New Releases by Matt Christopher

The history of basketball is chock-full of famous buzzer-beating shots, amazing game-saving plays, and thrilling maneuvers that defy gravity. All fans have their favorite memory, just as they have their favorite team and their favorite player. Now here''s a book that offers a look back at more than fifteen of the sport''s best moments. The Block, The Steal, The Shot. Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Bird, Jordan, and James. Each entry captures the nail-biting tension of the minutes leading up to the play, as well as information about the superstar players that made them and the teams that they played for. Packed with facts and action, this is a book young basketball fans will reach for again and again -- and because it comes from Matt Christopher, young readers know they''re getting the best sports writing on the shelf.

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.

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.

As soon as Brett Thyson steps on "The Lizard", the mysterious skateboard he unearthed in his backyard, he can feel its power. It glides smoothly and effortlessly, but Brett can''t shake off the feeling that there''s something not quite right about it.

Rocky Fletcher is being stretched to his limit. Until recently, he''d only played wide receiver for the Pythons. Now his coaches want him to learn the safety position, too-a position that opened up when Bobby, Rocky''s best friend, broke his leg. Even though he believes he is to blame for Bobby''s injury, Rocky eagerly takes on the challenge of becoming a two-way player. After all, the only other player available is Jared, a sullen boy who switched from soccer to football this season. Yet as time goes on, it''s Jared who excels at the position because, thanks to Bobby, Rocky keeps missing practices! What''s going on between Rocky and Bobby-and why is Jared on the team when he clearly dislikes football so much? Football Double Threat combines the action and excitement of football with relatable issues about envy, loyalty, and friendship.

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.

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.

A shy, unhappy sixteen-year-old with a talent for working with motorcycles runs away from his foster home and gets involved with a variety of people, both bad and good.

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?

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.

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

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.

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

Having just begun to learn how to snowboard, thirteen-year-old Dennis faces a frightening challenge when he allows a bully to shame him into racing on a difficult slope.

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

Rivalry flares between twelve-year-old Freddie and his fourteen-year-old brother Dondi, both on and off the snowboarding slopes, nearly leading to disaster.

When Zach takes up skateboarding, he doesn''t realize that he''s expected to look a certain way and cop a certain attitude. He''s not comfortable with any of those things. He just wants to have fun, and perhaps enter a few competitions. Will he be ostracized because he looks and acts so normal?