10 Best Young Adult Books Set in the World of Sports
For the adrenaline junkies, the sideline cheerers, the gym-dodging bookworms, and everyone in between - don't we all love a good sports tale? Young Adult (YA) literature has a knack for capturing the heartfelt essence of teenage years, teeming with dreams, challenges, and, of course, competitive spirit. The realm of sports provides an electrifying backdrop, chock full of rivalry, resilience, team bonding, and triumphant victories against all odds. Here, we've rounded up ten stellar YA books that intricately weave compelling narratives around the exhilarating world of sports. Whether you're a die-hard sports lover, a sucker for underdog stories, or just browsing for a captivating read, these fantastic books will have you hooked from the starting whistle. Watch as our protagonists dribble through life, score against adversities, and perhaps, inspire you to pick a new sport. Dive into these pages, experience the rush of the field, the splash of the swimming pool, or the loud cheers under the Friday night lights. No need for cleats or jerseys, just get ready to immerse in some of the most riveting sports-centric YA novels ever penned. Game on, readers. Let's embark on this literary journey.
『Icebreaker』
A. L. Graziadei's Icebreaker is an irresistible YA debut about two hockey players fighting to be the best—and the romance that catches them by surprise along the way. Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, a brother to five sisters, and a hockey legacy. With a father and a grandfather who have gone down in NHL history, Mickey is almost guaranteed the league's top draft spot. The only person standing in his way is Jaysen Caulfield, a contender for the #1 spot and Mickey's infuriating (and infuriatingly attractive) teammate. When rivalry turns to something more, Mickey will have to decide what he really wants, and what he's willing to risk for it. This is a story about falling in love, finding your team (on and off the ice), and choosing your own path.
Author | A. L. Graziadei |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Godwin Books |
Release Date | Jan 18, 2022 |
Source | Google Books |
『Running with Lions』
When his estranged childhood best friend Emir Shah joins his team, star goalie Sebastian Hughes must reconnect with the one guy who hates him. But to Sebastian's surprise, sweaty days on the pitch, wandering the town, and bonding on the weekends sparks more than just friendship between them.
Author | Julian Winters |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Interlude Press |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Passing Playbook』
Love, Simon meets Bend It Like Beckham in this feel-good contemporary romance about a trans athlete who must decide between fighting for his right to play and staying stealth. “A sharply observant and vividly drawn debut. I loved every minute I spent in this story, and I’ve never rooted harder for a jock in my life.” – New York Times bestselling author Becky Albertalli Fifteen-year-old Spencer Harris is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother, and a David Beckham in training. He's also transgender. After transitioning at his old school leads to a year of isolation and bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at Oakley, the most liberal private school in Ohio. At Oakley, Spencer seems to have it all: more accepting classmates, a decent shot at a starting position on the boys' soccer team, great new friends, and maybe even something more than friendship with one of his teammates. The problem is, no one at Oakley knows Spencer is trans—he's passing. But when a discriminatory law forces Spencer's coach to bench him, Spencer has to make a choice: cheer his team on from the sidelines or publicly fight for his right to play, even though it would mean coming out to everyone—including the guy he's falling for.
Author | Isaac Fitzsimons |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | May 31, 2022 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Crossover』
New York Times bestseller ∙ Newbery Medal Winner ∙Coretta Scott King Honor Award ∙2015 YALSA 2015 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults∙ 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers ∙Publishers Weekly Best Book ∙ School Library Journal Best Book∙ Kirkus Best Book "A beautifully measured novel of life and line."--The New York Times Book Review "With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering, " announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
Author | Kwame Alexander |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
『Breath Like Water』
“Expansive, romantic, and powerful.” —Gayle Forman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and I Have Lost My Way Susannah Ramos has always loved the water. A swimmer whose early talent made her a world champion, Susannah was poised for greatness in a sport that demands so much of its young. But an inexplicable slowdown has put her dream in jeopardy, and Susannah is fighting to keep her career afloat when two important people enter her life: a new coach with a revolutionary training strategy, and a charming fellow swimmer named Harry Matthews. As Susannah begins her long and painful climb back to the top, her friendship with Harry blossoms into passionate and supportive love. But Harry is facing challenges of his own, and even as their bond draws them closer together, other forces work to tear them apart. As she struggles to balance her needs with those of the people who matter most to her, Susannah will learn the cost—and the beauty—of trying to achieve something extraordinary.
Author | Anna Jarzab |
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Price | $5.99 |
Publisher | Harlequin |
Release Date | May 19, 2020 |
Source | Google Books |
『Furia』
A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK Recipient of the 2021 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Medal One of BuzzFeed's Must-Read YA Books of 2020 A Best Book of the Year: Cosmopolitan * Kirkus Reviews * SheReads * New York Public Library “An engrossing #OwnVoices novel.” —PopSugar “This book will set your dreams on fire . . . It’s fabulous.” — Reese Witherspoon A powerful contemporary YA for fans of The Poet X and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams. In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life. At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father. On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university. But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her. Filled with authentic details and the textures of day-to-day life in Argentina, heart-soaring romance, and breathless action on the pitch, Furia is the story of a girl’s journey to make her life her own.
Author | Yamile Saied Méndez |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Algonquin Young Readers |
Release Date | Sep 15, 2020 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Running Dream』
When Jessica is told she’ll never run again, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before. The acclaimed author of Flipped delivers a powerful and healing story. Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She’s not comforted by the news that she’ll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run? As she struggles to cope, Jessica feels that she’s both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don’t know what to say act like she’s not there. Jessica’s embarrassed to realize that she’s done the same to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she’s missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her. With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that’s not enough for her now. She doesn’t just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her. “Inspirational. The pace of Van Draanen’s prose matches Jessica’s at her swiftest. Readers will zoom through the book just as Jessica blazes around the track. A lively and lovely story.” —Kirkus Reviews
Author | Wendelin Van Draanen |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Ember |
Release Date | Jan 10, 2012 |
Source | Google Books |
『Tumbling』
After sacrificing their childhoods, Grace, Leigh, Camille, Wilhelmina, and Monica are competing in the two days of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, after which their lives will change forever.
Author | Caela Carter |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2016 |
Source | Google Books |
『Here to Stay』
“A powerful YA novel about identity and prejudice.” —Entertainment Weekly Bijan Majidi is: Shy around girls Really into comics Decent at basketball Bijan Majidi is not: A terrorist What happens when a kid who’s flown under the radar for most of high school gets pulled off the bench to make the winning basket in a varsity playoff game? If his name is Bijan Majidi, life is suddenly high fives in the hallways and invitations to exclusive parties—along with an anonymous photo sent by a school cyberbully that makes Bijan look like a terrorist. The administration says they’ll find and punish the culprit. Bijan wants to pretend it never happened. He’s not ashamed of his Middle Eastern heritage; he just doesn’t want to be a poster child for Islamophobia. Lots of classmates rally around Bijan. Others make it clear they don’t want him or anybody who looks like him at their school. But it’s not always easy to tell your enemies from your friends. Here to Stay is a painfully honest, funny, authentic story about growing up, speaking out, and fighting prejudice.
Author | Sara Farizan |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Algonquin Books |
Release Date | Sep 18, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『Breathe, Annie, Breathe』
"Breathe, Annie, Breathe is an emotional, heartfelt, and beautiful story about finding yourself after loss and learning to love. It gave me so many feels. Her best book yet."—Jennifer L. Armentrout Annie is running from her past and from grief, but is she ready to move on? Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can't escape the guilt that if she hadn't broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race. But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she's at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms...and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.
Author | Miranda Kenneally |
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Price | $8.79 |
Publisher | Sourcebooks, Inc. |
Release Date | Jul 15, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
And there you have it folks, a well-rounded list of ten amazing young adult sports-themed novels sure to get your adrenaline rushing. They don't just tackle the drama of the court or field, but the triumphs, heartbreak, and life-changing experiences of the characters, too. Although they're based around sports, you definitely don't have to be an athlete to enjoy them. These books are packed with captivating storylines, emotional depth, and relatable characters that'll stick with you long after you finish the last page. Who knows? They could inspire you to pick up a new sport, reconnect with an old one, or simply develop a newfound appreciation for the wide world of athletics. Happy reading, sports fans and bookworms alike!
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