SPORTS BIBLIOGRAPHY
Athletic Shorts Crutcher, Chris
Summary: Some of these stories revisit memorable characters, others introduce new characters facing challenges and doing their best, no matter what happens.
The Boy Who Saved Baseball Ritter, John H.
Summary: The fate of a small California town rests on the outcome of one baseball game, and Tom Gallagher hopes to lead his team to victory with the secrets of the now disgraced player, Dante Del Gato.
Bull Catcher Carter, Alden
Summary: Pete and Jeff continue their friendship and love of baseball as they progress from ninth grade through high school in their small Wisconsin town.
The Contender Lipsyte, Robert
Summary: From high school dropout to champion boxer, a young man struggles toward an uncertain future. (Also: Chief)
Damage Jenkins, A. M.
Summary: Seventeen-year-old football hero Austin, trying to understand the inexplicable depression that has drained his interest in life, thinks that he has found relief in a girl who seems very special.
Danger Zone Klass, David
Summary: When he joins a predominantly black “Teen Dream Team” that will be representing the United States in an international basketball tournament in Rome, Jimmy Doyle makes some unexpected discoveries about prejudice, racism, and politics.
The Edge Bo, Ben
Summary: Declan will do anything to fit into his new school – even if it’s illegal. But when he gets caught the results are tragic.
Eleven Seconds: A Story of Tragedy, Courage, and Triumph Roy, Travis
Summary: Travis Roy recounts how his life has changed since a freak accident in 1995 in his first Boston University hockey game that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Farm Team Weaver, Will
Summary: With his father in jail and his mother working full-time fourteen-year-old Billy Baggs finds himself in charge of running the family farm in northern Minnesota and having to give up the thing he loves most – baseball.
Fighting Ruben Wolfe Zusak, Markus
Summary: Partly because of their family’s poor finances and partly to prove themselves, brothers Ruben and Cameron take jobs as fighters and find themselves reacting very differently in the boxing ring.
High Heat Deuker, Carl
Summary: When sophomore Shane Hunter’s father is arrested for money laundering at his Lexus dealership, the star pitcher’s life of affluence and private school begins to fall apart. (Also: Night Hoops)
Hoops Myers, Walter Dean
Summary: A talented young basketball player and his coach are told to lose a tournament and they must decide what to do. (Sequel: Outside Shot, Other Title: Slam)
Iceman Lynch, Chris
Summary: A mean hockey player learns something new and unexpected.
Ironman Crutcher, Chris
Summary: Bo must attend anger management classes while he prepares for the triathalon. (Other Titles: Whale Talk, Stotan)
Jackie’s Nine: Jackie Robinson’s Values to Live By Robinson, Sharon
Summary: Baseball hero Jackie Robinson’s daughter discusses nine values that her father held dear, shares memories from her life and her father’s that illustrate those values, and profiles individuals whom she considers heroes, including Christopher Reeve and Oprah Winfrey.
Jump Ball Glenn, Mel
Summary: Players, coaches, teachers and friends observe one basketball season in interconnected poems.
Out of Order Jenkins, A. M.
Summary: Popular sophomore baseball star Colt Trammel faces a personal crisis when his girlfriend dumps him, his failing grades threaten to bump him from the team, and he finds himself drawn to a new, green-haired girl at school.
Players Sweeney, Joyce
Summary: Eighteen-year-old Corey sees a threat to his dream of winning the basketball championship when he realizes that his new star player is a girl-stealing, friend-framing, team-destroying force of evil.
Playing Without the Ball Wallace, Rich
Summary: Feeling abandoned by his parents, who have gone their separate ways and left him behind in a small Pennsylvania, seventeen-year-old Jay finds hope for the future in a church-sponsored basketball team and a female friend. (Other Titles: Wrestling Sturbridge, Shots on Goal)
Redhanded Cadnum, Michael
Summary: Since he cannot depend on his father, Stephen feels as though his only chance to make it to the big boxing tournament is to go along with the dangerous plan of a local tough guy to whom he has been introduced by a thrill-seeking friend.
Slot Machine and Extreme Elvin Lynch, Chris
Summary: When overweight thirteen-year-old Elvin Bishop is sent to camp at St. Paul’s Seminary Retreat Center, he and his two best friends are forced to try out various sports in order to find out where they belong. Extreme Elvin follows him into his first year of highschool.
Tangerine Bloor, Edward
Summary: In spite of his bad eyesight, Paul knows he can be a soccer star – IF he is allowed to compete.
Three Clams and an Oyster Powell, Randy
Summary: During their humorous search to find a fourth player for their flag football team, three high school juniors are forced to examine their long friendship, their individual flaws, and their inability to try new experiences.
Tournament Upstart Dygard, Thomas
Summary: Class A – All the Way! The Falcons, a tiny team from a small school came on strong against their flashy opponents – but tension between the players begins to mount and threatens to pull the team apart when they need each other the most. (Many Other Sports Titles)
Ultimate Sports Gallo, Donald
Summary: Various authors contribute sixteen great short stories about teenage athletes and the rush of competition.
Wrestling With Honor Klass David
Summary: Ron faces a soul-searching wrestling season when he refuses to retake a mandatory drug test he has failed.
Revised 11/06