All-Star Sports Stories

21 primary works

Double Reverse

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 January 2014

Although he knows all the plays, freshman wide receiver Jesse is reluctant to try out for quarterback until his brother, a college player, is asked to switch from quarterback to safety and the two make a deal that will force them, and Savannah, the new kicker on Jesse's team, to conquer their own and others' expectations.

Dugout Rivals

by Fred Bowen

Published 2 February 2010

Twelve-year-old Jake, who was one of his mediocre baseball team's best players the previous season, unexpectedly finds himself overshadowed when a new player shows up and the team starts winning.

The Final Cut

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 April 1999

After tryouts for the school basketball team, eighth graders Zeke, Eli, Ryan, and Miles find their friendship tested when two of them make the team and two of them do not.

Full Court Fever

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 March 1998

With help from a new student and inspiration from an old magazine article, the players on Michael's seventh-grade basketball team hope to overcome their shortness and win their game against the eighth graders.

Go for the Goal!

by Fred Bowen

Published 7 August 2012

Josh is so excited when he earns a spot on the United, an elite travel soccer team with exceptionally talented players. So why can't they win a game?

Despite grueling practices and talent, Josh's teammates are prone to hogging the ball and seem to only play for themselves. He begins to wonder if made a mistake leaving his old team.

But just when he's about to give up, Josh learns that the 1999 United States Women's World Cup team faced similar difficulties the year they won it all. Can Josh convince his coach (and his team) to use team-building exercises like the U.S. women's team used to make them stronger?

Fred Bowen returns with another edge-of-your-seat Sports Story Series title emphasizing the important values of teamwork and relationships. An afterword offers more information about the 1999 United States Women's World Cup team.

Golden Glove

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 September 1996

When a twelve-year-old shortstop loses the glove that "magically" helped him make fantastic catches, he wonders whether it was the sole secret of his success.

Hardcourt Comeback

by Fred Bowen

Published 2 February 2010

Brett Carter, the Wildcats' star forward, is a hotshot on his basketball team—or at least he was.

After missing an easy layup shot at the buzzer in one of the most important games of the season, he feels like a total loser. And things only get worse from there... At his best friend's birthday party at a rock-climbing center, Brett freezes on the wall. Then he blows an easy question in the American history bee at school. And when he gets back on the court, he can't get rid of this terrible pounding in his chest. Brett is losing his confidence fast. With the championship game is coming up, can he overcome his fears and play like a "winner" again?

In the afterword, author Fred Bowen shares real stories of well-known players and their hard-fought comebacks.

The Kid Coach

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 March 1997

When they lose their coach, Scott and his teammates decide that he should try his hand at coaching, but it takes teamwork and the efforts of a player they call "Brain" to produce a winning season.

Off the Rim

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 September 1998

Chris is tired of being a benchwarmer.

He loves basketball and wants nothing more than to play on the court with his team. So, hoping to get more playing time, he asks his friend Greta, the high-scoring star of the girls' team, for help with his shooting skills.

But surprisingly, it's Greta's mom—a former basketball player who never even scored a basket—who helps change Chris's strategy. Can he finally become a success on the court?

This action-packed story shows how determination, strategy, and innovation can change the way you play. Check out the afterword for more stories of real-life basketball players.

On the Line

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 October 1999

Worried that his inability to make free throws is making his junior high basketball team lose games, Marcus learns an unconventional underhand shooting method from a friendly custodian but is not sure he wants to use it. Includes a history chapter discussing great basketball players who have used the underhand toss.

Out of Bounds

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 August 2015

Winners Take All

by Fred Bowen

Published 7 September 2000

When Kyle fakes a catch, his baseball team goes on to win the league championship but Kyle doesn't feel good about winning by cheating. Includes a section on the sportsmanship of Christy Mathewson, a pitcher who played professional baseball in the early 1900s.

Perfect Game

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 January 2013

Playoff Dreams

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 September 1997

Brendan, the best player on a losing baseball team, learns a lesson from a Chicago Cubs all-star about the true value of the game.

Quarterback Season

by Fred Bowen

Published 2 August 2011

As a school assignment, eighth-grader Matt Monroe keeps a journal about his team's football season.

Real Hoops

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 February 2011

When Ben and Logan go to a recreation center to practice basketball with more experienced players in hopes of getting on the freshman team, they meet Hud, who could be the perfect point guard if he is willing to listen to the coach.

Soccer Team Upset

by Fred Bowen

Published 4 August 2009

Tyler's hope that his soccer team will be undefeated is dashed when his friend Zack, the team's star midfielder, and two more of the Cougars' best players accept an offer to play for an elite travel team.

T. J.'s Secret Pitch

by Fred Bowen

Published 1 January 2013

Throwing Heat

by Fred Bowen

Published 6 July 2010

Eighth-grader Jack Lerner relies on pitching fast balls until a young college coach teaches him that throwing the heat may not be the best way to win games.

Touchdown Trouble

by Fred Bowen

Published 4 August 2009

Sam is proud that his touchdown in the final play of a game left his football team undefeated, but when a videorecording of the game reveals that the touchdown was scored illegally, he and the other Cowboys must decide whether to reveal the truth. Includes facts about a similar situation faced by Cornell University's team after a game with Dartmouth in 1940.