Most Popular Books by Rich Wallace

The pressures of being an undercover reporter are getting to Eddie Ventura. No one on his baseball team has realized that he is the anonymous writer behind all the great new coverage their team has been getting from their school newspaper. The only problem is—not everyone is thrilled with the stories, or the uncanny way their secrets are being leaked to the press. Should Eddie quit writing for the school newspaper before his secret is uncovered?

Welcome to Sturbridge, Pennsylvania, a small, dead-end town with nothing to do and no way out. At least that''s how Ben, a high school senior and the second-best 135-pound wrestler in school, sees it. But Ben''s fed up with being stuck on the bench, watching as his friend Al, the state champion, gets all the glory. If Ben doesn''t get his life in gear, he could end up like his father and the other men in Sturbridge--working on the line in the cinder block factory. Spurred on partly by a wise, intense young woman, and partly by a strength found deep within himself, Ben looks for a way out--his whole life depends on it. In the words of Newbery medalist Jerry Spinelli, "Wrestling Sturbridge isn''t just an outstanding first novel; it''s an outstanding novel, period."

When sixth-grader Manny Ramos, one of the fastest runners on the youth football team, joins the new track club, he hopes that his light weight will be a benefit in racing against more experienced guys. Reprint.

Marcus Thorpe just had the first, and worst, 400-meter race of his seventh-grade life. He knows it was rough, but his friends'' jokes are starting to sting. Luckily, redemption is in sight. If Marcus can just find the right pace, he can earn a spot in the 4x400 relay and prove his worth at the special meet at the high school. Will he pull his weight, or will the final stretch crush him again?

Stu gets lost in the woods as night is falling. He knows he''s near a quarry where a teenager and his dog had fallen and drowned years before. A dog appears and clearly wants Stu to follow him. Stu starts to follow the dog, but he hears a voice calling the dog. Stu yells to the voice and heads toward it. The voice keeps calling for the dog, and Stu is getting closer to it. Then he hears the voice screaming in fear. He finds himself on the edge of the quarry and hears a splash below. The dog leaps over the edge to save the teen. After another splash there are no more sounds.

Some might think Jay was cheated. By his mother, who walked out when he was 9. By his dad, who took a job a couple thousand miles away and let him stay above a bar in a one-room apartment. By the basketball coach, who saw his talent but chose youth over determination. And even Jay’s not sure whether this last year of high school in the small town of Sturbridge, Pennsylvania, will add up to anything. But just when senior year seems a waste–kissing the wrong girls, offending the right ones, playing basketball on a church league with other “rejects”–life begins to click again. The church league gives him some of the best basketball he’s ever played, and the right girl gives him a second chance. Jay may not know what he wants next out of life, but he’s beginning to get a clue about how to play the game.

Griffin Lane loves playing soccer in the local league. His three best friends are there. It''s competitive but more relaxed than school sports. And he''s right where he wants to be, playing defense out in front of the goal. But when the goalie is injured, everyone seems to think Griffin is the best replacement. Can he hack it between the sticks, or will his nerves win the day?

After the first day of tryouts for the school basketball team, Stu stays behind to shoot extra free throws--his weak spot. As he''s shooting baskets, a boy joins him in the gym. He''s wearing a retro jersey, and Stu doesn''t recognize him. He tells Stu to come back later, and he''ll give Stu tips. Stu returns, and the boy named Randy helps him with his shooting. Stu asks Randy when he went to school there, but the boy disappears. Stu discovers Randy is a ghost. Randy helps Stu make the basketball team, and Stu chooses to wear the ghost''s number on his jersey.

Slimmed down and in great shape, Dunk is thrilled to make the school basketball team as a secondstring center. Jared, the starting center, is the best player on the team. But when Jared begins missing practice as well as the shots he used to make, Dunk is on the court more than he expected. He’s playing better than ever, but will that jeopardize his friendship with Jared?

Kirkus Reviews Best Children''s Book This thrilling and terrifying true story of the 1879 search for the North Pole follows the frightening fates of the USS Jeannette crew as disaster strikes -- and the men battle to survive two years bound by ice. In the years following the Civil War, "Arctic fever" gripped the American public, fueled by myths of a fertile, tropical sea at the top of the world. Bound by Ice follows the journey of George Washington De Long and the crew of the USS Jeannette, who departed San Francisco in the summer of 1879 hoping to find a route to the North Pole. However, in mid-September the ship became locked in ice north of Siberia and drifted for nearly two years before it was crushed by ice and sank. De Long and his men escaped the ship and began a treacherous journey in extreme polar conditions in an attempt to reach civilization. Many—including De Long—did not survive. This true story for middle graders keeps readers on the edge of their seats to the very end. Includes excerpts from De Long’s extensive journals, which were recovered with his body; newspapers from the time; and photos and sketches by the men on the expedition.

It''s soccer season, and sophomore Bones Austin and his team are struggling to make it to the district play-offs--against all odds. To make matters worse, Bones has a crush on the girlfriend of his best friend, Joey. Bones and Joey are forced to learn a little something about teamwork, even when hard times seem to be tearing them apart. Rich Wallace returns to Sturbridge, Pennsylvania, in his stunning follow-up to Wreslting Strubirdge, in Knopf Paperback for the first time.

Brothers Zeke and Randy participate in an important chess tournament, playing against each other while also trying to deal with their father''s intensely competitive tendencies.

Stu hears a voice calling him late one night and leaves his house to investigate. He enters an abandoned house down the road and is scared off by a ghost. Stu and Dan go back during daylight and find nothing, but Dan says a boy died fifty years ago at the house, falling from a deck into the steep gorge below. Rumor has it he was pushed by another kid, but the death was declared an accident. That night, Stu returns to the house alone. He meets the ghost of the young boy who was pushed off the deck and the ghost of the murderer. Stu finds himself falling off the deck. The ghost saves his life.

Ron is watcher, it seems. He watches his pick-up basketball team–five guys trying to fit together on the court. He watches Dawn on the dance floor, and that tiny star tattoo on her shoulder. He watches Darby run, her short legs all sweat and muscle. He watches his friends veer off–and up–into popularity. He watches his dad move in with his grandmother and make do. But he’s more than a watcher: He’s a hustler on the court, a free-thrower, a poet, a poker player, a rule breaker, a loving grandson, a runner, and a ruthless competitor in those eight laps around the track–the 3200 meter. In nine interwoven stories, award-winning author Rich Wallace brings a small-town high school to life through the sharp, spare voice–and the heart-pounding defeats and triumphs–of an athlete.

Stu and Dan hike into the forest to camp overnight. They get caught in the rain and decide to spend the night in an unlocked hunting cabin. They smell smoke late at night and escape the cabin as it bursts into flames. The next morning, they return to the cabin to see if Stu''s shoes survived the fire and find the cabin intact. This time, the cabin is locked. Stu returns to the cabin that night with a hammer, but this time he''s trapped inside as flames block the door. A window opens, and Stu is lifted to the edge. He scrambles out to safety. As he stumbles away, the window slams shut and Stu sees the face of the ghost. The fire goes out and there''s no trace that it happened.

Eigtheen-year-old Michael Kerrigan, writer of obituaries for the Scranton Observer and captain of the track team, is ready for the most important season of his life--until the police find four joints in his school locker, and he is faced with a choice that could change everything.

Nineteen-year-old Danny spends an eventful summer in Maine, looking for romance, working as a "straight" dishwasher in a gay bar, and trying to reconnect with his estranged father.

Jared knows he''s the best basketball player in school. He''s got thetalent, the touch, and the shots. With him at center, the Hudson City Hornets finally have a chance at making the playoffs. But Jared''s also got a temper, and when the ref throws him out of the game, he watches his team''s chances start to slip away. With some help from his friends, he begins to realize that he''s got to be a better teammate in order for the Hornets to be a better team.

the guys call him Dunk, but Cornell Duncan couldn’t dunk from a six-foot ladder. He’s flat-footed and slow and can jump only about two inches off the ground. but put him at the foul line and he’s a star—a free-throw magician. that’s the main reason he made the Hudson City all-star basketball team, which, if the team keeps winning, is headed to the state tournament. but just when Hudson City seems to have a good chance at going all the way, Dunk gets a wake-up call. Following a few disastrous minutes off the bench, he realizes that it’ll take more than free throws to make him a real all-star.

Frank, a teenaged ghost who has not been able to move on to a higher realm in the afterlife, tries to connect with his younger brother Herbie, a high school senior who was eight years old when Frank died.

Friends Calvin Tait and Zero Rollison look forward to a season of soccer with the YMCA summer league. Soon Calvin finds himself leading his team to the finals, where they''ll compete against the toughest players in the league, twin sisters with Mia Hamm-inspired shots on goal.

Jason Fiorelli is having a great year as wingback on the Hudson City Hornets. Twenty-seven receptions, six touchdowns, and fifty points for the season! Now with only three games left, the league title is within reach, until -- disaster -- the Hornets'' star quarterback has a season-ending injury. And Wade, the replacement quarterback doesn''t have the talent to take charge. In a surprise move, Coach sends Jason in as emergency quarterback. It''s an opportunity to save the season, but it also feeds the rivalry between Wade and Jason. With the championship game drawing near, can the Hornets pull it together in time to work as a team?

Riley feels like the smallest kid at sports camp. In fact, he is. He just turned eleven in April, but most kids here are twelve, and a few are even thirteen—and gigantic. It’s hard enough for a shrimp like Riley to fit in. He just doesn’t want to be the weak link as his bunk competes for the Camp Olympia Trophy. Riley knows he’s no good at strength and accuracy games like basketball and softball. But when it comes to speed and endurance events, like running and swimming, he’s better than he looks. He’s pretty sure he can place in the top ten—and bring in major trophy points—in the final mile-long swim race across Lake Surprise. But he doesn’t count on being followed by the shadow of Big Joe, the giant vicious snapping turtle of camp lore. Wasn’t that supposed to be a legend?

Have you ever heard an urban legend? In this trio of terrifying tales, three boys have a close brush with the unknown as they encounter ghostly horses who run the streets at night, phantom farm children whispering in their ears, and a deceased former classmate who may be less dead than everyone thought. . . . Eerie, thought-provoking, and perfect for Halloween, these scary stories are sure to delight readers who grew up on Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark looking for a good spine-tingler!

Celebrate the genius, diversity, and grit of immigrants and refugees in this boldly illustrated guide to 36 American trailblazers. The men and women in this book represent nations from Somalia to Germany, from Syria to China, from Mexico to Sweden, and more. They are people like Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, international singing sensation Celia Cruz, star basketball player Dikembe Mutombo, world-renowned physicist Albert Einstein, and influential journalist Jorge Ramos. And they are all immigrants or refugees to the United States of America. Their courage, their achievements, and their determination to change the world have helped make our country a stronger place. Perhaps after reading their stories, you will be inspired to make the world a better place, too.

FOUR STARRED REVIEWS! ? "An alarmingly relevant book that mirrors current events." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review Demonstrating the power of protest and standing up for a just cause, here is an exciting tribute to the educators who participated in the 1965 Selma Teachers'' March. Reverend F.D. Reese was a leader of the Voting Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama. As a teacher and principal, he recognized that his colleagues were viewed with great respect in the city. Could he convince them to risk their jobs--and perhaps their lives--by organizing a teachers-only march to the county courthouse to demand their right to vote? On January 22, 1965, the Black teachers left their classrooms and did just that, with Reverend Reese leading the way. Noted nonfiction authors Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace conducted the last interviews with Reverend Reese before his death in 2018 and interviewed several teachers and their family members in order to tell this story, which is especially important today.

Manny''s starting his first football season with the Hudson City Hornets, and he''s determined to get in the game and not warm the bench. Problem is, Manny''s not a big guy, and when he tries to tackle the offense, he''s the one who ends up on the ground. Coach isn''t too pleased, especially when the team starts losing. But Manny refuses to give up; he''s as tough as anyone out there and he''s fast. He''s got the season to prove to Coach, his teammates, and himself that he has the talent to earn the roar of the crowd.

A Booklist Editor''s Choice A Parents'' Choice Gold Award A Eureka! Nonfiction Children''s Book Award Honor Book Jonathan Daniels, a white seminary student from New Hampshire, traveled to Selma, Alabama, in 1965 to help with voter registration of black residents. After the voting rights marches, he remained in Alabama, in the area known as "Bloody Lowndes," an extremely dangerous area for white freedom fighters, to assist civil rights workers. Five months later, Jonathan Daniels was shot and killed while saving the life of Ruby Sales, a black teenager. Through Daniels''s poignant letters, papers, photographs, and taped interviews, authors Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace explore what led Daniels to the moment of his death, the trial of his murderer, and how these events helped reshape both the legal and political climate of Lowndes County and the nation.

In this key civil rights and social justice book for young readers, Scipio Africanus Jones—a self-taught attorney who was born enslaved—leads a momentous series of court cases to save twelve Black men who''d been unjustly sentenced to death. In October 1919, a group of Black sharecroppers met at a church in an Arkansas village to organize a union. Bullets rained down on the meeting from outside. Many were killed by a white mob, and others were rounded up and arrested. Twelve of the sharecroppers were hastily tried and sentenced to death. Up stepped Scipio Africanus Jones, a self-taught lawyer who''d been born enslaved. Could he save the men''s lives and set them free? Through their in-depth research and consultation with legal experts, award-winning nonfiction authors Sandra and Rich Wallace examine the complex proceedings and an unsung African American early civil rights hero.

Famous female athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias had one driving goal: to become the greatest athlete who ever lived. But there was more to Babe than just sports. Babe had a meteoric rise -- to famed basketball player, Olympic medalist, and top female golfer. But her life included many controversies surrounding her upbringing, personality, marriage, and even her early death. This action-packed true story of a woman ESPN ranks as #10 of the top North American athletes of the twentieth century is a fascinating biography of a historical sports figure. Ideal for Women''s History Month, the book includes personal and professional photographs, quotes, a bibliography, and an index.

Introducing a soccer series for new readers Kickers #1 Nine-year-old Ben is brand-new to soccer, but he''s a good athlete and knows he''ll do well on the Bobcats, his team in the local Kickers soccer league. If he can only work around his obnoxious teammate Mark, the ball hog, Ben is sure he''ll score his first goal. But Coach Patty, and Ben''s own teammates, show him a little something about teamwork. And suddenly it dawns on him: he''s a ball hog, too. Can he change his ways before the Bobcats lose their shot at the Kickers play-offs? Award-winning sports novelist Rich Wallace introduces the Kickers soccer series, filled with lively black-and-white art and fast-paced, on-the-field action.

Filled with on-the-field soccer scenes, black-and-white artwork, and sports statistics throughout, this short novel—ideal for newly independent readers, athletes, and all sports fans—follows nine-year-old Ben and his fourth-grade team, the Bobcats, as they race to the Kickers League playoffs. Ben knows he''s one of the team''s strongest players, but he''s been struggling with the jitters. He''s just freezing up on the field. Can he pull through for his teammates now that they really need him?

Introducing a soccer series for new readers Kickers #2 The Kickers soccer league is heating up, and Ben''s team, the Bobcats, has two losses, one win, and one tie. Ben knows he can pull his team out of its slump and right into the league play-offs with his new move: the fake-out. He practices the tricky footwork every chance he gets. But every time he tries it on the field, he flubs up, loses the ball, and hurts his team. Meanwhile, everyone else is faking him out. Is Ben out of his league? In his Kickers series, award-winning author Rich Wallace offers action-filled novels about the Bobcats, a fourth-grade coed soccer team, and their bid for the league play-offs.

KICKERS: a young middle grade soccer series Book 3 It’s a race to the Kickers soccer league play-offs. Nine-year-old Ben is pretty sure that if the Bobcats win two of their last three games, they’ll earn a tournament spot. But in their game against the Tigers, the Bobcats are a mess on the field—they’re not passing well at all—and Ben decides to take control. Someone has to win this thing, and his teammates just aren’t measuring up. Then the whistle blasts, the red card waves, and Ben is out—benched for dangerous moves. Not only that, he’s barred from the next game, too—a key bout against the Rabbits. How can he possibly help his team to the play-offs from the sidelines? The Kickers series, from award-winning sports novelist Rich Wallace, features nonstop soccer action, black-and-white art, and league statistics and soccer tips throughout. Also available: KICKERS #1: THE BALL HOGS KICKERS #2: FAKE OUT KICKERS #4: GAME-DAY JITTERS

Up2U Adventures?where the ending is Up2U! When young Archer and his partner, Bull, find a silver vein in the Arizona desert, they think they will be rich. But Cactus Flats is a town with many dangers and men waiting to double-cross them. Will Bull and Archer survive the Wild West? The ending is Up2U. Calico Chapter Books is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 2-5.

Jimmy Fleming throws left, hits right and left, and is hoping to become Hudson City’s newest pitcher.Having moved from Pennsylvania, he’s looking forward to making some new friends and playing the sport he loves. But while he makes the team, things don’t go the way he’d hoped. His teammates aren’t too welcoming and his time on the mound is less than stellar. It doesn’t help that his dad is applying more and more pressure to be a star pitcher. Before long, Jimmy is wishing he’d never left Pennsylvania. But Jimmy isn’t one to give up, and just when the season hits a low point, Jimmy’s pitches—and his attitude—begin to find their mark.

Strong, wiry, and lightweight, Donald seems to have the perfect combination of physical attributes for wrestling. And after seeing a high school wrestling match, he''s excited to join Hudson City''s middle-school team. The workouts are grueling, and he loses his first few matches, but Donald''s most difficult obstacle is his temper. Can he channel it to work for him instead of against him? Packed with action and drama, this newest Winning Season book from accomplished author Rich Wallace won''t disappoint.

Get ready for some amazing soccer action in Winning Season 4! It’s summer in Hudson City. And for Calvin Tait and Zero Rollison, it’s time to give soccer a shot. The YMCA soccer league looks like an easy way to get their feet wet and learn some technique, and once Calvin gets his foot on a ball and the taste of a winning game, he’s totally hooked. Soon Calvin is leading his team to the finals, where they’ll be up against the toughest players in the league—twin sisters with Mia Hamm–inspired shots on goal. Calvin knows he’s good, but are the twins better?

Max''s parents assure him he has nothing to fear at Aunt Ida''s house. But shortly after his arrival, the ghost of Aunt Ida''s son who died years ago begins tormenting him. Max decides he''d rather take his chances on the nearby mountain…at night. Even there, he can''t escape the ghost! And soon Max is lost with no one to turn to but the ghost. Should Max trust the ghost to get him safely down the mountain? The ending is up2U. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Calico is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.