A Junior Library Guild Selection!

Here is a story a young athlete is sure to connect with.
—Michael Sullivan, Expert on boys and readings www.talestoldtall.com

Bowen seamlessly weaves baseball history into this story. There is plenty of baseball action to keep sports fans engaged. His character-building themes subtly unfold. Young athletes will find smooth dialogue, well-developed characters, and a storyline with which they can identify. This satisfying read is highly recommended. --Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).

The Story
Jack throws the fastest pitches in the league, but his blazing fastballs are all over the place. He’s racking up a lot of walks instead of strikeouts.  A coach tries to show him some new pitches, but Jack loves bringing the heat.  Will his fastball be his downfall, or can he change his game and start winning?

The History
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax might not have become a legend if he had relied on his fastball. His career turned around when he started to settle down and use a variety of pitches to get the batters out. Like Jack, Koufax first had to learn that there’s more to pitching than just throwing heat.

Click to see the trailer.

The Story
Jake is pumped about the upcoming season. He’s a pretty good shortstop, but there’s a new kid Adam who can do it all — pitch, hit, and field.  Adam’s talents start to dominate every game and Jake resents all the attention he’s getting. Everything changes, however, when Jake learns something about Adam and something about himself.

The History (in the story and bonus chapter).
Many great players overshadowed their teammates, but even the best players couldn’t win by themselves. Babe Ruth needed Lou Gehrig and Michael Jordan needed Scottie Pippen. Learn the stories of those dynamic duos.

This entry in the Fred Bowen Sports Story series is flush with life lessons about perseverance, dedication, and picking oneself up after a hard knock, not to mention loads of on-court action. It reads like a succesful drive to the hoop--quick, purposeful, and effective.—Ian Chipman, Booklist

The Story
Brett is a star player on his basketball team…or at least he thought he was.  Then he misses an easy layup at the buzzer that cost his team the game. And things get worse. At a friend’s party at a rock climbing center, Brett freezes on the wall. Then he blows an easy question in the history bee at school. He’s losing his confidence fast, both on and off the court and the championship game is coming. Can Brett overcome his fears and play like a winner again….

The History (in the story and bonus chapter).
All basketball players have setbacks. But star athletes keep playing hard and get back on top on their game. Learn about two college players who made very embarrassing, game-losing mistakes. They felt terrible, but pulled themselves together, got focused, and made great comebacks!