New Releases by Matt Christopher

When Rusty Young is diagnosed with diabetes, his parents want him to stop playing basketball, but Rusty doesn''t want to. When Rusty learns that his friends have formed a summer league team, he is determined to persuade his parents to let him join them.

With remarks about his small stature and poor swimming skills ringing in his ears, the son of Hungarian immigrants begins to train for the 21-mile swim across a nearby lake.

TOUCHDOWN FOR TOMMY Is football Tommy''s key to a new home? Football isn''t just Tommy''s favorite sport-he also thinks that it''s the key to a good home. The recently orphaned Tommy is delighted to discover that his foster father, Mr. Powell, coaches Midget League football. By playing well, Tommy hopes that he will make Mr. Powell want to adopt him, and then he will have a real family again. But will things work out the way he plans!

Malik Edwards has never had any intention of playing golf. In his mind, golf is a game played by old, flabby men wearing funny pants and hats. Then one day while channel surfing he sees a young black golfer being cheered on by a crowd of adoring fans. Suddenly golf''s image changes for Malik. Yet, even if he wanted to play, where would he get the gear or the money? And where is a kid living in Brooklyn, New York, supposed to play golf? Malik''s growing desire to learn the sport of golf help him overcome these obstacles, but the biggest obstacle-the ridicule of his friends-still sits in his path.

A collection of sport related stories by Matt Christopher.

When he learns why his best friend taught him an unbeatable pitch instead of using it himself, Bernie learns a sad lesson about friendship.

Matt Christopher delves into the life of Jeff Gordon, the racing sensation, and recreates his memorable moments with exciting turn-by-turn action. This fast-paced biography includes photos, Gordon''s stats, and a list of his NASCAR career highlights.

Freddie Chase is a good football player with one major flaw: He''s afraid to tackle. He tries hard to cover up his fear, but soon Coach Sears and the other Sandpipers know all about it. The team is fighting to finish the season at the top of the league, but how can they hope to succeed when one of their players lets the opposition run right by him? Coach Sears has no choice but to take Freddie out of the lineup. Now it''s up to Freddie to earn his way back onto the starting team. But can he overcome his fear?

Football bloopers, puzzlers, fun facts, and wacky stories -- Matt Christopher, the number-one sports writer for kids, scores a touchdown with this zany collection for fans of pigskin-tossing, gridiron-hitting action! Packed with laugh-out-loud illustrations, this book will make even the toughest linebacker smile.

When the new boy from Tokyo takes over Stogie Crane''s position as shortstop, the two boys encounter the first of several barriers to their friendship.

Buzz cut or ponytail? Grunge look? Tattoo, body paint, or earring? How about none of the above? When Zach takes up skateboarding, he doesn''t realize that he''s expected to look a certain way -- and cop a certain attitude, too. At least that what it seems like. But Zach just isn''t comfortable with any of these things; he wants to skateboard for the fun of it, and maybe take part in a few competitions. Will he be ostracized because he looks and acts so "normal"? Or will his decision to stay true to himself mark him as a renegade, the very attitude his skateboarding buddies will appreciate?

The history of basketball is chock-full of famous buzzer-beating shots, amazing game-saving plays, and thrilling maneuvers that defy gravity. All fans have their favorite memory, just as they have their favorite team and their favorite player. Now here''s a book that offers a look back at more than fifteen of the sport''s best moments. The Block, The Steal, The Shot. Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Bird, Jordan, and James. Each entry captures the nail-biting tension of the minutes leading up to the play, as well as information about the superstar players that made them and the teams that they played for. Packed with facts and action, this is a book young basketball fans will reach for again and again -- and because it comes from Matt Christopher, young readers know they''re getting the best sports writing on the shelf.

Cole Richards has been training in karate for four years. He''s on the brink of advancing to his next belt level, but as he prepares for his test, new challenges come his way. First, his dojo announces a "create-your-own kata" contest to take place the same day as his belt test. Now he''s torn between practicing for the test and making up a series of moves that will knock his sensei''s socks off. But before he even begins with either challenge, he lands in trouble with a group of local teens -- and then with his best friends, too! How will Cole handle the mounting pressure? With themes of jealousy, competition, and bullying, Matt Christopher brings together important life lessons and the thrill of karate.

While trying to ask Uncle Pete to coach the Peach Street Mudders, Zero discovers that he can throw a slider when there''s a big bandage on his injured thumb.

A third baseman is sick with anxiety about whether or not to help his team by using his knack for knowing where the batter is going to hit the ball.

Get on the court with basketball superstar LeBron James in this in-depth, updated biography! LeBron James was a sensation in his early days playing ball in Akron, Ohio, and he continued to amaze as a high school phenomenon. Now an international icon and the heart of his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, he is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players ever to step onto the court. Discover LeBron James''s incredible story in this in-depth biography of one of basketball''s brightest stars. The book takes readers on the court through suspenseful accounts of pivotal games, paints a picture of LeBron''s on- and off-court triumphs and challenges, and includes bonus stats, career highlights, and photographs.

Rocky Fletcher is being stretched to his limit. Until recently, he''d only played wide receiver for the Pythons. Now his coaches want him to learn the safety position, too-a position that opened up when Bobby, Rocky''s best friend, broke his leg. Even though he believes he is to blame for Bobby''s injury, Rocky eagerly takes on the challenge of becoming a two-way player. After all, the only other player available is Jared, a sullen boy who switched from soccer to football this season. Yet as time goes on, it''s Jared who excels at the position because, thanks to Bobby, Rocky keeps missing practices! What''s going on between Rocky and Bobby-and why is Jared on the team when he clearly dislikes football so much? Football Double Threat combines the action and excitement of football with relatable issues about envy, loyalty, and friendship.

Keith Stedman dropped the game-winning, undefeated-record-making pass that would have made him a hero instead of a loser. Still haunted by his gaffe, he''s considering quitting football for good. His friends and family convince him to stick with it, but his troubles are far from over. Another player seems determined to do everything he can to keep the bad memory alive in the minds of his teammates-including Keith. Can Keith overcome his own obsession with the past and succeed in the present?

A shy, unhappy sixteen-year-old with a talent for working with motorcycles runs away from his foster home and gets involved with a variety of people, both bad and good.

Mel Jensen, an African-American boy, is talented enough to be on the basketball team''s starting lineup, but two of the white players want to keep him in the background.

Sylvester Coddmyer III is having a dismal baseball season until he takes advice from a mysterious ex-ballplayer named Cheeko and starts to play more aggressively.

Savannah is excited about throwing a holiday ice skating party and has already invited friends from her new school, when she learns that Jonas has invited the crowd from her old school to a party the same day.

When Brett''s skateboarding abilities dramatically and inexplicably improve after using The Lizard, a skateboard mysteriously unearthed in his front yard, his friends start to wonder if the skateboard is haunted.

Daren''s tendency to blame everyone but himself when anything goes wrong causes problems with his best friend, with a young neighbor who idolizes him, and with one of his basketball teammates.

When his older brother gets his picture in the paper for scoring three goals in a soccer game, Stookie tries to emulate his feat.

Marty loses his lucky baseball bat, and his confidence along with it, and wonders if he will recover both in time to help the Tigers win the championship.