Hot off her starring role in the Women's World Cup, Megan Rapinoe has inked a two-book deal with Penguin to write adult and middle grade books on social justice.
Ann Godoff at Penguin Press struck the world rights agreement with Dan Levy at Wasserman.
Rapinoe, who stole the spotlight on and off the field at the recent Women's World Cup, co-captains the women's national team, where she largely plays as a winger. Winning both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball at the World Cup—for being, respectively, the competition's top scorer and best player—Rapinoe put in a dominant performance. Arguably, though, her public spat with President Trump thrust her onto a bigger stage.
After saying during the tournament that she would decline any invitation to the White House if the U.S. team won, Rapinoe became a target for Trump on Twitter. The moment allowed Rapinoe to espouse some of the social justice issues she has championed throughout her career, from women's rights to gay rights to equal pay for women.
To that end, the adult book, Penguin said, will be "a perfect vehicle for a honest, thoughtful, unapologetic, idealistic discussion of women, social justice, role models, gay issues, nationalism, and even a little soccer."
The middle grade title, to be released by Razorbill after the adult title, will, Penguin said, explore "social justice and change and the power young people have within their own communities and the world at large."
Neither book has a title. The adult book is slated for fall 2020.
NOTE: This article has been updated to include new details about the deal that the publisher shared after the article was originally published.
