New Releases by Jeff Rud

In this high-interest sports novel, Jake Burnett must choose between advancing his basketball career and doing the right thing when he uncovers the truth about the prestigious Centerville Prep school.

Linebacker Reggie Scott is forced to deal with the repercussions of an incident that shakes his belief in the game he loves. When Reggie is persecuted by angry fans for being a "dirty" player, Reggie is forced to confront his own guilt and decide whether he can continue to play his senior season and beyond. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Fifteen-year-old Kyle Evans has been a jock for years—a triple-threat basketball player who can dribble, pass or shoot with considerable skill. But once he decides to try out for the school musical production at Sainsbury High, Kyle finds there is much more to life than hightops and hookshots. Conflicting priorities cause problems between Kyle and his coaches, teachers, teammates and friends. And when his buddy Lukas becomes the target of homophobic hatred, Kyle is left with some difficult choices to make. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

This third instalment in the spectacular Legends Series celebrates Western Canada's first NHL franchise, the Vancouver Canucks. Full of glorious photos and engaging stories, Canucks Legends chronicles the first four decades of the franchise--from a young expansion team, to the Canucks' current place among hockey's elite, on the verge of bringing the first Stanley Cup to Vancouver. The Canucks come to life through 75 player profiles--Orland Kurtenbach, Stan Smyl, Richard Brodeur, Cam Neely, Trevor Linden, Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and many others--and over 300 historic and contemporary photos. With guest essays by journalists Archie McDonald, Tony Gallagher, Iain MacIntyre and Kevin Woodley, this book is a must-have for every Canucks fan and hockey historian.

Chronicles the life of young Canadian athlete Steve Nash and his successful journey from high school gym basketball to the world of the Phoenix Suns and the NBA.

Fresh from a thrilling basketball season playing for the varsity team, Matt is looking forward to a new challenge: baseball. The South Side team seems to be strong this year—if only Matt can control his fear of being hit by an errant pitch. But when Matt's friend, Jake, the team's star, falls in with the wrong crowd, the entire season—not to mention their long-standing friendship—seems to be on the line.

For as long as he can remember, Matt has wanted to play basketball. Now, as he tries out for the team at his new middle school, he realizes that the easy days of elementary ball are over and that this is a much more serious game. Dealing with a hard-driving coach, competitive teammates and his own insecurities in a new school, Matt needs to call on all his skills, both on and off the court, to make the team and keep his head above water. When he is involved, albeit unwittingly, in tagging a store with racist graffiti, Matt finds himself in more trouble than he bargained for. And when he fights back against an aggressive teammate and is threatened with suspension from the team, he learns that it is not only game-time decisions that count, but also the choices made after the crowd has gone home and the gym is silent.

Complete with tables and more than fifty full-color photos, a sports guide profiles twenty-five of today's hottest new NHL stars while reviewing those that are soon-to-be on the scene through a review of players from teams from around the world. Original.

Trying to land a spot on the South Side Middle School football team isn't the biggest challenge Matt Hill faces in the third installment of this popular series. Besides catching passes and dodging defenders, Matt also has to deal with the return of his estranged father following a ten-year absence. But while Matt comes to grips with forgiving his father and gets used to having him around, he must also help a teammate deal with the damage inflicted by his own overbearing and sometimes violent dad.Full of the exciting sports action that marked the first two volumes of the South Side Sports series, First and Ten is a tale of choices made and lessons learned, both on and off the field.

"Rud, who has a lively, engaging writing style which allows the 10 players to emerge as individuals, has selected his subjects well. They come from a variety of backgrounds, and, if the book has a message for adolescents, it is that there is no single path to a professional career in basketball. With each player, Rud shows how s/he overcame obstacles in order to play basketball professionally. Of the group, likely Canada's Steve Nash, the Vancouver Grizzlies' Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and the Toronto Raptors' Vince Carter will be the names with the highest reader recognition amongst average Canadian youth. Though hockey books may still dominate the sport shelves, definitely make a place for Skywalking. Highly Recommended." -Canadian Materials

The story of a dream come true! According to HOOP DREAMS, the odds of an American high school basketball player making it to the NBA are 7,600 to 1. Steve Nash beat those odds. Much more than a life story, LONG SHOT is the chronicle of a young athlete's progression through high school, university, international and professional sport.