""Dad had asked me to give him a hand, and that's exactly what I was doing. I was fast becoming part of the fourteen-cent chopped meat special--which, I'm told, was not a big seller for the rest of the day.""
What would it be like to go through life with only one hand? That's exactly what eleven-year-old Norm finds out when he loses his left hand in an accident at his family's store. It's July 4, 1946. World War II has ended, and life is getting back to normal. But for Norm, the pressing question now is whether he will ever be able to play baseball again. And what about his dreams of becoming an artist? Norm can't even figure out how to tie his shoes anymore. How will he ever learn how to pitch or catch or swing a bat with no left hand? It's up to Norm to find the strength to get beyond this roadblock and move on with his life.

It's the end of an era! Max's uncle -legendary luchador, the Guardian Angel- is getting married and walking away from wrestling! Max was set on taking over the wrestling role, but not so soon. He's just fourteen! To make it worse, his uncle chose a wild new wrestler for his last match, the Fallen Angel. If the villain wins, will the legend of the Guardian Angel die before Max is ready to put on the mask? !Es el fin de una era! El tio de Max -el legendario luchador, El Angel Guardian- se va a casar, !y retirarse de la lucha libre! Max queria ser la siguiente persona a asumir el papel del heroe enmascarado, pero no tan pronto. !Solo tiene catorce anos! Y para colmo, su tio escogio un nuevo luchador temerario para su ultima pelea, el Angel Caido. Si gana el villano, ?morira la leyenda del Angel Guardian antes de que Max este listo para ponerse la mascara? Maximilian and the Curse of the Fallen Angel is the fourth in the "Max's Lucha Libre Adventures" series. Catch up on the adventures: 1-Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel 2-Maximilian and the Bingo Rematch 3-Maximilian and the Lucha Libre Club Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, author and luche libre aficionado Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist, and storyteller whose work focuses primarily on his experiences growing up in the small border town of Rio Grande City. Garza has exhibited his art and performed his stories in venues throughout Texas, Arizona and the state of Washington. Garza lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife Irma and their young son Vincent. Garza is author and illustrator of several lucha libre picture books for children. His lucha libre middle grade series began in 2005 with Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask and quickly became a hit among children and lucha libre fans. He has won a 2012 Pura Belpre an Americas Award Honor Book, a Texas Institute of Letters H-E-B Award for Best Children's Book, and been named an ALA Notable Children's Book, among other recognitions.

The next book in the #1 New York Times best-selling Epoca series from Kobe Bryant and Ivy Claire. As Pretia, the Princess of Epoca, prepares to return to Ecrof, the elite magical sports academy, she is focused on the most important part of her upcoming year: the Junior Epic Games. She knows that her destiny is to rule Epoca, but right now, all she wants is to be selected for the Junior Epic team so that she can compete against the best young athletes in Epoca and bring honor to her people. But as rumors begin to swirl about unrest surrounding the Games, Pretia realizes that winning might not be as simple as being the best athlete she can be. She might have to decide which is more important: being an athlete or being a leader. Pretia's best friend, Rovi, is ecstatic when he hears that the Junior Epic Games will be held in Phoenis, where he lived before attending Ecrof. True, his time in Phoenis wasn't ideal-he'd lived on the streets as a Star Stealer, part of a gang of kids who stole what they needed to survive-but he'd found a home there. He's excited to return as a Dreamer, an athlete at the top of his game. But all is not well with the Star Stealers. Rovi's old friends are being blamed for the unrest surrounding the Games, even though he's sure they have nothing to do with it. Now that he's back in Phoenis, Rovi is faced with a difficult question: Is he a Dreamer or a Star Stealer? Can he be both? As tensions mount, Pretia and Rovi, along with their friend Vera, find themselves in a race to save the Star Stealers. And they begin to understand that if anyone is going to make a new future for Epoca, it just might be them.

""With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering, "" announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander ("He Said, She Said" 2013).

Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

MADE IN MELCHESTER! Sudden Death is the seventh book in the football-tastic Roy of the Rovers fiction series. Part of the third season, this exciting series is written by award-winning author Tom Palmer. After a dramatic season that saw Roy Race and teammates suffer a heart-breaking loss in the League Cup final, their beloved stadium burning to the ground, and an ownerless Rovers on the brink of being shut down, things were looking bleak despite securing promotion to the Championship... A fresh season brings fresh hope though in the form of dedicated new owners, intent on rebuilding Mel Park and restoring Melchester Rovers as one of the biggest clubs in Europe, in both the men's and the women's game! But a new start means new challenges for Roy, Rocky, their family, and their teammates, and with Roy's Dad's condition getting worse, things aren't about to get any easier both on and off the field... Perfect for fans of Dan Freedman's Jamie Johnson or Matt Oldfield's Johnny Ball books! Enjoyed this title? Pick up New Digs next to continue the story! Praise for the Roy of the Rovers series: EPIC! - Match of the Day Magazine I love the way that they are about so much more than football: they are about heart, values and family. Both graphic novel and fiction titles are compelling, engaging and a lot of fun. Lace up and get reading. - Jim Sells, Programme manager for Sport & Literacy, National Literacy Trust. Read with my 7 year old who is football mad, really enjoyed it and left us wanting to read the next one in the series! - GoodReads Review

Age range 9 to 14 Growing up in East Germany in the 1960's, football mad Karl wants nothing more than to play for his hometown club. However, when this dream finally comes true, he soon finds out that playing for the mighty Dynamo Berlin comes at a cost. Karl realises that the team are run by the dreaded Stasi Police and he's required to be more than just a football player. When he refuses to become an informant, he finds himself falling foul of powerful men who always get what they want. Of course, as he falls out of love with football, he could always simply up and leave. Couldn't he? It's not to be - players don't leave Dynamo Berlin until the Stasi decide.

In this riveting story about baseball and brotherhood, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks finds himself pitching his way out of poverty-one strike at a time. By "a premier author of provocative YA sports novels" (The Bulletin). Lazarus "Laz" Weathers has always been shy, and his issue with stuttering when he speaks hasn't helped. Stuck in a Seattle trailer park, Laz finds baseball helps him escape from the world of poverty and drugs. When he gets an opportunity to pitch for the rich kids across town, he has a chance to get drafted by the major leagues. But playing for the other team means leaving behind his family, including Antonio, Laz's younger brother, who more and more, seems to be drawn to the dark world of the Jet City's drug ring. Now Laz will have to choose between being the star pitcher he always dreamed of becoming and the team player his family needs.

Celebrate the great outdoors in this Scholastic Level 1 Reader from the creators of the beloved Bob Books(R) learn-to-read phonics box sets. Perfect for reading alongside the Stage 3 Bob Books box sets, or for any child reading at Guided Reading Level G. Jack and Anna go on a hike. They duck under trees, hop over streams, and see many animals along the way. They wish they could go on a hike the next day, too, but Mom says no. Can they have their own outdoor adventure in their backyard? Bob Books Stories include: Words that children can sound out (decode); both short and long vowels Sight words Simple sentence structures Simple, colorful, friendly illustrations that support children's reading and add fun! Longer stories than the books in the Bob Books box sets, which helps children build reading endurance Bob Books has been helping children learn to read through simple phonics and playful text and illustrations for more than forty years. Your child will soon join the millions of happy kids who say, "I read the whole book!"(R)

Final title in a rugby trilogy. The Borderlands team has made it to the World Championships in New Zealand, but the strain of divisions within the squad and worry for their Forces parents' safety have the boys well and truly rattled. Can they pull it together and bring the trophy home? A sporting story set against the backdrop of war and the effect of conflict on the families of those serving overseas. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

The Team are on top! They only need one more point to win the league. But when Darren, the goalkeeper, lets in an easy shot, the rest of The Team are furious. Suddenly they're all arguing - and losing. Will Harvey's brainwave save The Team - or is he being just too silly?

'Ferguson picks up the ball inside the Scottish half and he's off. He skips round England's Dawes. . . nutmegs Bryan. . . shoots. . . and SCORES! Goal for Scotland in the 89th minute of this World Cup quarter-final! England are on their knees. Ferguson sends the Scottish fans crazy. What a player!' Don't miss a minute of the non-stop action as 10-year-old Calum Ferguson goes from struggling to settle into a new town whilst fighting for his place on the school football team to impressing scouts, proving themselves and contending with arch rivals. Scotland Stars F.C. books are packed with excitement on and off the field, as well as loads of extras like character cards to collect and football tips, puzzles and games. Caleytown's dreams are coming true. They've made it to the National Soccer Sevens Tournament and the only thing standing between them and the cup are all of Scotland's finest football teams. Calum spots the Scotland manager, some scouts, and his hero James Cauldfield in the crowd, and he's getting nervous. Mr McKlop has some fun ways to distract them but Calum's nerves only escalate when, unexpectedly, he is made captain of the team. Can he get them through to the final? Can he overcome his jitters and impress the scouts? Will Caleytown bring home the cup?

It's music and laughs galore as Cuphead and Mugman tickle the ivories in this full-color retelling of the "Piano Lesson" from Netflix's hit animated series The Cuphead Show! The Cuphead Show! follows the adventures of two lovable brothers-Cuphead and Mugman-through their unique misadventures! But no matter what the trouble is, they've always got one another's backs. But what happens when Mugman's dream of becoming a great pianist is dashed by an unexpected musical genius? Fans of the Netflix animated series or the video game that inspired it, will love this retelling with full-color images straight from the laugh out loud series!

When Frankie and his friends go to a kung fu lesson to improve their football skills, a giant Chinese puppet magically transports them to the gates of The Forbidden City. The team soon learn that an ancient warrior called Zha-Hu is planning to destroy the Great Wall of China, with help from his dragon and an army of terracotta animals. Can Frankie and his team break the dragon curse in time to stop him?