats. After some back-and-forth, they decided on a compromise: Jack would sit in Roberto’s seat for the first half of the game, and Annie would take over for the second half. Jack gave Annie his ring of truth, asking her to use it if she discovered Pele's secret. As Jack climbed to his seat at the top of the stadium, he felt nervous about the view, and upon reaching his seat, he was disappointed by how far the field looked. Still, the people around him seemed to be enjoying the game.
Jack, Annie, and Roberto watched the Brazilian soccer team, including Pele, celebrate their World Cup victory. As the team left the field, Jack felt disappointed, thinking their mission was over. However, Annie insisted they could still catch up with the team in Mexico City. After following the players to a bus, they missed their chance to speak with Pele, but Roberto suggested they look for the banquet instead. They took a crowded tram, then a bus, and ended up in a run-down neighborhood where they met kids playing soccer.
Despite not being great players, Jack, Annie, and Roberto agreed to play for the kids’ team, using magic from Merlin’s mist to play like Pele. They performed amazing soccer moves, impressing everyone watching. The match ended with the beautiful team (Jack, Annie, and Roberto) being hailed as the best players. Afterward, they quickly left the celebration, knowing their magic hour was running out. They rushed away from the kids, but soon, the magic wore off, and they felt exhausted.
Jack and Annie, after their soccer adventure, enjoyed tacos and lemonade with Roberto. They discussed the importance of enthusiasm in soccer, inspired by the legendary player Pelé. Jack and Annie realized that they had discovered a valuable secret about greatness: enthusiasm, which was one of the four essential secrets of success. As Roberto struggled with doubts about his future as a soccer player, Annie and Jack reassured him that with enthusiasm, hard work, humility, and purpose, he could become great at anything. Afterward, they headed to the U.S. embassy, said goodbye to Roberto, and went back to the treehouse. On their way, they reflected on the magical adventure, and as they reached the treehouse, fireworks lit up the sky in celebration of the game.
Jack and Annie arrived in Camelot, where they were greeted by Morgan le Fay and Merlin. They were celebrated for their many missions across time and space. Their latest mission had been to discover the four secrets of greatness, which they had learned through their adventures with historical figures like Pelé, Alexander the Great, and Houdini. Merlin and Morgan praised Jack and Annie for their courage, kindness, and growth over their many adventures. They reminded the kids that their next missions might be even more challenging but encouraged them to continue learning, playing, and having fun. As Jack and Annie returned to Frog Creek, they reflected on their journey and planned their next adventure.
Notes on time and place settings[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first book in the series that involves sports.
- This book was published in honor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.