Juvenile Fiction / Sports & Recreation Books

After his parents are killed in an accident, Jeffrey Lionel Magee is forced to live with his aunt and uncle--a situation he eventually finds so unbearable that he runs away. Initially, Jeffrey leads an itinerant life, finding food and shelter where he can, but his circumstances change forever when he makes his way to Two Mills--a small, racially divided Pennsylvania town. Jeffrey's amazing abilities in all sorts of sports, his bravery, his intelligence, and his kindness win him a reputation (and the nickname "Maniac"), but his achievements also make him a threat to some of the other kids in Two Mills. Through his experiences in the East End (where the black people live) and the West End (where the white people live), Maniac becomes aware of not only the racism and ignorance that permeate both ends of town, but also the kindness and love found in both sets of residents. As he searches for a place to call home, Manic learns that the residents of the East and West ends have more in common than they ever imagined--and he sets out to find a way to bring them together. Told in the style of a tall tale or a legend, MANIAC MAGEE is the winner of the 1991 Newbery Medal.

Still reeling from the death of his mother, 11-year-old Ethan Feld must also adjust to life in a new town when he and his father move to Clam Island, Washington. Clam Island is a pretty amazing place: it rains almost every day except for a section of the island known as "Summerland" where perfect weather is guaranteed for the months of June, July, and August. Ethan joins the Summerland baseball team and, despite the fact that he's not much of an athlete, or perhaps because of it, Ethan is recruited by a mystical talent scout who takes him into a parallel universe where he and his friends must face off against several magical creatures in a baseball game that will determine the fate of the world. This is the first children's book written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon.

John Feinstein, well-known sportswriter and commentator for NPR and Sporting News Radio, makes his debut in children's fiction with this basketball mystery. Eighth grader Stevie's writing has garnered him an amazing prize--the opportunity to cover the Final Four basketball tournament in New Orleans. But his joy turns to shock when he and fellow winner Susan Carol inadvertently discover that someone is trying to pressure a Minnesota State player into throwing the championship game.

Joe Stoshak, a teenager who loves the game of baseball, finds himself traveling back in time 70 years to witness the historic day when Babe Ruth hit an amazing home run.

An adventurous tale about four siblings who take their boat, the "Swallow," for a camping excursion to an island near their family farm. On their third day on the island, they notice another boat, the "Amazon," flying a flag bearing a skull an crossbones.

Mr. Ross cuts seventh-grader Danny from the basketball team, claiming that he's too short, but people speculate that the enmity between Ross and Danny's father, a divorced ex-NBA player, lies behind the rebuff. Danny and his father start their own team in retaliation, but Danny finds himself forced to assume the coaching duties when unexpected problems crop up. New York Daily News sports columnist Mike Lupica loads his novel with unusual details about the game and provides a rousing climactic showdown.

Sylvester loves playing baseball, but because he is not a very good hitter, he decides not to join the Redbirds. Then he meets the mysterious George Baruth, who just may be able to help Sylvester improve his game. But will Sylvester ever discover who Mr. Baruth really is? This beginning-chapter book is illustrated with b&w drawings.

This sequel to JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY begins with a new and improved Joey. Once an extremely hyperactive child, lovable, good-hearted Joey has new medication and can exercise more self-control. He feels so good that he convinces his mother that he's ready to spend the summer with his estranged father, Carter. His father is also hyperactive--and a recovering alcoholic--and he wants Joey to forget his medication and kick his hyperactivity using nothing but will power. Joey must decide which he'd rather do: stand up to his father and stick with his meds, or revert to the problem child he used to be. Named a year 2000 Notable Books by the New York Times and one of the Best Children's Books 2000 by Publishers Weekly. A 2001 Newbery Honor Book.

Mike Lupica, sports journalist and author of the bestselling young adult novel TRAVEL TEAM, weaves the gripping story of Michael Arroyo, a 12-year-old Cuban American who dreams of playing in the Little League World Series. Living alone with his older brother in the Bronx, the two boys must avoid detection so that social services doesn't separate them. Baseball is an outlet for Michael, but when he's charged with being too old for Little League, Michael must to do everything he can to save himself and his ambitions.

The Iditarod is a 1,151-mile dog-sled race over the frozen landscape of Alaska. A lead dog named Akiak has participated in the Iditarod seven times but has never been on a winning team. Aware that she is growing older and that this is her last chance, Akiak is determined to lead her team to victory. However, on the fourth day of the race, Akiak is injured, and her musher--a woman named Mick--is forced to release her from the team. But Mick and the rest of the team don't know how determined Akiak is, and after she recovers, Akiak sets out to catch up with her team, now many snowy and icy miles ahead of her. Illustrated with oil paintings.

Alex "Skinnybones" Frankovitch is the smallest player on his little league team. Unfortunately, he's also the player with the biggest mouth, and his bragging gets him into a battle with the team's best player, T.J. Stoner.

Mixed-up housekeeper Amelia Bedelia tries learn how to play baseball. Three-color illustrations accompany the text of this beginning reader book.

Joe Stoshack thinks he's the luckiest kid in the world when he finds a Honus Wagner T-206 baseball card--the most valuable baseball card in the world--in a pile of garbage. Joe soon discovers how much more valuable the card is when it transports him back in time to a historic World Series game.

This sequel to TRAVEL TEAM finds Danny Walker heading off to the Right Way basketball camp, where his small stature will be a challenge despite his past travel-team successes. Mike Lupica is a sports columnist at the New York Daily News.

In this sequel to THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, November Nelson finds herself pregnant after the death of her boyfriend, Josh. Caught between her mother's disapproval, Josh's parents desire to raise the baby, and the physical rigors of pregnancy, November desperately needs the support of her friends. Meanwhile, Jericho, Josh's cousin, is having a difficult time coping with his loss. A 2008 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book.

After finding a motorbike at the bottom of a lake, 12-year-old Ron Baker becomes determined to repair it and enter moto-cross races. But then the jealousy of a fellow racer threatens Ron's dream. This beginning-chapter book is illustrated with b&w drawings.