Best Selling Books by Matt Christopher

A high school football player believes the harassment he is experiencing on and off the field is due to his father''s prison record.

Savannah is excited about throwing a holiday ice skating party and has already invited friends from her new school, when she learns that Jonas has invited the crowd from her old school to a party the same day.

Bus Mercer, shortstop for the Peach Steet Mudders, wants desperately to be picked for the county all-star team, but he breaks his parents'' rules for riding his new bike, and feelings of guilt affect his game.

A boy becomes a phenomenal baseball player one summer when a mysterious stranger resembling Babe Ruth befriends him

Rusty Young wants to play basketball in the summer league, but his parents object because Rusty has been diagnosed with diabetes. That is only one of the obstacles Rusty has to overcome before he can join the team.

Already troubled by his parents'' divorce, Bobby Canfield is further distressed when he learns that his father, who has coached him in running bases, intends to move away.

On-court hostility threatens Mel''s place on the team Mel Jensen is new to the Titans basketball team, but he knows he could be a vital part of the starting lineup-if only two other players would give him a chance to show his stuff. But Caskie and Stoney seem bent on ignoring him, and Mel knows it''s because he''s black. Should Mel fight fire with fire, or should he try to get along, if only for the sake of the team?

Only one thing keeps Jim from being the best linebacker in the team - his fear of getting tackled. But his friend Chuckie knows Jim isn''t a coward. With Chuckie''s special courage as an example, can Jim find the strength to face his fears head-on?

Voted captain of his baseball team, Jimmie declares himself pitcher even though Paul is a better pitcher. Paul leaves for another team, and Jimmie''s team starts losing. Can Jimmie regain the confidence of his friends?

A boy and his psychic dog are able to steal plays from the opposing football team.

Nicky is on his way to breaking the record for most runs batted in, but first he must overcome his superstitions, and someone who doesn''t want to see the old record broken.

A young baseball player struggles to overcome his fear of a pitched ball, improve his throwing, and somehow redeem himself in the eyes of his teammates.

Theo Gordimer is a classic 13-year-old couch potato: he prefers video games and TV shows to playing sports. Then his favorite aunt is diagnosed with cancer. Theo wants to do something to help her, but what? Then his friend Paul tells him about a 5K road race coming up. The money collected from the race goes toward cancer research. Theo panics: running the race seems like the perfect way to help out his aunt, but 5K is more than three miles! Theo can barely run a quarter of one mile without having to stop. How will he be able to finish the race?

Sequel to The Dog That Pitched a No-Hitter. When his telepathic dog Harry is grounded for nipping another dog, Mike wonders how he''ll ever make it through the baseball game without his advice and encouragement.

LOOK WHO''S PLAYING FIRST BASE Will Mike stand up to his teammates to defend his friend? When the Checkmates need a new first baseman, Mike Hagin''s new friend, Yuri, seems like a logical choice. But when Yuri starts flubbing plays and the team''s star player threatens to quit as a result, Mike is not sure Yuri is such a good choice after all-for a teammate or for a friend. It appears as if Mike will have to choose between his friendship with Yuri and his loyalty to the team-or is there another solution?

Marty loses his lucky baseball bat, and his confidence along with it, and wonders if he will recover both in time to help the Tigers win the championship.

Identical twins learn to accept the fact that they have different interests and abilities.

Barry McGee, hit-away batter for the Peach Street Mudders, enjoys winning so much that he has a tendency to bend the rules; then the dirty tactics of the pitcher on a rival team give him a new perspective on sports ethics.

Disappointed at first by not being large enough to make quarterback, Boots discovers that there is as much challenge in playing tackle.

CENTER COURT STING Trash talking leads to trouble on the basketball court.... Forward Daren McCall is quick with an insult, quick to take offense, and quick to blame anyone but himself for his troubles. So when center Lou Bettman accuses him first of bad-mouthing him, then of vandalism, Daren turns the tables and insists that Lou is out to get him. The team splits into two camps, those who believe in Daren''s innocence and those who take Lou''s side. The fight heats up when Daren falls victim to an outrageous act. But did Lou retaliate, as Daren suspects, or is someone else trying to teach Daren a lesson?

Capturing the suspense and play-by-play action of nine major league plays and the personalities of the athletes that made them, a fan''s treasury includes Willie May''s 1954 World Series catch and Jim Abbott''s no-hitter.

Tina Esparza loves soccer, especially that it''s a team sport where no one player is in the spotlight. Imagine her surprise when the coach asks her to train as the team''s goalkeeper. Will Tina be able to overcome her shyness and accept a position that puts her in the center of attention?

A young baseball player loses his confidence after being hit in the chest by a fast moving ball.

When Matt Harper moves in with his uncle while his mother works for the government in a mysterious job overseas, he knows his life will change. But so long as he can hit the slopes with his snowboard, Matt figures he''ll get along okay. But then he has a run-in with Riley, his new school''s best snowboarder. Soon, rumors are being spread about Matt''s past and challenges are being made. Will Matt be able to clear his name before Riley''s campaign to ruin him snowballs out of control?

The twins toy hockey game seems to be magic as it plays games identical to the real ones before they even happen.

Even though he is the tallest member of the basketball team, a young boy finds he is far from being the best player.

Team rivalry threatens to spoil a budding friendship between a showy soccer player, Bryce, and soft-spoken but talented Renny.

When a cartoon appears in the school newspaper making fun of his tendency to talk a lot, Mac, the goalie for the Cougars soccer team, is determined to find out who is responsible.

A young, inexperienced football team discovers its beginner''s luck is due to a series of mysterious but successful plays anonymously sent to the coach.

Jabber Morris has his heart set on playing soccer, but his family is pressuring him to play football. Tension at home builds when Jabber''s brother suspects him of stealing. Now he has to tell his uncle that he''s decided to play soccer - and convince his brother that he''s not a thief. One of the all-time best-selling titles from Matt Christopher!

Newly independent readers will love this classic baseball story, now illustrated in full color! Mike has a special relationship with his dog, Harry. They can read each other''s minds! Harry is able to help Mike out with tips about the opposing players on the baseball field, but Mike''s having trouble with his pitches--and the buddies need to work together to save the game! Passport to Reading Level 3

Twelve-year-old Traci Winchell is a gifted gymnast, but lately she''s been having trouble -- so much trouble that her coach warns her she may need to drop out or else risk serious injury. Traci wants to find something to fill the void left by gymnastics, but is diving for her?

While trying to ask Uncle Pete to coach the Peach Street Mudders, Zero discovers that he can throw a slider when there''s a big bandage on his injured thumb.

Mike and his dog Harry, the Airedale with ESP, are shocked to discover that the new umpire for Mike''s baseball games can hear their mental conversations.

Mark Conway is staying with his grandparents while his parents fight over whom he''ll live with after they divorce. He''s become a valued member of the school soccer team and seems to be coping with the changes in his life. Or is he?

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.

Twelve-year-old Michael, confined to a wheelchair after an accident, uses mental telepathy to communicate football plays to his quarterback twin brother Tom, then suddenly finds himself on the field in his brother''s place.

Sylvester Coddmyer III, star of "The Kid Who Only Hit Homers" and "Return of the Home Run Kid" is about to face his biggest challenge yet. He sprains his ankle and wonders how he will hit homers--or even singles--when every swing means pain.

A poor throwing arm and prejudice from one white boy keep a black junior high student from completely enjoying his position on the baseball team.

Abducted by a "fan" and forced to become a member of a professional junior hockey team, thirteen-year-old star center Steve Crandall quickly realizes that he must play not only to win but to survive.