Fast Break and Stone Fox

New and Fabulous

Fast Break by Mike Lupica is a good read for middle school athletes – especially if you have a soft spot for basketball. Fast Break is hot off the press, the latest from a popular author who knows his sports. This one has a twist – the hero is in foster care.

Jayson is the new kid on the block, living with foster parents, and he’s hiding a secret about how he got there. As he tries to adjust to his new life, he struggles to figure out exactly where he fits in: on the school basketball team, with the wealthy girl he’d like to get to know better, with his foster parents. And something holds him back: he doesn’t know how he can ever come clean about his past.

The book is being compared to The Blind Side. Enjoy!

Oldie but Goodie

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner was a favorite in our household, one we read over and over again. The sport here is dogsledding. Young Willy’s grandfather owes $500 in back taxes and he doesn’t have the money. So he stands to lose his Wyoming farm. Then Willy learns about a dogsledding contest. The winner gets a prize of – you guessed it – $500. Willy gives it is all. But he’s up against Native American champ Stone Fox. This is a story about putting in hard work to win for someone you love. The book is engrossing from beginning to end and pulls on the heartstrings like few others. Pegged for ages 8-12. It won lots of prizes when it came out in 1980. A great read!!!

Do you have other sports-themed books to recommend?