Are you watching the Superbowl this weekend? Do you have young football fans at home? What about baseball? soccer? basketball? track?

Sports books are a distinct sub-genre, a definite “hook” for many reluctant readers. A good sports book offers more than just a sports story, though: it often offers insight on character issues, relationship conflicts, teamwork, perseverance, and more.

Sports Books That Pack a Punch

Though the books below are all sports books, even non-sports lovers will find them engaging and thought-provoking. Unless otherwise noted, books are for middle grades (~ages 10-12). Titles linked to reviews for more information.

• Soar by Joan Bauer (Baseball)
• Plunked by Michael Northrop (Baseball)
• The Only Game by Mike Lupica (Baseball)
• Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu by Jason Reynolds (Track) (4 different books)
• Tangerine by Ed Bloor (Soccer)
• Booked by Kwame Alexander (Soccer)
• Crossover and Rebound by Kwame Alexander (Basketball)
• The Great Wall of Lucy Lu  by Wendy Wan-Long Shang (Basketball)
• Play Makers by Mike Lupica (Basketball)
• Athlete v. Mathlete by W. C. Mach (Basketball)
• Kid Owner by Tim Green (Football)
• Unstoppable by Tim Green (Football)
• Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica (Football)
• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (Roller derby)
• Undefeated by Steve Sheinkin (Football; nonfiction) (MG/YA)
• Foul Trouble by John Feinstein (Basketball) (YA)
• Change-Up by John Feinstein (Baseball) (YA)
• The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers (Chess; nonfiction) (YA)
• Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong (Track; nonfiction) (YA)