4 of The Best Sports Books For Your Teen Daughter

The Best Sports Books for High School Girls

I have two daughters and am fortunate that there are some tremendous female athletes for them to look up to. Tremendous in not only how they perform but how they handle themselves. Buying a book for a teenager is like picking a needle out of a haystack but bear with me because we get the question: "what's a good book for a 13 year old girl?" all the time. Here are a few of our favorites by sport: 

When Nobody Was Watching - Carli Lloyd

Carli Llloyd's been a fixture on the US women's soccer team for years, but it wasn't always that way. Lloyd almost gave up the sport in 2003 but was able to re-dedicate herself, rediscover her talent, and most importantly, put in the work when others doubted her. This is a tremendous book about perseverance and surrounding yourself with people that see your potential. 

Courage to Soar - Simone Biles

Biles received a lot of uncalled for criticism when she stepped away from the 2021 summer Olympic games to focus on her mental health. With 4 gold medals already to her name, Biles is a champion, fun personality, mental health advocate, and role model for a lot of young gymnasts. 

The Other Side of Glory - Carl J. Pierson

I love books like this one that follow the journey of a team through the ups and downs of a season. Winning isn't easy, but it's also simply the output of players that are skilled, care about each other, and ultimately, share the same goals. This is a true story and a well-written book. 

Throw Like a Girl - Jennie Finch

This book was written in 2011, but it's as relevant today as it was then. Jennie Finch was a remarkable athlete, winning 60 games as a pitcher at the University of Arizona and leading Team USA to a gold medal in 2004. She brought a renewed enthusiasm to US softball and did so with an infectious energy. 

Additional Resources

For additional favorites in the Teen and Young Adult (YA) category, check out our recommendations page here.