Category Archives: Sports

Get a Grip by Alyson Shelton

This compact novel (186 pages) is narrated in free verse. It has wide appeal, but is an especially good purchase for librarians seeking work on sibling death and grief, competitive gymnastics, changes in friendships that take place as kids get older, and hi/lo literature for tweens and teens. Continue reading →

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Two Seasonal Books

Whiteout would be a good book to display or book talk before the winter holidays. One with the Waves would work before spring break. Continue reading →

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Sidelined: Sports Culture and Women

Working in sports talk radio is “like working in a frat house” Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Human Rights Issues, Sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

  Being a Teen=Lack of Control Over Life Smack in the middle of his junior year of high school, Norris Kaplan has to move from Montreal, Canada to Austin, Texas when his mom secures a professorship at the University of … Continue reading →

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Sports Books: “The Final Four”

The Final Four by Paul Volponi    The hoop action between the Michigan State Spartans and the (underdog) Trojans of Troy University is nonstop, heart-pounding excitement. While the semifinal NCAA championship game is played, the novel focuses on four players: … Continue reading →

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“The Bully” and “The Gun”

The Bully by Paul Langan Darrell Mercer moves from Philadelphia, PA to California in the middle of his freshman year of high school. Although his neighborhood in Philly is not the best–even dangerous sometimes–he has a lot of good neighbors … Continue reading →

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“Ball Don’t Lie”

Ball Don’t Lie by Matt de la Pena    “Real life always comes whipping back around at you like a boomerang. But right now there’s one last game to play. And Stickey’s right here. In the zone. Flowing. Every shot … Continue reading →

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“Dare Me”

Dare Me by Eric Devine   Ben Candido has known enough about trouble and his former best friend Ricky to stay away for more than three years. But when their senior year of high school finally arrives, Ben can’t help … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reason to Breathe

Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan Emma—Emily—Thomas is good at hiding despite the fact that she’s very involved in school. She’s a straight ‘A’ student and the editor of the school newspaper as well as a track and basketball star. … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: “Breathing Underwater”

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn   Nick is in court, facing a restraining order. He tells the judge that he never hit his girlfriend, Caitlin. The judge isn’t buying it. And it’s a good thing, too, because in the journal that … Continue reading →

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