Jake Maddox JV Girls

Mira Ravi is the first-seed singles star on Hilltop Middle School's tennis team, but her life off the court is a much harder match to win. Mira juggles tough responsibilities at home, in school, and with her team, but she also has a secret that threatens the balance. Can Mira be honest about her struggles and still play the sport she loves?

When Ana Flores spies a college team practicing, she's immediately drawn to the power and grace of softball. She knows she'll need practice and experience if she's going to play with her school team. Unfortunately, she's paired with Mali, the most demanding player on the team. Will Ana find the confidence to compete?

Hotshot forward Melina Stern is ready to start her last season of middle school soccer. But there's a problem. There won't be a middle school team this year! The program has been cut due to budget constraints, and the girls are forced to try out for the high school JV team. At first Melina is secretly excited for the tougher gameplay, but when the older girls begin teasing her relentlessly, she struggles to hold her own on the field. Now Melina is doubting her skills and her love for soccer. Can Melina perform like the talented striker she is, and can the girls ever play like a true team? A glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and bonus soccer facts make this action-packed sports story as engaging and educational as it is exciting.

Despite her impressive hockey skills, Kyla Woodson's first year of high school isn't going as planned. The varsity team didn't recruit any freshmen, so she's stuck on JV unless she can impress the coach enough to be added to the roster mid-season. But with an old rival also vying for a spot on varsity, plus dealing with her parents' recent divorce and her mom's irritating new boyfriend, Kyla has more to worry about than just her game and fights to keep her temper in check. As the pressure mounts, will Kyla be able to keep her cool off the rink and on it and skate to win? A glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and bonus hockey facts make this action-packed sports story as engaging and educational as it is exciting.

For twelve-year-old Autumn Holloway, a week at Blazing Hoops wheelchair basketball camp is a dream come true. She has high hopes that it will be her ticket to making friends and connections in the adaptive sports community. But, Autumn struggles to fit in with her wealthier fellow campers. To make matters worse, she has to use a borrowed basketball wheelchair that keeps needing repairs. It takes a chance encounter with the campus custodial staff help to help Autumn realize that, no matter where she's from or how she speaks, she belongs at camp-and on the court-just as much as anyone else.

It is never easy to be the new kid in school-or on the basketball team. But when Yasmin Jones faces racism from one of her new teammates, she insists on dealing with it on her own. Her solution is to prove to her new team that she is a star player. As pressure builds, though, Yasmin's game suffers. How can Yasmin address her problems on and off the court?

Gymnastics team captain Tamaya Jackson sometimes feels like her hard work goes unnoticed. She finally snags her chance to shine when a local news station does a special report on the team. But nothing comes without a price. Can Tamaya handle the extra pressure and jealousy among teammates the way a captain should?

Lily Richter and her family are moving, which means she's leaving behind her BFF and the dance team - the two most important things in her life. Stuck in an unfamiliar school, she's feeling lost and alone. Worse still, she isn't connecting with her new teammates, and the captain seems to have it out for her. Now Lily's moves are suffering as she falters in practice and in competition. Will she be able to get back in sync and dance to win? A glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and bonus competitive dance facts make this action-packed sports story as engaging and educational as it is exciting.

Thirteen-year-old Aniyah comes from a long line of drill and step team members. Her mom and aunts all competed, so none of them understand why Aniyah doesn't want to continue the tradition. But Aniyah doesn't like attention or performing. Then Aniyah's friend, Stacy, convinces her to give the team a try. The team dances just for fun and doesn't compete, so there's no pressure. Aniyah discovers Stacy is right-it is kind of fun! But just when Aniyah is starting to get into the groove, the rules change. The team decides to enter a competition. Can Aniyah overcome her fears and get on board with competition, or will she have to step away from drill team?

Ellie is amazing in the back row. Whether serving, digging, or passing, she's a real asset to her volleyball team. But when she rotates to the front row… disaster. Can she find a way to be a more well-rounded player and not just a back row dynamo?

Juniper Jackson is the tallest girl on the team. She might also be the least interested. But with her dad as the coach and the kind of height that gives her a serious advantage -- Juniper needs to figure out how to find something to love about the game.

As an eighth grader, Suzy has just joined the high school gymnastics team, so she is crushed when she gets injured and can't practice or compete. Meanwhile her mother wishes she wouldn't participate in gymnastics and would focus her efforts on her piano playing instead. Facing pressures from her team, her coach, and her mother, Suzy has to take charge of her own destiny. Can she make a comeback in time to help her team defeat its biggest rival?

Magnolia has her own ideas about style, music, and-especially-about figure skating. Too bad her twin sister and her mother are stuck in a more conservative mode. Will Maggie find a way to justify the changes she wants to enact, or will she keep on spinning away?

One minute eighth-grader Shaena is rushing to grab a rebound, and the next she's lying on the basketball court, dizzy with a horrible pain in her head. A collision with an opponent has left Shaena benched with a concussion, two weeks before the big rival game. And she's angry-why does she need to stop playing just because of a headache? Forced to take things slow, she watches as the other girls practice and improve without her, and Shaena starts to worry they may no longer need her. How can she be part of the team when she's been sidelined? A glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and bonus basketball facts make this action-packed sports story as engaging and educational as it is exciting.

Addison is joining the track and field team, even though her mom said no. Addison has come up with a risky plan to compete. But soon she's torn between her love of sprinting relay races with the team and the guilt over lying to her mom. How can Addison pursue her running passion? With plenty of play-by-play action and extra back matter materials including discussion questions and bonus track facts, this Jake Maddox JV Girls sports story is sure to be a hit with any young athlete.

Until now, Layla has balanced her school work and volleyball easily enough. In eighth grade, though, academic expectations are tougher. Student-athletes need at least a C average in all classes to play sports. When Layla's dedication to volleyball puts her algebra grade at risk, her chances of making the high school freshman team next year are on the line. Can she find a way to ace her classes like she does on the court?