Fred Bowen Sports Story
4 primary works • 8 total works
Book 13
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.
Book 14
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.
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.
Book 22
Like many athletes, Trey is superstitious. How could he not be when he just made the Ravens travel team, thanks to his lucky charm—a piece of rare sea glass he found on his grandmother's beach?
This stroke of good fortune reinforces his superstitious behavior, and the rituals become more and more important to him. In spite of some teasing and even some sarcasm from his teammates, Trey persists―he never steps on the foul line, he obsessively taps the corners of home plate when he's at bat, he always chooses the same lucky bat. Why stop? After all, his tactics are working; he's doing quite well on the field and in the batter's box.
Then one day he can't find his lucky sea glass. He searches everywhere, but it's no use. Trey's performance begins to slip, and he's convinced that his future with the Ravens is doomed. Things don't start to improve for Trey until his uncle reminds him of his grandmother's favorite saying: "The harder you work, the luckier you get." Can Trey take those words to heart and find his swing again...even without his lucky charm?
This book explores the age-old conflict between luck and hard work. In the afterword, readers can learn more about famous players with their own lucky charms and superstitions.
This stroke of good fortune reinforces his superstitious behavior, and the rituals become more and more important to him. In spite of some teasing and even some sarcasm from his teammates, Trey persists―he never steps on the foul line, he obsessively taps the corners of home plate when he's at bat, he always chooses the same lucky bat. Why stop? After all, his tactics are working; he's doing quite well on the field and in the batter's box.
Then one day he can't find his lucky sea glass. He searches everywhere, but it's no use. Trey's performance begins to slip, and he's convinced that his future with the Ravens is doomed. Things don't start to improve for Trey until his uncle reminds him of his grandmother's favorite saying: "The harder you work, the luckier you get." Can Trey take those words to heart and find his swing again...even without his lucky charm?
This book explores the age-old conflict between luck and hard work. In the afterword, readers can learn more about famous players with their own lucky charms and superstitions.
Book 24
Fred Bowen is back with more soccer action—and a mystery—in his newest Sports Story, perfect for fans of Mike Lupica and Tim Green. While soccer-playing twins Aiden and Ava lead their teams to a championship season, they try to solve the mystery of their town's missing soccer trophy.
Thirteen-year-old twins Aiden and Ava and their good friend Daniel, all avid soccer players, have just learned their county league soccer trophy mysteriously disappeared forty years ago from the town library. It was never recovered. So between games and practices for the town's soccer championships, the three friends try to solve the case.
But will these amateur detectives be able to unravel the mystery and find someone who had both motive and opportunity to commit the crime? Will their teams make it all the way to the championships?
In this story, Bowen tackles important topics like equal recognition for women in sports. The afterword provides more information about the real-life disappearance of the original World Cup trophy.
Thirteen-year-old twins Aiden and Ava and their good friend Daniel, all avid soccer players, have just learned their county league soccer trophy mysteriously disappeared forty years ago from the town library. It was never recovered. So between games and practices for the town's soccer championships, the three friends try to solve the case.
But will these amateur detectives be able to unravel the mystery and find someone who had both motive and opportunity to commit the crime? Will their teams make it all the way to the championships?
In this story, Bowen tackles important topics like equal recognition for women in sports. The afterword provides more information about the real-life disappearance of the original World Cup trophy.
Tells the story of eighth-grade basketball player Richie Mallon, who is known as the shooter. Richie never plays any other roles on the court. Richie makes the team under a tough new coach, but he's not a starter. Then when his shooting skills go into a slump, he must find a way to become a more well-rounded player.
Eager to find his place at his elite new school, ninth-grader Tim Beeman is torn between running track and trying out for football. Where will he feel most comfortable and be able to put his fast running skills to best use?
When Tim sets a new school record for the fifty-yard dash during the first week of classes, he reveals his special talent: speed. Before long, the track and the football teams are both urging him to join their sport. Tim is torn. He feels he has a lot to offer the football team and is eager to join this popular group, but he can't shake a lingering fear of being injured. He would definitely be an asset to the track team, but he is drawn to the more prestigious football team. How can Tim put his talent to the best use and at the same time satisfy his own needs?
The afterword offers relatable athlete struggles about making choices and developing friendships as well as an important conversation about player safety.
When Tim sets a new school record for the fifty-yard dash during the first week of classes, he reveals his special talent: speed. Before long, the track and the football teams are both urging him to join their sport. Tim is torn. He feels he has a lot to offer the football team and is eager to join this popular group, but he can't shake a lingering fear of being injured. He would definitely be an asset to the track team, but he is drawn to the more prestigious football team. How can Tim put his talent to the best use and at the same time satisfy his own needs?
The afterword offers relatable athlete struggles about making choices and developing friendships as well as an important conversation about player safety.
A baseball book full of on the field action perfect for middle grade readers.
"Strike one is the best pitch in baseball." Mike loves pitching, and he loves knowing his team counts on him to deliver wins. But Mike's father starts to worry that Mike is getting too carried away with baseball and not spending time working at after school jobs and developing a sense of responsibility. Can Mike and his father reach a compromise in order to let Mike play the game he loves and help his team win the league championship?
Read “The Real Story” of Harvey Haddix, who pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves in 1959 and LOST. Baseball fans will love this extra dive into sports history.
"Strike one is the best pitch in baseball." Mike loves pitching, and he loves knowing his team counts on him to deliver wins. But Mike's father starts to worry that Mike is getting too carried away with baseball and not spending time working at after school jobs and developing a sense of responsibility. Can Mike and his father reach a compromise in order to let Mike play the game he loves and help his team win the league championship?
Read “The Real Story” of Harvey Haddix, who pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves in 1959 and LOST. Baseball fans will love this extra dive into sports history.