Sports

What is sports fiction?
Sports fiction includes "events and activities [that] deal with the characters’ participation in sports" (Routman, 2005, p. 4).

Sports Fiction in Our Library
// Deal Breaker // by Harlan Coban FIC COB From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Promise Me" comes the first novel featuring Myron Bolitar--a haunting tale of betrayal and family secrets that explodes into a riveting powerhouse of suspense. –//Title Peek Summary// // Drop Shot // by Harlan Coban FIC COB Quirky, sarcastic sports agent Myron Bolitar makes his second appearance (after Deal Breaker), pursuing the killer of a 24-year-old has-been tennis star on the verge of making her comeback. When someone shoots Valerie Simpson near the Food Court during the U.S. Open, Myron learns she was urgently trying to contact him. Rapid-fire dialogue reminiscent of Gregory McDonald's Fletch books keeps the pace whirring as Myron, sometimes aided by his elegantly lethal pal Win Lockwood, prowls New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Dry humor and a self-deprecating attitude make Myron an appealing hero, and minor characters are delineated with attitude and verve. –//Publisher’s Weekly// // Lessons of the Game // by Diane Gonzales Bertrand FIC BER As Kaylene Morales debuts as a student teacher at Leon Creek High in San Antonio, who should be on staff but handsome bachelor, freshman football coach and PE instructor Alex Garrison, an old family friend she hasn't seen in several years. Supervising teacher Mrs. Dunn will be a tough one to please, Kaylene knows, and getting grammar and Shakespeare through to reluctant adolescents will test her abilities. Would a romance with a coach just get in the way? Would it even be appropriate? Nature takes its course, however, and the two fall into a cautious relationship that rapidly turns both serious and bumpy. As a possible future wife, Kaylene needs to assess whether she can tolerate the work schedule of a Texas football coach--yes, even at the high-school level. With helpful guidance and soul searching, both young people find their way to a commitment, and all ends well. Romance in style, albeit with a heavy-handed tone about important decisions and the nature of love. Teens will enjoy the high-school athlete "no pass, no play" incidents and various classroom and football field scenes. The Hispanic setting and characters help fill a void in YA romance. –//Booklist,// Anne O'Malley
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// Swim the Fly // by Don Calame

FIC CAL


 * 1) of Pages: 345

Matt, Sean, and Coop are 15-year-olds who start the summer with a simple goal: see a real-live naked girl. Matt adds a second, more difficult goal for himself: swim the impossible 100-yard butterfly to impress his crush, Kelly. A comedy of errors ensues as the guys pursue their goals with utter determination and somewhat uncertain morals. Some of the situations that they get into require extreme suspension of disbelief, but they are accomplished with such hilarious results that it doesn't matter. Don Calame's debut novel (Candlewick, 2009) opens a door to the minds of teen males that is captivating and laugh-out-loud funny, perfectly capturing that tongue-tied, awkward stage of growing up. Nick Podehl is pitch-perfect as Matt, letting all his foibles shine through with impeccable timing. He gives all the characters distinct voices, switching effortlessly from Grandpa Arlo's slight quaver to Valerie's French accent to Ulf's Austrian tones. A popular addition to high school and public libraries, especially where a bridge is needed from the novels by Gordon Korman to more mature titles.-//School Library Journal,// Charli Osborne