| The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books |
| The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based list of titles available only on-line. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months. | |
Sweatier Socks: Books on Sports II. |
Last month was nonfiction, this month is fiction, for those looking to expand beyond Matt Christopher, Thomas Dygard, and John R. Tunis. We've tried to get some breadth in both sports featured (there's fencing, skiing, and T-ball as well as hoops and diamond action) and age of literary audience. Disappointed that there aren't more books here featuring girls? We were too, and we hope next time we do this list there will be, so go forth and write some.
--Deborah Stevenson, Associate Editor
- Antle, Nancy Staying Cool; illus. by E. B. Lewis. Dial, 1997. Gr. 3-6.
At his grandfather's gym, Curtis trains for the Golden Gloves in hope of winning honor for himself and his ex-boxer grandfather; Lewis' tender and expressive watercolors convey the close relationship between Curtis and his grandfather as well as the grit of training (BCCB 9/97). - Bennett, James W. Blue Star Rapture. Simon, 1998. Gr. 9-12.
Attending basketball camp as keeper to his friend Tyron, a gifted athlete with serious academic problems, T.J. soon discovers what cost and what profit (most of it not to Tyron) Tyron's possible stardom will bring. See also the author's The Squared Circle. (BCCB 7/98) - Bloor, Edward. Tangerine. Harcourt, 1997. Gr. 7-10.
A pale nobody compared to his football-hero older brother, Paul finds his niche in a diverse middle-school soccer team that provides him with comrades on the field and off. (BCCB 3/97) - Bunting, Eve. Trouble on the T-Ball Team; illus. by Irene Trivas. Clarion, 1997. 5-8 yrs.
A hot T-ball team on a winning streak is beset by a problem that the book leaves a mystery until the very end (everybody's losing their first tooth); illustrations authentically capture the intermittent attention of young ballplayers. (BCCB 4/97) - Carter, Alden R.
Bull Catcher . Scholastic, 1997. Gr. 6-9.
Neil "Bull" Larsen narrates the story of the eternal pair, catcher and pitcher, as he and his friend Jeff struggle to finish their senior year in a blaze of athletic glory. (BCCB 3/97) - Cochran, Thomas Roughneck. Gulliver/Harcourt, 1997. Gr. 7-12.
In what is not only his big chance but the big event of his football-mad town, Travis Cody prepares for a face-off with his archrival in the state high school football championships. (BCCB 10/97) - Crutcher, Chris. Ironman. Greenwillow, 1995. Gr. 7-12.
High-school senior Bo trains for a triathlon while grappling with his own private internal and external obstacles. See also the author's Athletic Shorts, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, etc. (BCCB 4/95) - Deuker, Carl. Painting the Black. Houghton, 1997. Gr. 7-10.
Ryan Ward is the loyal catcher and friend of star pitcher Josh Daniels, but will he put ethics above friendship when he finds Josh sexually assaulting a classmate? (BCCB 6/97) - Greene, Stephanie. Owen Foote, Soccer Star; illus. by Martha Weston. Clarion, 1998. Gr. 2-4.
Eight-year-old Owen is thrilled to join the town soccer league but soon discovers it's not the easy glory he had anticipated in this simple but effective easy reader. (BCCB 5/98). - Hite, Sid. An Even Break. Holt, 1995. Gr. 4-6.
Twelve-year-old Frisk discovers he's a natural at pool. (BCCB 1/96) - Johnson, Scott. Safe at Second. Philomel, 1999. Gr. 6-10.
Paulie Johnson's own life is thrown for a loop when his best friend, star pitcher Todd Bannister, suffers an injury that throws his baseball future into question. (BCCB 7/99) - Lipsyte, Robert. The Brave. Zolotow/HarperCollins, 1991. Gr. 7-12.
In this sequel to The Contender, Sonny tries to channel his rage into the discipline necessary for a successful boxing career. Followed by The Chief. (BCCB 11/91) - MacLean, John. When the Mountain Sings. Houghton, 1992. Gr. 5-8.
Thirteen-year-old Sam's love of skiing leads him to tri-state competition. (BCCB 2/93) - Mackel, Kathy. A Season of Comebacks. Putnam, 1997. Gr. 4-6.
Fourth-grader Molly is tired of living in the shadow of her big sister, who's the hottest softball pitcher in the state, but soon Molly starts demonstrating some softball talent of her own. (BCCB 4/97) - Myers, Walter Dean. Slam! Scholastic, 1996. Gr. 7-10.
A junior in high school, Gregory "Slam" Harris has a game, at least on the basketball court; off the court, he's not so sure. See also the author's Hoops. (BCCB 2/97) - Napoli, Donna Jo. On Guard. Dutton, 1997. Gr. 3-5.
Fourth-grader Mikey is hooked on the sport of fencing, finding that his increasing skill in his new mŽtier begins to pay off in noncombatant life as well. (BCCB 2/97) - Powell, Randy. Dean Duffy. Farrar, 1995. Gr. 7-12.
After his high school graduation, Dean feels baseball is behind him, but a trial sports scholarship at a small college offers him a new opportunity and new questions about his future. (BCCB 7/95). - Ritter, John. Choosing Up Sides. Philomel, 1998. Gr. 5-9.
Gifted southpaw pitcher Luke Bledsoe is torn between his love of baseball and his devotion to his preacher father, who condemns both the game and his son's use of his sinister left hand. (BCCB 6/98) - Shreve, Susan. The Goalie. Tambourine, 1996. Gr. 4-6.
Fifth-grader Julie MacNeil is the anchor of her soccer team and the anchor of her family, but new developments may mean changes to her position in both places. (BCCB 1/97) - Wallace, Rich. Shots on Goal. Knopf, 1997. Gr. 7-10.
Barry "Bones" Austin and his friend Joey are two of the best players on their high-school soccer team, but the struggle to win the league teaches Barry about more than just soccer. See also the author's Wrestling Sturbridge. (BCCB 12/97). - Wolff, Virginia Euwer. Bat 6. Scholastic, 1998. Gr. 5-9.
In 1949, an annual girls' softball competition ends in tragedy and shame when wartime emotions resurface on the field. (BCCB 6/98)
This page was last updated on June 1, 1999.