Five running backs were selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Jamaal Charles was not among them. Despite piling up the fourth-most rushing yards at the University of Texas in just three seasons, he waited for eight other running backs to get selected ahead of him. The Middle School Rules of Jamaal Charles features the stories and lessons of Jamaal's childhood, defined by people overlooking him. Young readers will see how Jamaal deals with bullying and endures teasing because of a long undiagnosed learning disability that enabled him to participate in the Special Olympics as a 10-year-old. The gold medals he won at the Special Olympics empowered him, and Jamaal displayed a rare work ethic and determination in everything he did on the field and in the classroom. "I just kept working, just kept fighting," Jamaal says. "If you give up, you won't ever know how far you would have gotten." A state champion hurdler, Jamaal ran for 4,107 yards and 50 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas. But readers will see how hard Jamaal had to study to earn a high enough mark on a standardized test to qualify for a full athletic scholarship. Dogged by doubts about his size, Jamaal is already the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and has more career rushing yards and total touchdowns than all but two of the eight running backs selected ahead of him in the 2008 NFL Draft. In fact, Jamaal owns a special NFL record: More yards per carry (5.5) than any other running back with at least 1,000 career carries! Jamaal wants his legacy to extend beyond football fields. His Jamaal Charles Youth Matters Family Foundation promotes the development of healthy minds and bodies and reinforces the motto that, "Determination wins." Jamaal inspired millions at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles by sharing his story of struggle and triumph. "I was afraid. I was lost. I had trouble reading. I found out I had a learning disability," he said. "People made fun of me. They said I would never go anywhere. But I learned I can fly... the Special Olympics gave me my first chance to discover a talent I did not know I had."

For more than a decade, Brian Urlacher was the face of the Chicago Bears - one of the NFL's most storied franchises. An eight-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Urlacher established himself as one of the league's pre-eminent defenders with his athleticism, intelligence and ferocity. He's widely expected to gain entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he's eligible in a few years, which is not bad for an athlete from Lovington, New Mexico, where his coaches didn't even see college potential in him until his junior year of high school. Middle School Rules of Brian Urlacher features the real-life childhood stories and exploits of young Brian Urlacher and illustrate how they shaped him into the world-class athlete he became. Inspired by the popularity of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, these books will appeal to those same readers but will be laced with stories that will not only entertain but inspire greatness in the next generation by highlighting the importance of being your best, overcoming adversity, and reaching your dreams through discipline and hard work. The final chapter is told in the first person by Brian: what advice he'd pass on to his young readers given his adolescent experience.

Before he starred for one of the most dynamic offenses in college and the pros, he had to survive middle school. Mike Evans is entering his eighth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The three-time Pro Bowl selection is one of the NFL's most consistent and feared receivers. He played a key role in helping the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV, leading his team in every major receiving category during the regular season and catching 11 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason. He and his wife, Ashli, started the Mike Evans Family Foundation in 2017, focusing on empowering youth, encouraging education, and taking a stand against domestic violence. The Middle School Rules of Mike Evans highlights the adversity Mike had to overcome in his childhood, the impact of growing up in Galveston (an island city on the Gulf Coast of Texas that was greatly affected by Hurricane Ike), and the people who shaped him most--especially after the devastating loss of his father.