Because sports books aren’t the most common, but for some reason, I keep coming across them, and I don’t even like sports! however, I have found some of my favorite protagonists in these books, as well as many sports that I never thought teenagers played in high school. That’s why I decided to make this list.
In this list of sports books, you’ll meet characters who do everything from rowing to playing hockey. You’ll also find a gymnast, several basketball players, a sumo wrestler, soccer players, and many more.
You are reading: Ya books about sports
let’s get started. click on the book covers to go to their amazon pages.
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best sports books
We Are the Perfect Girl
Published: May 21, 2019
aphra brown is sassy and outgoing. her best friend, bethany, is achingly beautiful. Individually, they both might do a little better in the self-esteem department, but together? Together, they have what it takes to win over Greg D’Agostino, a proverbial “ten,” who is fluent in six languages, seven if you count the language of fiery gazes. . .
What starts out as an honest mistake turns into an elaborate hoax, in which Bethany dates Greg while Aphra coaches her on what to say and texts him disguised as Bethany, trying and failing, all the while. , to manipulate by his own desperate infatuation. it’s only a matter of time before things fall apart. The question is: what will happen when Greg finds out? And can Aphra and Bethany’s friendship survive the fallout?
girl against the universe
Published: May 17, 2016
Sixteen-year-old Maguire knows the universe is against him. no matter how many charms she buys online or how many good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when she’s around. Like that time the roller coaster went off the rails. Or the time his brother, his father, and his uncle died in a car accident, and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch. despite what her therapist tells her about him, maguire thinks it’s best to hide in his room, away from anyone he might accidentally hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star who wants to help her break her losing streak. Ella Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for him is to stay away from her, but it turns out that staying away may be harder than she thought.
here to stay
Published: September 18, 2018
What happens when a kid who has been low profile for most of high school is pulled off the bench to make the winning shot in a varsity playoff game? exclusive party invitations, along with an anonymous photo sent by a school cyberbully that makes Bijan look like a terrorist.
management says they will find and punish the culprit. bijan wants to pretend it never happened. unashamed of his Middle Eastern heritage; he just doesn’t want to be a poster child for Islamophobia. many classmates gather around bijan. others make it clear that they don’t want him or anyone who looks like him at his school. But it’s not always easy to tell your enemies from your friends.
after the shot lands
Published: March 6, 2018
Bunny and Nasir have been best friends forever, but when Bunny accepts an athletic scholarship in town, Nasir feels betrayed. As Bunny tries to fit in with his new privileged peers, Nasir spends more time with his cousin, Wallace, who is being evicted. Nasir can’t help but wonder why the neighborhood is so desperate to help Bunny when Wallace is in trouble.
When Wallace makes a bet against Bunny, Nasir is faced with an impossible, perhaps dangerous decision. Told from alternate perspectives, After the Shot Drops is a moving story about the responsibilities of great talent and the importance of compassion.
falling
See Also: L.E. Modesitt Jr – Book Series In Order
Published: June 7, 2016
grace lives and breathes gymnastics, but no matter how hard she tries, she can never be perfect enough. leigh, grace’s best friend, has it all: a gymnastics career, a normal high school life… and a secret that could ruin everything. camille she wants to please her mother, she wants to please her boyfriend, and most of all, she wants to get away from her. Wilhelmina was denied her Olympic dream four years ago, and she won’t let anything stop her again. It does not matter that. monica is terrified. no one believes in it, and why should they? at the end of the two days of the us Olympic gymnastics tryouts, some of these girls will be stars. some will go home with nothing. and all will change their lives forever.
on the way to find out
Published: June 10, 2014
on new year’s day, alice davis goes for a run. his first time. it’s painful and embarrassing, but it was also embarrassing that the only university he cares about denied it. Alice knows she needs to stop sitting around and complaining to her best friend, Jenni, and her pet rat, Walter, about what a loser she is. But what she doesn’t know is that as she takes those first steps out the door, she’s embarking on a path full of new challenges, including vicious side stitches, chafing in unspeakable places, and a fast-paced first love, and building herself up. . to endure when things suddenly become more difficult than she ever imagined, on the way to discover by rachel toor.
sumo (graphic novel)
Published: December 11, 2012
Scott is a failed football player who never made it big and whose girlfriend left him along with his dreams of playing professional football. But things have a way of working, in this sweet and poetic tale, and a new chapter in Scott’s life begins as the previous one ends. Offered a position in a Japanese sumo training “stable,” Scott gives up his old life, his old name, and even his old hair color, and becomes an aspiring sumo wrestler. and in doing so, he begins to find some kind of center in himself…a center that seemed lost forever.
Thien Pham, the acclaimed illustrator of Gene Luen Yang’s level-up, returns as the writer and artist of a unique new graphic novel. unusual and beautiful book. is almost a contradiction in terms: a delicate, skillful and tender story about… sumo wrestling.
justin #1 (asphalt series)
See Also: L.E. Modesitt Jr – Book Series In Order
Published: June 7, 2016
justin has a list of goals hidden under his mattress. number 1 is “find out life plans”. number 5 is “earn zen master qualification in wow”. Nowhere on that list is “playing with the ghosttown team,” but that’s the kind of problem he always seems to find.
The debut title of lja alongge’s new basketball series buzzes with action on and off the court. With wit, humor, and honesty, Justin unfolds during a hot summer.
bruised
Published: March 5, 2013
When sixteen-year-old tae kwon do black belt imogen freezes during a holdup at a local restaurant, the police shoot and kill the gunman, and she blames herself for his death. Before the shooting, she believed that her black belt made her stronger than everyone else, more responsible, more capable. But now that her sense of identity has been challenged, he must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating first love with the boy who was in the restaurant with her. during the shooting. With action, romance, and a complex heroine, Bruises introduces a vibrant new voice to the world of young adults, filled with dark humor and hard truths.
derby girl
Published: September 4, 2007
Meet Bliss Cavendar, a blue-haired indie-rock loving misfit trapped in the small town of Bodeen, Texas.
Her pageant-addicted mother hopes she’ll compete for the coveted crown of Miss Blue Bonnet, but Bliss would rather feast on cockroaches than submit to such rhinestone tyranny.
the escape of happiness? Participate in roller derby.
When she discovers a league in nearby Austin, Bliss embarks on an epic journey filled with hilarious tattooed girls, delicious gang boys, and some not-so-amazing realities that even the most badass derby girl has to learn.
robbery house
Published: July 9, 2019
ryan russell has a perfectly planned life. She’ll take over her family’s team, the Buckley Beavers, and she’ll become one of the few female general managers in minor league baseball.
Then Sawyer Campbell shows up and Ryan’s carefully laid plans hit a major snag. Sawyer is much more charming than the arrogant jocks he usually manages, though fraternizing is against every rule in the Beaver Handbook.
But after discovering the dire state of the team’s finances, Ryan will have to take risks to save his future. She teams up with Sawyer, using her star power to attract sponsors. but the more time she spends with him, the harder it becomes for her to follow the rules. Is her association the key to saving the beavers or a distraction she can’t afford?
far from normal
Published: September 22, 2020
maddie mcpherson is sick of normality, both her hometown of normal, illinois, and being the “normal” sister. But when she lands a summer internship at a sports marketing company, she finally gets a chance to step out of the shadow of her genius brother. Not to mention, a brilliant letter of recommendation from her secured her admission to her dream college.
But Maddie’s nickname is “Calamaddie” for a reason, and when the company asks her to fix the image of teen soccer phenom Gabriel Fortunato, she wonders if she’s setting herself up for an embarrassment. Gabriel is a tabloid magnet, best known for ruining Italy’s World Cup hopes. As Maddie works with him to develop “nice and friendly” content for social media, she also learns that he is thoughtful, multi-talented and fiercely loyal, perhaps even to the extreme. Falling in love with a footballer is exactly how Calamaddie would screw up this internship, but with the company pressuring her to do the job, maybe her heart is worth risking?
girl in the water
Published: January 1, 2008
everyone thinks syrah is the golden girl. After all, her father is Ethan Cheng, a billionaire, and she has everything any kid could want: a waterfront mansion, a jet plane, and custom-designed snowboards. but most of what glitters in her life is fool’s gold. Hers half-brothers hate her, her best friend’s girlfriend is ruining her friendship and her so-called boyfriend is only after her because of her father’s name. When her broken heart results in a snowboarding accident that exiles her from the mountains, the only place where she feels free and accepted for who she is, not what she has, can Syrah rehabilitate both her broken knee like her broken heart?
rage
Published: September 15, 2020
In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.
At home, she is a careful daughter living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in the shadow of her brother, a rising soccer star, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.
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On the field, she is the fury, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she would get an athletic scholarship to an American university.
but the road ahead is not easy. His parents don’t know his passion. they would not allow a girl to play soccer, and she needs her permission to go further. and the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned Juventus team. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. things are not the same as when he left: now she has her own passions and ambitions of her own, and the fury cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to confront her secrets and make her way in a world with no room for dreams and ambition for a girl like her.
girl out of the water
Published: May 2, 2017
Breeze from the sea in her hair and sand between her toes, Anise is looking forward to spending the summer before her senior year surfing and hanging out at the beach with friends. Santa Cruz is more than her home, it is her heart. But when her aunt, a single mother, is in a serious car accident, Anise must say goodbye to California to help care for her three young cousins.
landlocked nebraska is the last place anise wants to be. Sure, she loves her family, but it’s hard to let go of her past when she lives in the childhood home of her runaway mother, who has been in and out of her life since her birth. . And with every photo and text message, her friends at her house feel further away.
See Also: Spring Books for Preschoolers – Pre-K Pages
Then she meets Lincoln, a charismatic one-armed skateboarder who challenges her to trade in her surfboard for a skateboard. Ella Anise is not one to shy away from a challenge. because sometimes the only way to find balance is to let it go.
dairy queen
Published: June 4, 2007
When you don’t speak, there are a lot of things that don’t get said. brian nelson harsh words of all people. but D. J. I can’t help but admit it, maybe he’s right.
When you don’t speak, there are many things that are not said. things like why her best friend, amber, isn’t so friendly anymore. or why her little brother curtis never opens his mouth. why her mom has two jobs and a big secret. why her brothers, college football stars, don’t even call home. why her dad would freak out if she tried out for the high school football team herself. and why brian is so, so out of her league.
When you don’t speak, there are many things that end up not being said.welcome to summer that fifteen-year-old d. J. schwenk from red bend, wisconsin learns to speak and ends up having a lot to say.
we are the wildcats
Published: March 31, 2020
Tomorrow, the wild varsity field hockey team will play the first game of their new season. But at tonight’s team sleepover, the girls are dedicated to forging the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship necessary to win. it all hinges on the midnight initiation ceremony, a cherished tradition and the only facet of being a wild cat that the girls control. until now. The coach, a handsome former college player revered and feared in equal measure, changes the plan and takes his team on a new adventure. one where they take a rival team’s mascot for a walk, throw a pajama party, break into the high school to take the perfect photo. But as the girls step out of their comfort zone, so do some long-kept secrets. and how far they are willing to go for their team takes everyone, especially the coach, by surprise. A testament to the strength and resilience of modern teenage girls, We Are the Wildcats will have readers clapping.
he said, she said
Published: November 19, 2013
Sparks will fly in this YA hip-hop novel mixing social protest and ill-fated romance from Newbery Medal-winning author and Coretta Scott King, Kwame Alexander! he said she said perfect for fans of walter dean myers and rachel vail alike.
He Says: Omar “T-Diddy” Smalls has made it: a complete journey from football to Umiami, hero status in school, and any girl’s choice in West Charleston High School. she says: soccer, shmootball. This is what Claudia Clarke cares about: Harvard, the poor, the marginalized, the hungry, the staggering teen pregnancy rate, investigative journalism. . . the list goes on. she doesn’t have a minute to waste on mr. t-diddy smalls and her harem of bimbos.
he said she said is a fresh and funny novel by kwame alexander that brings these two high school seniors together when they unexpectedly end up leading the biggest social protest this side of mississippi, with a lot of help from facebook and twitter . . The stakes are high, romance is hot, and when these worlds collide, watch out!
cold day in the sun
Published: March 12, 2019
holland delviss wants to be known for her talent as a hockey player, not for being a hockey player who happens to be a girl. But when her school team is selected to be featured and televised as part of the hockey festival, her status as the only girl on the boys’ team makes her the main story. Not everyone is thrilled with Holland’s newfound fame, but there is one person who is fiercely supportive, and it’s the last person she expects (and definitely the last person she should fall in love with): her bossy team captain, wow.
out of left field
Published: May 1, 2018
marnie has never had a hard time fitting in with guys. It would take a lot more than her silly antics to keep her from joining them on the neighborhood lot to do what she loves best: play ball.
An added bonus to hanging out on the lot? Spending time with Cody Kinski, the star pitcher at his high school and Marnie’s best friend. sure, he can be stubborn and annoying. she also knows how to make her laugh and respects her abilities in the field. And when a bone-breaking pitch stabs him in the arm, Marnie becomes the team’s best shot at making the playoffs. except no one told the boys they were supposed to be on her side.
With her own team against her, Marnie begins to question her abilities. And when fate throws her a curveball, can she play it without losing the game, Cody, and her faith in herself?
michigan against the boys
Published: October 1, 2019
hockey meets the #metoo movement in this powerful debut novel.
michigan manning lives for hockey, and this is his year to shine. That is, until she gets some devastating news: budget cuts will keep the women’s hockey team off the ice this year.
if she wants colleges to notice her, michigan has to find a way to play. Luckily, there’s still a team left in town…
The boys team isn’t exactly welcoming, but Michigan is ready to prove itself. She plays some of the best hockey of her life, in fact, while putting up with changing in the broom closet, constant trash talk, and “harmless” jokes that always seem to be directed at her.
But once hazing crosses the line into assault, Michigan must weigh the consequences of speaking out, even if it means risking its future.
there they are: 21 of the best sports books! I hope you find one that floats your boat. If you’re looking for sports books for tweens, this list of 31 sports books for middle graders will excite you.
what are your favorite sports books? what other kind of ya like to read? I have shared books about music, many about food, and even some about mental illness. feel free to look around.
See Also: Maggie Stiefvater – Book Series In Order