When Marcus moves to a new town in the dead of summer, he doesn't know a soul. While practicing football for impending tryouts, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an older man. Charlie is a charismatic prankster--and the best football player Marcus has ever seen. He can't believe his good luck when he finds out that Charlie is actually Charlie Popovich, or "the King of Pop," as he had been nicknamed during his career as an NFL linebacker. But that's not all. There is a secret about Charlie that his own family is desperate to hide.

When Marcus begins school, he meets the starting quarterback on the team: Troy Popovich. Right from the beginning, Marcus and Troy disagree--about football, about Troy's ex-girlfriend, Alyssa, but most of all, about what's good for Charlie. Marcus is betting that he knows what's best for the King of Pop. And he is willing to risk everything to help his friend.

The fourth in a series of perfect pony books full of action and adventure! Georgia and her beautiful palomino pony, Lily, are hoping to make it to the Horse of the Year Show. It's a big dream and it'll take a lot of work from both of them. Georgia isn't sure she's good enough and it's affecting how she rides. How she feels about everything, in fact. It's almost as if Georgia has forgotten why she loves riding. Can Lily help her remember that it's not just about competing and winning trophies, but about the joy of running free...?

Jackie and Hank were born eight years and one thousand miles apart. Nobody knew these babies would grow up and play baseball. Nobody knew Jackie and Hank would meet and become heroes. Jackie Robinson and Hank Greenberg were two very different people. But they both became Major League Baseball players, and they both faced a lot of the same challenges in their lives and careers. For Jackie, it was because of his skin color. For Hank, it was because of his religion. On May 17, 1947 these two men met for the first time colliding at first base in a close play. While the crowd urged them to fight, Jackie and Hank chose a different path. This is the story of two men who went on to break the barriers of race and religion in American sports and became baseball legends in the process. Beautiful text by Cathy Goldberg Fishman is paired with sumptuous paintings by Mark Elliott. Generous back matter material includes a photo and prose biography of each man, timelines, quotes, resources to learn more, and a selected bibliography.

The Newbery Honor Award Winner and New York Times bestseller Roller Girl is a heartwarming graphic novel about friendship and surviving junior high through the power of roller derby-perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Smile! For most of her twelve years, Astrid has done everything with her best friend Nicole. But after Astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp, Nicole decides to go to dance camp instead. And so begins the most difficult summer of Astrid's life as she struggles to keep up with the older girls at camp, hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship. As the end of summer nears and her first roller derby bout (and junior high!) draws closer, Astrid realizes that maybe she is strong enough to handle the bout, a lost friendship, and middle school... in short, strong enough to be a roller girl. In this graphic novel debut that earned a Newbery Honor and five starred reviews, real-life derby girl Victoria Jamieson has created an inspiring coming-of-age story about friendship, perseverance, and girl power!

Twelve-year-old Hunter Higgins has been dreaming about his first hunting trip for as long as he can remember. He's taken the classes, earned his license, and become one of the best marksmen in his family. Now he's old enough to join his father, grandfather, and uncle at their cabin for the first weekend of hunting season. There's only one problem: Hunter isn't sure he can kill an animal. To make things more complicated, when they arrive at the cabin, his cousin Yumi is there with her friend Annette, who Hunter secretly has a crush on. Anxious about the hunt and the humiliation of possibly failing, Hunter grapples with what it means to have the power of life and death in his hands, and must decide what role he wishes to play in his relationship to nature and to wildlife.

Magic Olive Poindexter has big shoes to fill. Her mother was a professional cheerleader, her father is a retired NBA legend, her big sister is the new face of the oh-so-glamorous Laker Girls, and her grandmother was the first black cheerleader ever on Valentine Middle School's HoneyBee cheer squad. Magic wants nothing more than to follow in their footsteps. But first, she has to survive Planet Pom Poms, the summer cheer camp where she'll audition for a spot on the HoneyBee squad. But with zero athletic ability and a group of mean girls who have her number, Tragic Magic is a long way from becoming the toe-touching cheerleader heroine she dreams of being. Things start to look up when her best friend Cappie joins her at camp--until Cappie gets bitten by the popularity bug, that is. To make matters worse, Magic's crushing hard on football star Dallas Chase. Luckily, Magic's not alone: with the help of a new crew of fabulous fellow misfits and her Grammy Mae's vintage pom poms by her side, Tragic Magic might just survive--and even thrive--at cheer camp.

Ages 9 to 12 years It's not easy being captain of the Jags - especially when your team-mates are also your best mates! Jags always stick together - or do they? When the boys find themselves playing on opposites sides, it looks like it could be the end of the team. What could be better for encouraging reluctant boy readers than a series of football fiction by footie enthusiast, writer and radio presenter Tom Watt?

Greg is only happy when he's active - on the pitch or on his phone, it doesn't matter. But as soon as training's over or his host parent Steve takes the phone away, he's on edge. Steve suggests that Greg do something quiet with him, like making one of Steve's beloved Airfix kits. And the next thing Greg knows, he's in the cockpit of a Spitfire, being forced out of the sky by a German pilot! Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Take kids out to their very first hockey game in this adorable storybook for our youngest fans! The goalkeeper reaches and thinks he has it. But the puck goes in, He didn't catch it! SCOOOOOOORE! This fun, informative, and action-packed illustrated sports book for toddlers features the game of the year: the Penguins vs. the Otters! Each spread introduces hockey terms, gear, players, and referees within the context of the story of a 3-period game between all-animal teams. Read along as the two teams face off, flick the puck across the ice, check each other (safely!) and even get penalties. Who's going to win? It will all be decided by a last-minute power play!

What is more fun for boys and girls than reading? More fun that playing the world's most popular game? Reading an adventure set in the world of Fortnite! Grey has improved a ton with the help of his friends, and he's closing in on the top tier of players. But then his closest friend announces that he's been asked to join a new squad on the top tier and leaves them in hopes of making the top five with his new squad. Grey is devastated, and their play struggles. He falls back several ranks and begins to wonder if it's even possible to escape the game this season. Some players have been there for many seasons...some aren't even trying to leave because they like it so much. Maybe he should just accept it as his life. A former rival tells him to snap out of it-he's too good to slide back so far. They end up in a squad and do well enough to scale the ranks again. Grey has a chance to screw over his old Ally/Friend by taking his place on the Top Tier team, but will he?

Marcus is so good at football that there's a very real chance he'll be signed by Manchester United. But when he discovers he may be losing his hearing, his whole world falls to pieces and he finds himself having to put them back together on his own. But is this feeling of isolation real or just a consequence of his own behavior? While dealing with parents, friends and first girlfriends, Marcus gradually understands that accepting the help of others is ultimately an acceptance of self. A novel about friendship and family, The Silent Striker explores the issue of disability, identity and deafness, and the different ways in which we can choose to handle it.

For few things in life are ever as good as the smell of your own glove, the crack of the wood. Or being with friends at the one special spot and sharing what you have... with those who have not.

Lena is Trille’s best friend, even if she is a girl. And there is never an ordinary day when you’ve got a best friend like Lena.

Hardly a day passes without Trille and Lena inventing some kind of adventure that often ends in trouble. Whether it’s coaxing a cow onto a boat or sledding down the steepest and iciest hill with a chicken, there is always a thrill—and sometimes an injury—to be had. Trille loves to share everything with Lena, even Auntie Granny’s waffles. But when Lena has to move away and Auntie Granny leaves the world, it sometimes seems like nothing will ever be right again.

The warmth of friendship and the support of family suffuse this lightly illustrated novel, proving that when times are tough, a little taste of sweetness can make all the difference.

The Team are on a high. They have just won the Superstars Record for the most unbeaten matches. It's one of the oldest records in the league. The problem is, the record is jinxed.

Inspired by Derek Jeter's own life, Fair Ball is the fourth middle grade novel in the New York Times bestselling Jeter Publishing Program and focuses on the theme "the world isn't always fair."

Life isn't always fair. You can't control that, but you can control how you think and act when things don't go your way. You have to hang in there and keep after it, not get down and give up.

Derek has a lot to look forward to. School is almost out, his baseball team is competing in the Westwood Little League Playoffs, and then he'll head to his grandparents' house for the summer. Sure, there are finals to study for first, but Derek doesn't mind. Maybe this year he'll get better grades than Gary. But when his best friend Dave starts to act strangely, ignoring Derek and canceling their plans, his summer isn't looking quite so fun. What's going on? Doesn't he want to be Derek's friend anymore?

Derek is so distracted by his problems with Dave that he makes a mistake in the outfield during a key play--and his team loses the game. It's so unfair! With the championship at stake and finals looming, Derek needs to stay focused or risk everything.

Harvey and Darren only want to play soccer. But their headmistress, Mrs Pinto, has other ideas. She needs two strong lads for her new project: ballet! And she already has leotards with Harvey and Darren's names on them... This is Harvey's most desperate and tense adventure so far.