'No cream puffs. Just throw heat.' says her catcher. Twelve year old Madison Mitchell is the first girl in southern Michigan to play in the summer baseball league. Madison is the team's best pitcher and a very good all-round player. The whole country has picked up her story. However, the popular girls make fun of her and her best friend has deserted her. Her enemy, Billy threatens to bean her. And she has a crush on the totally wrong boy on her team. Follow Madison as she balances the pressures of publicity, helping her team win and being a regular person.

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 2/20/2010

ISBN-10: 0375837752

ISBN-13: 9780375837753

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Tim Daniels is elated when his parents tell him that he can go to basketball camp for his summer vacation. He imagines being starting point guard when he comes back to school in the fall as an eighth grader since NBA players are going to be at the camp to help the kids. Tim's best friend Billy decides to go to camp too-what could go wrong? First of all, Tim misses all of the shots that he puts up. Then at the first social dance with all of the campers, Tim gets extremely nervous dancing with a girl that he likes and has to leave the dance before he gets sick. Will things turn around for Tim or will they go from bad to worse? While reading this book, you will feel like you are in the bleachers cheering for Tim. This is part of Matt Christopher's Sports Fiction series.

Reviewed by: jb

Date read: 8/18/2010

ISBN-10: 0316135852

ISBN-13: 9780316135856

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Struggling with his feelings of inadequacy and his failure to make the basketball team at his school, seventeen-year-old Joe Faust finds himself actually considering trading his soul for one perfect season of basketball.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 031606727X

ISBN-13: 9780316067270

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After World II, sixth-grader Norm loved to play baseball and to look at the new cars that were being produced in 1946. His parents owned a small store with a fresh meat department. Norm's father was the butcher. Sometimes Norm needed to help out in the store which leads to the plot of the story because he had an accident in the meat department. Norm has a best friend, Leon, who is opposite in character to Norm. Their friendship is an important part of the story and how Leon helps Norm overcome the effects of the accident. Ellie surprises Norm by being more than a pesky little sister. Norm gains new appreciation for his mother's strength and his father's feelings.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee 2012

Reviewed by: cjones

Date read: 5/9/2011

ISBN-10: 0805079009

ISBN-13: 9780805079005

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Hall Braxton lives and breathes tennis, and she's a top-ranked player. At thirteen, it's not too early to be serious about training for a professional career. Ever since her doubles partner, trained by her coach, had a breakdown during a match and had to be taken to a mental health facility, Hall has been doubting her own dedication to the sport. Does she have what it takes to be a winner? Could the pressure take her out of the game? With her parents scoping out tennis academies, elite training schools for young tennis players, Hall needs to figure out what she wants before tennis takes over her entire future.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 12/3/2009

ISBN-10: 0375840494

ISBN-13: 9780375840494

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