Kids and Families

Sportacular Reading! Sports Books for Grades Four through Eight

Grades 4-5 | Grades 6-8

 

Grades 4-5

Running Girl, by Sharon Bell Mathis
Ebonee Rose writes in her diary about her love for running and preparing for the all-city meet.

The Pitcher Who Went Out of His Mind, by Dan Gutman
Rob Newton, pitcher for the Sedona Red Rocks, suddenly finds he has the ability to separate his mind from his physical body.

Crash, by Jerry Spinelli
Everyone calls John "Crash" and they think he's sure to be a great football player. So Crash doesn't have time for his neighbor, a vegetarian and a Quaker, who wants to be Crash's friend.

Bat 6, by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Twenty-one 6th-grade girls tell the story of their annual softball game in a small town in post World War II Oregon.

Season of Comebacks, by Kathy Mackel
Molly's older sister, Allie, is a star softball pitcher, but Molly wishes her father would notice her for once.

Mariah Keeps Cool, by Mildred Pitts Walter
Twelve-year-old Mariah plans a great summer competing as a diver, but her half-sister, Denise, puts a crimp in her plans.

Me, Mop and the Moondance Kid, by Walter Dean Myers
T.J. and his younger brother Moondance are adopted, but their friend, Mop, is still trying to get adopted while wreaking revenge on their baseball rivals, the Eagles.

The Best Sports Book in the Whole Wide World, by Mauri Kunnas

S.O.R. Losers, by Avi
Each member of the South Orange River seventh-grade soccer team has qualities of excellence, but not on the soccer field.

The Chicken Doesn't Skate, by Gordon Korman
Wild things happen at the South Middle School when Milo's science project, Henrietta the chicken, becomes the hockey team's mascot and their only chance for a winning season.

There's a Girl in My Hammerlock, by Jerry Spinelli
Thirteen-year-old Maisie joins the school's formerly all-male wrestling team and tries to last the season in spite of opposition from teammates and friends.

The Saddle Club series, by Bonnie Bryant

The Wolfbay Wings series, by Bruce Brooks
Follow the adventures of the Wolfbay Wings hockey team as they try to capture the title.

Roller Hockey Radicals, by Matt Christopher
Newcomer Kirby works to find his spot on the new roller hockey team.

Takedown, by Matt Christopher
Sean prepares for a wrestling match with the neighborhood bully.

 

Grades 6-8

Slot Machine, by Chris Lynch
Overweight thirteen-year-old Elvin Bishop is sent to summer camp where he and his two best friends are forced to try out various sports to find one they can do well.

Finding Buck McHenry, by Alfred Slote
Eleven-year-old Jason, believing the school custodian Mack Henry to be Buck McHenry, a famous pitcher from the old Negro League, tries to enlist him as a coach for his Little League team by revealing his identity to the world.

Heart of a Champion, by Carl Deuker
When Seth met Jimmy, Jimmy got him hooked on baseball. Jimmy is a natural, and everyone expects Jimmy to make it to the majors, while Seth may only turn out to be "the best bad baseball player in the world."

Night Hoops, by Carl Deuker
Nick works hard to prove that he's good enough to make the varsity team.

On the Devil's Court, by Carl Deuker
Joe Faust is willing to trade his soul to the devil for one perfect season of basketball.

Hard Ball, by Will Weaver
A fourteen-year-old Minnesota farm boy must learn to get along with his rival both on the baseball diamond, and at school.

Striking Out, by Will Weaver
When Billy's older brother dies, Billy's relationship with his father becomes distant, but that changes when Billy begins to play baseball.

No Effect, by Daniel Hayes
An eighth-grader joins the wrestling team, and falls for the same teacher his wrestling coach is dating.

Wrestling With Honor, by David Klass
Champion high school wrestler, Ron Woods, faces a tough season when he refuses to take a mandatory drug test.

Danger Zone, by David Klass
Jimmy joins a predominantly black Teen Dream Team that will represent the United States in a basketball tournement in Rome, where Jimmy learns more about racism and politics.

Twelve Days in August, by Liza Ketchum
Todd is going to be a starter on his school's soccer team, when Alex moves to town. Alex is a great soccer player, good enough to bump Todd off of the team, but soon rumors are flying that Alex is gay. Now Todd must decide where to take his stand.

Black Diamond: the Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues, by Patricia McKissack

There's a Girl in My Hammerlock, by Jerry Spinelli
Thirteen-year-old Maisie joins her school's formerly all-male wrestling team and tries to last through the season, despite opposition from other students, her best friend, and her own teammates.

Honus and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure, by Dan Gutman
Joey finds a valuable 1909 Honus Wagner card and travels back in time to meet him.

S.O.R. Losers, by Avi
Each member of the South Orange River seventh-grade soccer team has qualities of excellence, but not on the soccer field.

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