Sports stories

Miguel hasn't missed El Salvador since arriving in North America with his mother and sister. But with his father still in El Salvador and gangs shaking down the old neighbourhood, life isn't easy for Miguel. When his father's situation becomes critical, Miguel becomes desperate to bring him to North America. But he can't even afford to join his baseball team on a road game -- how can his family possibly pay his father's way? A solution comes from Miguel's teammate, who proposes a big baseball fundraiser. As the team learns about the hard realities some new immigrant kids face, Miguel and his family learn to trust their neighbors and teammates.

14-year-old Patrick and his mother leave their small town for the city. Out of boredom and frustration, he steals a pair of headphones. When he's caught, the police officer, Constable Jack, is willing to get the charges dropped if Patrick trains with him in parkour for twelve weeks. While Patrick trains extra hard he develops a crush on Parker and a rivalry with Jayden. When the tension with Jayden reaches new heights, Constable Jack decides they'll settle the score in a competition. But they aren't just fighting for best individual--there's also the prize for best club at stake. That means Patrick and Jayden will have to learn to work together.

12-year-old Cody loves basketball. When a new well-off kid Nick arrives at school and starts giving Cody pointers, Cody lands a spot on the team. Despite Nick's help, Cody still feels anxious all the time. Cody's performance gets worse until his one big shot at a basket goes into his own team's net! Cody soon realizes that Nick's help isn't what he needs to succeed. To play better, he knows he has to become more self-reliant and work on his basketball skills on his own terms. Set against the realistic backdrop of a struggling small town, Bad Shot touches on the emotional realities of performance anxiety, socioeconomic status, and bullying.

Jeff Lang arrives at summer basketball camp and finds himself surrounded by tough rivals who are determined to block Jeff's every move.

"Cody Powell's Winnipeg hockey team, the Transcona Sharks, keeps getting better and better, especially with the addition of Kyle Kelley, the Sharks' top player and Cody's new best friend. At home, however, he's still coming to terms with his parents' divorce. When Kyle starts abusing his star status on the ice and off, Cody has to balance concern for his friend with concern for his team"--Publisher.

Star hockey player Peter Kuiksak has started to adjust to his new life in Edmonton, but all of the attention he is receiving from fans and agents begins to go to his head.

"Sam's grandfather, Pops, always taught Sam that the most important aspects of rugby are sportsmanship and teamwork. Things are not great at home, but Sam's struggles really begin when his school is shut down and he transfers to Rosedale Heights. He has trouble fitting in with the snobby Rosedale team, especially Bittner, who resents Sam's presence. All seems lost when, set up by Bittner, Sam gets kicked off the team under suspicion of stealing. Can Sam prove his innocence and get back in play for the highly anticipated England game? And can he play the kind of rugby that will make Pops proud? Find out in this gripping high/low middle grade sports story"--From the publisher's web site.

Mikayla is thrilled when she is asked to try out for the position of school pentathlete, but her self-confidence begins to waver when she learns she will be competing against the school's best athlete.

Kallana, the local fashion queen, is dismayed when her father decides she should join the school basketball team.