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"Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide To Living Your Best Life" by Vernon Brundage: Drawing on principles that several elite athletes used on their way to the top, this book is broken down into quarters so you feel like you're in a basketball game. The book contains several great motivational quotes and is a nice "playbook" for life for middle schoolers (tweens) and high schoolers.
"The Miracle Season" by Kathy Bresnahan: This is an incredibly powerful story about the Iowa City West high school volleyball team that's forced to move on following the tragic death of their leader, Caroline. Written by Caroline's coach, readers experience how a group of young women, their coach, and the community come together. The Miracle Season was made into a movie starring Helen Hunt that was released in 2018.
"QB 1" by Mike Lupica: Lupica has spent his career writing inspirational sports books for youth. This is a great football novel for the younger teen. Written about high school football in Texas, the book follows a similar storyline to Friday Night Lights but for a younger audience. Would recommend for 8th graders and under.
"Nikki On The Line" by Barbara Carroll Roberts: This is a great book for young adult (ya) female readers. 13-year-old Nikki wants to play professional basketball and is selected to play on an elite club team. Nikki quickly realizes that she's a bit overmatched. Add in babysitting her younger brother, drama with her best friend, and more, and Nikki is forced to think about who she wants to become. A realistic look at how life can get complicated but shouldn't stop us from pursuing our dreams.
"Old School Grit" by Darrin Donnelly: Donnelly's "Sports For The Soul" series contains six fiction books, and they're all excellent. Old School Grit is about fictional coach Bob Flanagan, who, while preparing his basketball team for the post-season tournament, starts to write letters to his grandchildren about the timeless lessons and wisdom that he hopes to pass on. As Donnelly writes in his subtitle, "Times may change, but the rules for success never do."
"The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander: For every eleven or twelve year-old that dreams of being a rapper and an athlete, this book is the perfect mix of both. Alexander just released a second book in the series, and word on the street is that the books are being made into a mini-series for Disney+. If you spend most of your time browsing the YA section of the library or bookstore, this book is for you (and one of the best sports books for teens).
We recommended this as The Best Gift for Middle Schoolers in a previous blog post.
We recommended this as The Best Gift for Middle Schoolers in a previous blog post.
"Courage to Soar" by 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. However, she rebounded in a big way, winning 3 gold medals at the 2024 Paris games. Biles is a champion, fun personality, mental health advocate, and role model for a lot of young gymnasts. If you enjoy books written by athletes, have a passion for gymnastics, or simple want to get into the mind of a champion, this should be on your list.
This book was also included in our 4 of the Best Sports Books For Your Teen Daughter.
This book was also included in our 4 of the Best Sports Books For Your Teen Daughter.
"Basketball Junkie" by Chris Herren and Bill Reynolds: Reynolds covered Herren as a sports reporter for the Providence Journal and wrote a nonfiction book about him and his high school team called Fall River Dreams in 1995. 17 years later, with Herren having played in the NBA and experienced challenges with drugs and alcohol, they reconnect to tell a powerful story about choices, leadership, and overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. Herren has become a sought-after speaker, particularly with high school and college teams.
"Iceman" by Chris Lynch: Iceman is a young adult novel about a 14-year-old hockey player named Eric (nicknamed Iceman). Eric's determination on the ice goes much deeper, as he deals with family issues at home and struggles to make sense of the world. Iceman is about overcoming, seeking focus, and finding the peace that can come from being out on the ice. For all of my young hockey players reading this, you should check this out! For more of my favorite hockey books for teens, check out my article here.
"Taking Flight" by Michaela DePrince: This is an incredible story about an orphan from Sierra Leone that is adopted at the age of 4 by a couple in America. Michaela DePrince goes on to be the youngest dancer in the Dance Theatre of Harlem. For more on Michaela's story, check out the video here.
"Soar" by Joan Bauer: Soar is about a boy named Jeremiah that love to play baseball. When a weak heart forces him to the sideline, instead of giving up, he becomes the team's coach. Just as he's getting comfortable in his new role, his father accepts a new job assignment, and Jeremiah is relocated to a new town. Soar is all about maximizing your opportunities and remaining positive no matter what life throws at you. If you're into teen sports novels, check this one out!
"A Season of Daring Greatly" by Ellen Emerson White: 18-year-old Jill is a pitching superstar. So much so, that she gets drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates! The pressure on Jill is high as she's challenged to not only perform on the field but fit into a male-dominated league, all while leaving home for the first time. As a father to young girls, I loved the overall messaging in this book to shoot for the stars and never give up!
"Unbeatable" by Philip Hoose: This is the true story of ten teenagers that win the 1955 Indiana state basketball tournament. They became the first all-black team to win a racially open championship in the United States, led by star guard and future NBA hall of famer, Oscar Robertson. I personally love books like this (and especially this one) because they teach young people history and open up a dialogue about racism and injustice in this country.
"Girls Running" by Melody Fairchild and Elizabeth Carey: This is a great teen sports novel for middle school and high school girls. The book talks about training, physiology, menstruation, sports nutrition, a winning mindset, body image issues, gear, team-building, and competition and also draws on Melody Fairchild's own experiences as a high school phenom.
"We Will Rise" by Steve Beaven: This is more than a book; it is a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit. Beaven, an Evansville native, tells the story of a plane crash in 1977 that killed everyone on board: players, coaches, and managers of the Evansville men's basketball team. Evansville had been a national power at the Division 2 level. I won't spoil what happens next, but reading this almost forces you to reflect on your own life and the power and resilience that lies deep within.
"Gravity" by Sarah Deming: Gravity Delgado joins a boxing gym in Brooklyn. What starts as an opportunity to get out of the house turns into a major talent, so much so that Gravity has a shot at The Olympics. As things get complicated at home, Gravity faces a decision about doing what's best for herself vs. her family.
"Furia" by Yamile Saied Mendez: Growing up Argentina, Camila Hassan just wants to play futbol. The problem? Her mother has a traditional vision of what her daughter should and shouldn't be doing, her father is angry all the time, and her soccer exploits are unknown to both. Couple that with a romantic crush, and you have a story of a girl trying to chase her dreams, respect her parents, and fit into cultural norms. While this is a novel, it's a very realistic portrayal of modern-day Argentina and the challenges that many teens face.
"The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte: Alfred Brooks drops out of high school and gets a job at a grocery store. During one of his shifts, his friends attempt to rob the store but get caught. They blame Alfred for not telling them about the store's silent alarm system and proceed to beat him up. This is a powerful book about taking control of your life, not letting the past dictate your future, and finding forgiveness in your soul.
"Rez Ball" by Byron Graves: This is a coming of age story about a young man, Tre Brun, who's dream is to play in the NBA. Before that, though, he must represent his late brother and the Red Lake Reservation high school team as they aim to be amongst the state's best. This is a story about handling pressure at a young age and written by an Ojibwe author, who knows first hand what it's like to grow up on a reservation.
For More Sports Books For Teens & Young Adults
For other great sports books, check out our Best New Sports Books for 2023 page