It's never 'just a game.'
Bagnold, Enid. National Velvet
A 14-year-old English girl wins a horse in a raffle, trains it, and rides it in the Grand National steeplechase. (Equestrian)
Carlson, Ron The Speed of Light
12-year-old Larry spends the summer before junior high school with his best friends, Witt and Rafferty, playing different forms of baseball and discovering the secrets of the universe. (Baseball)
Crutcher, Chris Whale Talk
Although he's a star athlete, TJ shuns school sports until he decides to form a swim team out of the school outcasts. (Swimming)
Deuker, Carl Gym Candy
Groomed by his father to be a star player, football is the only thing that has ever really mattered to Mick Johnson, who works hard for a spot on the varsity team his freshman year, then tries to hold onto his edge by using steroids, despite the consequences to his health and social life. (Football)
Deuker, Carl Heart of a Champion
Seth faces a strain on his friendship with Jimmy, who is both a baseball champion and something of an irresponsible fool, when Jimmy is kicked off the team. (Baseball)
Deuker, Carl Night Hoops
While trying to prove that he is good enough to be on his high school's varsity basketball team, Nick must also deal with his parents' divorce and the erratic behavior of a troubled classmate who lives nearby. (Basketball)
Eulo, Elena. Mixed-Up Doubles
With the help of an unlikely new friend, ninth grader Hank tries to adjust to his parents' recent divorce and works toward his dream of being a successful tennis player. (Tennis)
Gutman, Dan. Shoeless Joe and Me
Joe Stoshack travels back to 1919, where he meets Shoeless Joe Jackson and tries to prevent the fixing of the World Series in which Jackson was wrongly implicated. (Baseball)
Haven, Paul Two Hot Dogs
Although everyone credits him and his superstitions for the Slugger's first winning streak in 108 baseball seasons, eleven-year-old Danny Gurkin believes that his discovery of a secret from the team's past may be the real reason behind the ball club's success. (Baseball)
Jackson, J. Life at these Speeds
Kevin Schuler, an eighth grader from a small Missouri town; he's popular, athletic and dates the cutest girl in school. But his life is shattered when the van carrying most of his friends home from a track meet skids into the river and all on board are killed. (Track)
Jenkins, A. Out of Order
Colt loves baseball and his girlfriend Grace, but he hates high school, and his failing grades may make him ineligible for sports. (baseball)
Klass, David Home of the Braves
Joe may be the captain of the soccer team, but when a Brazilian star arrives at school, it can only mean trouble for Joe and his new girlfriend.
Lipsyte, Robert Warrior Angel
Sonny Bear, the youngest heavyweight boxing champion ever, needs the help of his new friend Starkey if he is to retain his title.
Lupica, Mike Summer Ball
13-year-old Danny must prove himself all over again for a disapproving coach and against new rivals at a summer basketball camp. (Basketball)
Lynch, Chris. Iceman
Fourteen-year-old Eric, a ruthless hockey player prone to violence on the ice, tries to reconcile his own needs with those of his parents. (Hockey)
Myers, Walter Dean. Hoops
A teenage basketball player from Harlem is befriended by a former professional player who, after being forced to quit because of a point shaving scandal, hopes to prevent other young athletes from repeating his mistake. (Basketball)
Paulsen, Gary. Dancing Carl
As winter progresses, the strange man in the worn flight jacket dances frequently on the ice of the rink, expressing more with his movements than most people do with words. (Ice Skating)
Peck, Robert. Extra Innings
After a tragic airplane crash that claims the lives of most of his family, sixteen-year-old Tate goes to live with his wealthy great-grandfather and his adopted black great-aunt Vidalia and he finds unexpected solace in the stories of her childhood spent travelling with a Depression-era Negro baseball team. (Baseball)
Peyton, K. M. Blind Beauty
Teenage Tessa's passion for riding and her love for an ugly horse named Buffoon help her endure an unhappy life in the English countryside with a hateful stepfather. (Horse Racing)
Platt, Chris. Willow King
13-year-old Katie, who is herself physically challenged, saves a crippled foal from euthanasia and nurses him back to health and eventual championships. (Horse Racing)
Rallison, Janette. Life, Love and the Pursuit of Free Throws
Josie is a high school basketball player with natural ability on the court, but fears falling on her face when it comes to classmate Ethan Lancaster. Josie can't seem to help Cami with her on-the-court chops, but Cami claims to be able to help Josie get Ethan to talk to her. (Basketball)
Ripslinger, Jon. How I Fell in Love & Learned to Shoot Free Throws
17-year-old Danny Henderson, an indifferent basketball player, has his eye on Angel McPherson, star of the girls' team in their Iowa high school. (Basketball)
Rottman, S.L. Slalom
Sandro, having always lived in poverty with his mother in a wealthy ski resort town, finds his life transformed when the father he has never met suddenly returns and wants to be part of the family. (Skiing)
Wallace, Rich. Shots on Goal
While pursuing his goal of helping his soccer team win the league championship, fifteen-year-old Bones tries to deal with his resentment of his best friend, on whose girlfriend he has a crush. (Soccer)
Wallace, Rich. Wrestling Sturbridge
As the second-best 135-pound wrestler in his high school, Ben watches as a friend's future becomes brighter and his turns dim. Eager to leave his home town of Sturbridge, Pennsylvania--and to avoid a dismal future working in a cinder block factory--Ben looks for a way out. (Wrestling)
Walters, Eric Juice
Is Michael prepared to do what it takes to win in football - even if it means taking steroids?
(Football)
Waltman, Kevin Learning the Game
When Nate and his teammates steal from a frat house, he risks his future in basketball, his relationship with his girlfriend, and his older brother's freedom. (Basketball)
Wolff, Virginia Euwer. Bat 6
In small town, post-World War Oregon, twenty-one 6th grade girls recount the story of an annual softball game, during which one girl's bigotry comes to the surface. (Baseball)
Updated January 2008
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