Most Popular Books by Tommy Greenwald

A boy and his dad discover all they have in common on a fishing trip in Hooked, a sweet picture book about father-son bonding by Tommy Greenwald with illustrations by David McPhail. Joe loves fishing. He loves watching the water and looking at the sky, he loves the peacefulness, and he especially loves dreaming about catching the Big One. Joe’s dad does not love fishing. He doesn’t like the waiting, or the worms, or the fact that nothing much happens. But when Joe needs a parental chaperone for an ice-fishing field trip, his dad agrees to go along. And when the waiting turns into talking, exchanging jokes, and sharing hot chocolate, Joe''s dad discovers something unexpected. He doesn’t just like fishing with Joe—he loves it. You could even say he’s hooked.

A mysterious football accident sends a high school reeling in this award-winning multimedia-format novel from Tommy Greenwald Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma, fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery—and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this the inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or did something more sinister happen on the field that day? Told in an innovative multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, interview transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy’s inner thoughts, Game Changer explores the joyous thrills and terrifying risks of America’s most popular sport.

From award-winning author Tommy Greenwald comes a thrilling companion novel to Game Changer that explores the growing pressures in youth sports, and the lengths some parents will go to make sure their kid comes out on top Cal Klondike’s life revolves around baseball. He’s the Walthorne Baseball Academy’s star pitcher, and everyone from his coach to his dad to the town sports blogger is telling Cal he has an unlimited future in the sport. But with all this attention comes a lot of added stress, especially as the season kicks into high gear and college and pro scouts start to show up at the games. Inevitably, tensions that have been bubbling under the surface finally boil over, culminating in a confrontation that could change Cal’s relationship to baseball forever. Told through a combination of transcripts, articles, texts, and emails, The Right Call is a gripping, fast-paced story for middle grade readers about our split-second decisions, facing the consequences, and the courage it takes to forgive.

From Tommy Greenwald, the acclaimed author of Game Changer, and artist Lesley Vamos, Ultimate Goal is the first title in the hilarious, heavily illustrated chapter book series the Good Sports League. Ben Cutler loves everything about soccer! He’s got a great team, and they have the best pregame chants and half-time jokes. He and his best friend, Jay-Jay, even invent dances for when they score a goal! And Ben is good at soccer. Like REALLY good. Too good for a casual rec team. Soon, he’s recruited for a travel team. His new team plays amazingly well, but they take soccer super seriously. No pregame chants, no juice-box breaks, and the most important rule of all: NO DANCING. Even though his new team is winning all the time, Ben is left to wonder, Is winning all that matters in the end? Includes a sneak peek of the second Good Sports League book, Perfect Pitch

Charlie Joe Jackson''s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald is the hilarious story of an avid non-reader and the extreme lengths to which he''ll go to get out of reading a book. Charlie Joe Jackson may be the most reluctant reader ever born. And so far, he''s managed to get through life without ever reading an entire book from cover to cover. But now that he''s in middle school, avoiding reading isn''t as easy as it used to be. And when his friend Timmy McGibney decides that he''s tired of covering for him, Charlie Joe finds himself resorting to desperate measures to keep his perfect record intact.

Laura Corbett and Damian White are loners, and not by choice. Kids make fun of smart, sarcastic Laura for her weight and artistic Damian for his tendency to sweat through his shirts. Calista Getz, however—well, everyone agrees that Calista is the prettiest girl in the whole school. Maybe even the whole state. Let’s just say that she sits at the popular lunch table. Laura and Damian don’t. But when Calista wakes up just before the school dance with the BIGGEST pimple she has EVER seen right in the middle of her face, and her attempts to hide it backfire spectacularly, Laura and Damian are the only ones who don''t ignore her. In fact, they seem to see not only past her pimple, but past her popularity, too. Together, they''ll challenge the school''s status quo in this hilarious, heartfelt novel The Real Us, by Tommy Greenwald.

From the author of the award-winning Game Changer comes a gripping novel about two student-athletes searching for stardom, a young reporter searching for the truth, and a crosstown basketball rivalry that goes too far The people of Walthorne love their basketball—and one of the things they love most is the special rivalry between the Walthorne North Middle School Cougars and the Walthorne South Middle School Panthers. As the season begins, two star players are feeling the heat: Austin Chambers, captain of Walthorne North, worries that he’s not good enough to live up to his father’s legacy, while across town, the brilliantly talented Carter Haswell, captain of Walthorne South, is already under pressure to get a scholarship that might ease his family’s financial stress. While both boys do whatever they can to make sure their team wins, Alfie Jenks, a school sports reporter, discovers that behind-the-scenes scandals are just as much a part of youth sports as on-the-court action. When she blows the story wide open, the whole season is jeopardized. Told through a series of flashbacks, newspaper reports, social media posts, and interviews, Rivals will have readers tearing through the pages to see what happens next—and asking themselves if winning has become more important than doing the right thing.

"Charlie Joe Jackson''s best friend Katie Friedman is tough, but can she convince her fellow middle schoolers to give up their phones for a week?"--

Despite all attempts to avoid reading and extra work, Charlie Joe Jackson finds himself in a terrible dream he can''t wake up from: Camp Rituhbukkee (pronounced "read-a-bookie")—a place filled with grammar workshops, Read-a-Ramas, and kids who actually like reading. But Charlie Joe is determined to convince the entire camp to hate reading and writing—one genius at a time. Tommy Greenwald''s Charlie Joe Jackson''s Guide to Summer Vacation is another fun installment in the life of a reluctant reader.

Arnold Z. Ombee has escaped a secret government zombie project -- but now can he survive human elementary school? From the hilarious mind behind the Crimebiters series comes a new trilogy that fans of The Last Kids on Earth will love to pieces (literally). Arnold Z. Ombee has escaped a secret government lab that''s developing zombies. Young, scared, and alone, he is found by the Kinders, a warmhearted couple who take him in. The Kinders decide Arnold will become part of their family. They help him disguise his undead appearance and teach him how to act like a human boy. After a lot of practice, he''s ready for the ultimate test: Fifth grade!

Yes! Graduation day is finally here! Charlie Joe has been waiting for this moment his entire middle school career. This might even be the best day of his life. No more teachers! No more books! Just make it through the ceremony and he''s free. But suddenly things around him are starting to change. Words like "responsibility" and "college prep" keep popping out of his friend''s mouths. What happened to words like "fun" and "pool party"? And come to think of it, doesn''t high school bring more teachers and more books? Maybe this whole growing up thing isn''t such a good idea after all. Actually being a kid is pretty darn fun! Surely Charlie Joe can figure out a way to put the brakes on growing up-and fast! This hilarious final installment in the Charlie Joe Jackson series written by Tommy Greenwald and illustrated by J. P. Coovert is infused with nostalgia and just the right amount of chaos.

Charlie Joe signs up for the school play in an attempt to get straight A''s on his last quarter report card to avoid summer camp.

In the gripping companion to Tommy Greenwald’s award-winning novel Game Changer, a star football player watches his father deteriorate from injuries he suffered playing the very same sport—now in paperback Caleb Springer is the up-and-coming star freshman quarterback on the high school football team, which isn’t a surprise considering his dad, Sammy Springer, was an NFL superstar and is now the town celebrity. College scouts are already snooping around Caleb and his future seems set. But just as Caleb’s glory days begin, his dad starts to change. He’s forgetting things and getting angry at random times. Caleb is forced to confront a bleak possibility: The sport that gives him so much status and self-worth might be the cause of his dad’s strange behavior. Will Caleb keep playing the sport of his dreams, even if he knows how dangerous it can be?

There''s a crisis at Eastport Middle School! It appears that everyone has a boyfriend or girlfriend except . . . Charlie Joe Jackson??!? Yup-he''s the only single guy out of all his friends. How is this possible? Even Pete Milano snagged a girl! Well, Charlie Joe refuses to be left out. He quickly goes looking for help in the last place anyone would think to find him-the library. And what he finds is the gem of all gems, the guidebook of all guidebooks, the key to finally getting a girl! Now, everyone is suddenly coming to him for love advice. (Oh, how the tables have turned.) But Charlie Joe''s world is swiftly turned upside down when he realizes the girl he actually likes... might not actually be the girl he likes.

Overscheduled and Overwhelmed, Jack Strong Stages a Sit-In on His Couch! All Jack Strong wants is to be a regular kid, but his parents have packed his schedule with every extracurricular activity imaginable: tennis, baseball, cello, karate, tutoring, and Chinese language lessons—on top of his regular homework. They''re determined to make him "well-rounded" and prepared for those crucial college applications. But Jack''s had enough. In Jack Strong Takes a Stand, Jack stages a sit-in on his couch, refusing to budge until his parents let him quit some of the extracurriculars. As his protest gains momentum, a local television host takes interest in doing a segment about him. With tensions rising as counter-protesters camp out across the street, Jack''s enjoying the newfound attention—but worries his sit-in may have gone too far. This humorous middle grade book is perfect for reluctant readers and kids who love funny stories about school, friendship, and family. Part of a hilarious series, Jack Strong Takes a Stand will have tweens and teens laughing out loud while relating to the challenges of growing up in today''s overscheduled world.

Charlie Joe''s latest money-making scheme goes hilariously awry in this side-splitting installment of the beloved middle grade series. Charlie Joe''s weekly allowance just isn''t cutting it, and he desperately needs money to buy a Botman, the latest gadget sweeping his middle school. The only catch? He wants to earn the cash by doing the least amount of work possible. After several failed attempts, including a near-disastrous day of dog-walking, Charlie Joe hatches a plan to throw his own bar mitzvah (no gifts please—checks only) even though he''s not Jewish. Charlie Joe Jackson''s Guide to Making Money follows the hilarious misadventures that ensue when throwing a fake coming-of-age party turns out to be much harder than it looks. Perfect for reluctant readers and fans of humorous books about school, this funny book delivers plenty of laughs and relatable moments for middle grade readers.

Pete Milano, class clown, is used to getting into trouble while amusing people, but now his tricks have gained him an audition for a movie that could lead to stardom--and the loss of his girlfriend and other friends.

Arnold Z. Ombee is back in this wacky, page-turning sequel to A Zombie Ate My Homework! The zombie secret is out!Sort of... Scientists at the lab that Arnold escaped from claim they''ve changed their tune. Instead of creating super zombie soldiers, they just want humans and zombies to be friends.Too good to be true? Probably. But Arnold agrees to help teach other zombies everything he''s learned so far about being a real human boy.But there''s something that seems strange about these new "zombies" (well, stranger than usual). Arnold knows it''s up to him to unearth the secret before it eats him up inside. And outside. And everywhere else.

From the author of Charlie Joe Jackson''s Guide to Not Reading comes the third book in the humorous & illustrated new series about a boy whose new dog may or may not be a crime-fighting vampire. Just what every crimebiting gang needs... a cat?!?!No one fights crime harder than the Crimebiters gang... and of course my crime-fighting dog, Abby. Together, we''ve fought against corruption in the world of elementary school sports and even stopped a neighborhood crime ring! But now a copy of the final math test has been stolen, AND our local animal shelter (where I found Abby!) is in danger of closing. As if that weren''t enough, Daisy has introduced her new kitten, Purrkins, into the Crimebiters family -- and everyone knows that cats and dogs fight like... well, cats and dogs! Can four determined kids and two squabbling pets come together to save the day again? I''d say we have a furry good chance.

Put on your cleats, grab your jersey, and join the Good Sports League! This funny chapter book series about sports and sportsmanship is from acclaimed author Tommy Greenwald. Annabella Donatello likes to do everything. She likes to draw, fly kites, play soccer, cook, and eat what she cooks. She even likes to do math! But there are two things she loves most of all: softball and performing. So she’s thrilled when she gets cast in the school play, on top of being the star pitcher of her softball team. Unfortunately, her softball coach is less thrilled about Annabella’s busy schedule. And with the championships coming up, the pressure is on to make softball her number-one priority, even when an important practice conflicts with opening night of the show. To be in two places at once, Annabella hatches a plan that will put all of her softball and acting skills to the test. Comic panels and spot illustrations bring the sports action to life in a format perfect for reluctant readers.