The Keeper: The Unguarded Story of Tim Howard Young Readers' Edition

The uplifting memoir of U.S. national soccer team goalkeeper Tim Howard, adapted for young readers.

In this heartwarming and candid account, Tim Howard opens up about how a hyperactive kid from New Jersey with Tourette Syndrome defied the odds to become one of the world's premier goalkeepers.

Tim shares his remarkable journey in an accessible way that will speak to soccer fans, kids struggling with issues that make them feel "different," and any young person looking for a compelling autobiography to read for a report or just for fun.

After a successful seventeen-year professional soccer career, Tim became an overnight star during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His heroic performance in the game for the United States against Belgium, in which he saved an astonishing fifteen shots—the most for any goalkeeper in a World Cup game—made him a household name as well as a trending internet meme.

In the course of 120 minutes, Tim went from a player known mainly by soccer fans to an American icon, loved by millions for his dependability, daring, and humility.

The book includes a glossary, a poster on the other side of the jacket, and a full-color insert.

This young readers’ edition of his story is more than a sports biography—it’s a guide to turning challenges into strengths.

• Overcoming Adversity: Follow Tim’s journey from a kid struggling with Tourette Syndrome and OCD to a world-class athlete on the biggest stage.
• An Inside Look at Pro Soccer: Go behind the scenes of legendary clubs like Manchester United and Everton, and experience the pressure and triumph of the World Cup.
• Inspiration for Young Readers: Discover how Tim turned what made him "different" into his greatest strength, proving that with hard work, anything is possible.
• World Cup Hero: Relive the incredible 2014 World Cup match against Belgium where Tim set a record with an astonishing fifteen saves.

In this heartwarming and candid memoir, Tim Howard does something he would never do on a soccer field: he drops his guard. As fiercely protective about his privacy as he is guarding the goal for the US national team and for Everton in the English Premier League, Howard opens up for the first time about how a hyperactive kid from New Jersey with Tourette’s syndrome defied the odds to become one of the world’s premier goalkeepers. Howard managed to keep his condition in check well enough to be drafted by Major League Soccer right out of high school.

After a successful seventeen-year professional soccer career, Howard became an overnight star this past summer in Brazil. His heroic performance in goal for the United States against Belgium, in which he saved an astonishing sixteen shots—the most for any goalkeeper in a World Cup game—made him a household name as well as a trending internet meme. In the course of 120 minutes, Howard went from a player known mainly by soccer aficionados to an American icon, revered by millions for his dependability, daring, and humility.

In this uplifting memoir now adapted for young readers, Howard shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood in which he was raised by a single mother who instilled in him a love of sports and a devout Christian faith that helped him deal with the onset of Tourette’s in fifth grade.