Chris wants to be a star scorer like his brother—so why does his coach keep him waiting on the bench? Chris comes from a sports-loving family. His brother is the star scorer on the high school team, and is being recruited by Division 3 colleges. Chris longs to earn the same adulation, and he’s a good scorer for his junior high team. But why won’t his coach start him? He’s better on defense than his rival, Carlos, and nearly as good a shooter. Soon Chris becomes obsessed with earning a place in his team’s starting lineup. He does everything he can think of—including being an invaluable player every time he comes in. But nothing seems to get Coach’s attention. Even after he learns the history of the valuable “6th man,” Chris can’t seem to let it go. How will he ever be a big scoring star? For every kid who hates to read but loves basketball, comes a suspenseful novel with plenty of play-by-play sports action.

Trey is overjoyed when his lucky charm helps him make the travel team, but will his luck hold out? When Trey's treasured lucky charm?a piece of blue sea glass he found near his grandmother's beach house?"helps" him make it onto the Ravens travel team with his friend Cole, he is overjoyed. This stroke of good fortune reinforces his superstitious behavior, and the rituals become more and more important to him. In spite of some teasing and even some sarcasm from his teammates, Trey persists?he never steps on the foul line, he obsessively taps the corners of home plate when he's at bat, he always chooses the same lucky bat?and the list just keeps getting longer. Why stop? After all, his tactics are working; he's doing quite well on the field and in the batter's box. Then one day he can't find his lucky sea glass. He and Cole search everywhere?but it's no use. Trey's performance begins to slip, and he is convinced that his future with the Ravens is doomed. It is no comfort to him to learn that many pro baseball players also depended on lucky charms or rituals. Things don't start to improve for Trey until his uncle reminds him of his grandmother's favorite saying: "The harder you work, the luckier you get."

Eighth-grader Richie Mallon has always known he was a shooter, but will his amazing shooting talent be enough to keep him on the team? Outside Shot tells the story of eighth-grade basketball player Richie Mallon, who is known as ?the shooter,? the one on the team who scores most of the baskets. He has practiced every day at his driveway hoop, perfecting his technique. Richie never plays any other roles on the court; he lets his teammates do the assisting and rebounding. Richie makes the team under a tough new coach, but he?s not a starter. Then when his shooting skills go into a slump, he must find a way to become a more well-rounded player. Author Fred Bowen continues his Sports Story Series with full court, play-by-play action that?s sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats!

Tyler?s hopes for an unbeatable season for the Cougars disappear when his friend Zack, the team?s hot-shot midfielder, and two more of their best players accept an offer to play for an elite travel team. Tyler has to admit he?s pleased when Coach Murray puts him in Zack?s midfielder position. But playing the middle is tough and Tyler?s spirits really sink when the Cougars lose their season opener in a close game?and the next game, too. Then an elderly English soccer fan tells Tyler about America?s 1-0 surprise upset of England?the world?s number one team?in the 1950 World Cup. Tyler learns that any game can be won or lost by a single play. But will one play really be enough to beat the top-ranked Mustangs? Author Fred Bowen continues his Sport Story Series with play-by-play action that?s sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats! An afterword provides the real story of the 1950 World Cup match between the United States and England.

Fred Bowen is back with more soccer action - and a mystery - in his newest Sports Story Series book, perfect for fans of Mike Lupica and Tim Green. While soccer-playing twins Aiden and Ava lead their teams to a championship season, they try to solve the mystery of their town's infamous missing soccer trophy. Thirteen-year-old twins Aiden and Ava and their good friend Daniel, all avid soccer players, have just learned their county league soccer trophy mysteriously disappeared forty years ago from the town library. It was never recovered. So between games and practices for the town's soccer championships, the three friends try to solve the case. But will these amateur detectives be able to unravel the mystery and find someone who had both motive and opportunity to commit the crime? Will their teams make it all the way to the championships? Award-winning author and Washington Post KidsPost sports columnist Fred Bowen returns with another installment in his Sports Story Series, this time tackling important topics like women in sports and equal recognition for their skill and accomplishments. At the end of the book, Bowen includes the real story behind the disappearance of the original World Cup trophy.

Sam loves football. Most of all he loves the feeling he gets when his team, the Cowboys, are working together?moving closer and closer to the end zone. After an important game, Sam?s pride in his football team begins to fade. The Cowboys beat the Giants in the final play with a touchdown by Sam. But later, Sam and his teammates realize that the winning touchdown was scored illegally. Now the team is divided about what to do. It is only when Sam?s father tells the Cowboys about a famous football game?and similar dilemma?that that Sam knows what to do. But will his teammates agree? Author Fred Bowen continues his Sports Story series with play-by-play action that?s sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats! An afterword tells the real story of the 1940 Cornell-Dartmouth football game, the only college sporting event ever to be decided after the completion of the game.