Matt Christopher sports fiction
Author
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: LG - BL: 3 - AR Pts: 1
Lexile measure
420L
Language
English
Description
Jimmie, captain of the Planets, makes himself pitcher, although the team wants Paul to pitch. Jimmie pitches poorly and Paul joins another team. Even Jimmie's kid brother doesn't like his brother's behavior. With the first game approaching, Jimmie must do something for the team and for himself.
2) Little Lefty
Author
Pub. Date
[1993]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 3.5 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
530L
Language
English
Description
Bill is the smallest member of the team but he can throw harder than anyone else. Determined to play, he is about to get his big break when he is sidelined by a freak accident. Will Bill ever get a chance to prove himself on the mound?
11) Johnny Long Legs
Author
Pub. Date
[1970]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
620L
Language
English
Description
Even though he is the tallest member of the basketball team, a young boy finds he is far from being the best player.
13) Face-off
Author
Pub. Date
1972.
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
720L
Language
English
Description
Although he loves the game, a young hockey player discovers he is handicapped while playing by his fear of the puck.
16)
Soccer hero
Author
20) Soccer halfback
Author
Series
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.6 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
730L
Language
English
Formats
Description
A young boy is pressured by his family to abandon his promising soccer career for football.
21) Dirt bike racer
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
630L
Language
English
Formats
Description
"Twelve-year old Ron Baker finds a mini bike while scuba diving and, with the help of a former motorcycle rider and racer, restores the bike and enters competitions"--Provided by publisher.
22) Tight end
Author
Pub. Date
[1981]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
690L
Language
English
Description
A high school football player believes the harassment he is experiencing on and off the field is due to his father's prison record.
23) Drag-strip racer
Author
Pub. Date
[1982]
Language
English
Description
When he inherits a racing car, sixteen-year-old Ken determines to become a drag racer.
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 3.7 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
540L
Language
English
Description
Jody is a catcher who is afraid to throw the ball hard, and after getting beaned by the ball one day when he is at bat, he is also afraid of a pitched ball, and must struggle to overcome his fears and humiliation.
Author
Pub. Date
[1985]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.5 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
760L
Language
English
Description
Penny Farrell, captain and third baseman of the Hawks softball team, tries to uncover the reason for the strange behavior of two teammates who have also suddenly turned into super athletes.
Author
Series
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 3.9 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
650L
Language
English
Description
Sylvester Coddmyer III, a poor but enthusiastic baseball player, becomes a phenomenal hitter after he meets a mysterious stranger resembling Babe Ruth who offers to help him improve his batting skills.
30) Ice magic
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.8 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
770L
Language
English
Formats
Description
The twins' toy hockey game seems to be magic as it plays games identical to the real ones before they even happen.
31) Red-hot hightops
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.2 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
730L
Language
English
Description
Normally fearful to play basketball in front of a crowd, Kelly becomes a confident and aggressive player when she dons a mysterious pair of red sneakers that she finds.
32) Tough to tackle
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: LG - BL: 4.2 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
680L
Language
English
Description
"No one trusts a quitter... More than anything Boots Raymond wants to be a quarterback for the Apollos. But because of his size, the coach assigns him to a tackle position-and there's no arguing with the coach. Boots rebels and almost quits the team. It seems that nothing can change his mind, but his brother Tom intercepts and teaches Boots something valuable he learned from playing football and being a soldier."--Amazon.
33) Run, Billy, run
Author
Pub. Date
[1988]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.6 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
790L
Language
English
Description
When 14-year-old Billy joins the track team, he improves his running and other areas of his life too.
34)
Shortstop from Tokyo
Author
Author
Pub. Date
[1989]
Accelerated Reader
IL: UG - BL: 4.1 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
670L
Language
English
Description
Unjustly dismissed from the football team for drug possession, Scott learns that the only way to clear himself with his parents is to find out who planted the marijuana in his duffel bag.
37) Takedown
Author
Pub. Date
[1990]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 3
Language
English
Description
As he is helped by an assistant referee to prepare for a wrestling match with the neighborhood bully, Sean begins to wonder if his mentor could be his long-lost father.
39) Skateboard tough
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.5 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
720L
Language
English
Formats
Description
"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"--Provided by publisher.
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 3.5 - AR Pts: 2
Language
English
Description
Bobby wants to help his older brother, Kirby, be the first baseman for the AllStar team, but another player seems to be a better choice. Then Bobby sees his chance to give Kirby the advantage, but will his conscience let him?
44) Pressure play
Author
Pub. Date
[1993]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
640L
Language
English
Description
Travis, less obsessed with baseball than his fellow team members, tries to balance his playing with his hobby of horror videos and starts receiving anonymous threats warning him to spend more time on baseball.
45) Top wing
Author
Pub. Date
[1994]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
630L
Language
English
Description
Dana Bellamy searches for the truth behind the fire for which his father is being blamed.
47) Baseball flyhawk
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 3.6 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
510L
Language
English
Formats
Description
Chico Romez is new to the Royals baseball team, but all the players welcome him and his ability in the outfield. All but one, that its. String Becker seems to have it in for Chico. What will it take for Chico to prove himself to String?
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 5 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
750L
Language
English
Formats
Description
Twelve-year-old Danny thinks that there is something very familiar about the girl who plays shortstop on the team he faces during the championship series, and his curiosity leads him to a surprising discovery about his own adoption.
49) Fighting tackle
Author
Pub. Date
[1995]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.7 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
730L
Language
English
Description
When he becomes stronger but slower, Terry must deal with being moved from defensive safety to offensive tackle on his football team and with the fact that his younger brother, who was born with Down's Syndrome, is becoming a faster runner.
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: LG - BL: 3.9 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
580L
Language
English
Description
What worried Freddie was that he knew he was afraid of tackling... The Sandpipers were fighting hard to finish the season near the top of the league. Freddie's cousin Mert, who played for the Cardinals, the first-place team, never let Freddie forget that he would have to do a lot of tackling if the Sandpipers were to keep Mert's team from rolling up a big score.
53) Olympic dream
Author
Pub. Date
[1996]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 5
Lexile measure
710L
Language
English
Description
When overweight, fourteen-year-old video whiz Doug Cannon is introduced to the sport of cycling, he begins a transformation that leads him to health and self-respect.
55) Penalty shot
Author
Pub. Date
[1997]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 5.2 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
690L
Language
English
Description
Jeff, already worried about losing his place on the hockey team because of low grades, suddenly finds himself the victim of sabotage in the form of forged papers.
62) Soccer scoop
Author
Pub. Date
[1998]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 5.2 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
710L
Language
English
Description
When a cartoon appears in the school newspaper making fun of his tendancy to talk a lot, Mac, the goalie for the Cougars soccer team, is determined to find out who is responsible.
63) Spike it!
Author
Pub. Date
[1998]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.5 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
700L
Language
English
Description
Unhappy at having to share space and family with her new stepsister Michaela when her father remarries, thirteen-year-old Jamie is further dismayed when Michaela joins her volleyball team and becomes a star player.
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.7 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
690L
Language
English
Description
"Twelve-year old Cap Wadell wants to play on a "real" football team, but his middle school in a small Texas town does not have enough players- until his grandfather revives interest in the game of six-man football"--Provided by publisher.
67) Soccer duel
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.5 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
690L
Language
English
Description
Team rivalry threatens to spoil a budding friendship between a showy soccer player, Bryce, and soft-spoken but talented Renny.
68) Tennis ace
Author
Pub. Date
[2000]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.7 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
680L
Language
English
Description
Steve and Ginny are frustrated because their father ignores her talent as a tennis player while pushing him harder and harder to win at the sport.
69) Wheel wizards
Author
Pub. Date
2000.
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
610L
Language
English
Description
Angry and unhappy because he is now in a wheelchair and apparently no longer able to play basketball, twelve-year-old Seth is amazed to discover wheelchair basketball and finds that his life is not over after all.
70) Cool as ice
Author
Pub. Date
[2001]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.4 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
620L
Language
English
Description
Two friends try to prove that size and race do not matter when playing hockey or any other sport.
71) Inline skater
Author
Pub. Date
[2001]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.7 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
710L
Language
English
Description
Cris must choose between "aggro" skating and roller hockey, which also means choosing between his old friends and some new ones.
72) Windmill windup
Author
Pub. Date
2001.
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.5 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
660L
Language
English
Description
Thirteen-year-old Kelly, softball star, has to face new challenges in her life, including assignment to a different softball team and her mother's new boyfriend.
73) Dive right in
Author
Pub. Date
[2002]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.7 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
700L
Language
English
Description
Forced to quit gymnastics to avoid serious injury, twelve-year-old Traci tries to fill the void in her life by taking up diving.
75) Run for it
Author
Pub. Date
2002.
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4 - AR Pts: 3
Language
English
Description
Thirteen-year-old Theo, overweight and out of shape, finds that with his friend's support he just might be able to run in the race to raise money to help cancer patients like his aunt.
76) Body check
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
730L
Language
English
Formats
Description
Twelve-year-old Brent Mullen discovers that the new assistant hockey coach is teaching the defensemen on his team illegal moves to help them win at any cost.
77) Fairway phenom
Author
Pub. Date
[2003]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
660L
Language
English
Description
Malik Edwards, a young African American living in Brooklyn, decides to learn how to play golf in spite of many obstacles in his path, especially the ridicule of his friends.
78) Nothin' but net
Author
Pub. Date
[2003]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
770L
Language
English
Description
When thirteen-year-old Tim Daniels gets a chance to go to basketball camp, he is faced with trying to be accepted by the popular players and remaining true to his friend who has become the butt of practical jokes.
79) Slam dunk
Author
Pub. Date
[2004]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.4 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
720L
Language
English
Description
When a new school year starts, and thirteen-year-old basketball star Julian feels a lot of pressure as he realizes he is the only remaining player from last year's winning team, a friend's health crisis helps him regain perspective.
80) Snowboard champ
Author
Pub. Date
2004.
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.4 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure
690L
Language
English
Description
When Matt Harper steps off the plane, he knows his life is about to change. For one thing, he'll be living with his uncle for a year. For another, compared to Chicago, Dragon Valley is tiny. But so long as Matt can hit the slopes with his snowboard, he figures he'll get along okay.
81) Stealing home
Author
Pub. Date
[2004]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.1 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
730L
Language
English
Description
Joey is sure he will not get along with the exchange student from Nicaragua who is staying with his family for a year, but they find common ground on the baseball field.
Author
Series
Pub. Date
2006.
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.2 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
650L
Language
English
Description
After badly spraining his ankle just before the summer baseball season begins, Sylvester Coddmyer III meets a mysterious ex-ballplayer named Charlie Comet who helps him compensate for the injury by learning to switch-hit.
85) Karate kick
Author
Pub. Date
[2009]
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.6 - AR Pts: 3
Language
English
Description
While training for his green belt in karate, Cole Richards also learns some important lessons about jealousy, competition, respect, and motivation.
87) Hook shot hero
Author
Pub. Date
2011.
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.8 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure
750L
Language
English
Description
When Tim Daniels, now fourteen, returns to Camp Wickasaukee he serves as mentor to three rookie basketball players, continues to work on keeping his short stature from getting in his way, faces a bully, and gets help from NCAA player Dick Dunbar.
88) Out at second
Author
Accelerated Reader
IL: MG - BL: 4.6 - AR Pts: 2
Lexile measure
700L
Language
English
Description
When his teammate Stu is injured during practice, Manny promises to keep quiet so he can play, but then Stu starts acting funny, and Manny struggles with whether to keep his silence or break his promise and let his team down.
