Books in Jake Maddox JV Girls series

One minute eighth-grader Shaena is rushing to grab a rebound, and the next she’s lying on the basketball court, dizzy with a horrible pain in her head. A collision with an opponent has left Shaena benched with a concussion, two weeks before the big rival game. And she’s angry―why does she need to stop playing just because of a headache? Forced to take things slow, she watches as the other girls practice and improve without her, and Shaena starts to worry they may no longer need her. How can she be part of the team when she’s been sidelined? A glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and bonus basketball facts make this action-packed sports story as engaging and educational as it is exciting.

Until now, Layla has balanced her school work and volleyball easily enough. In eighth grade, though, academic expectations are tougher. Student-athletes need at least a C average in all classes to play sports. When Layla's dedication to volleyball puts her algebra grade at risk, her chances of making the high school freshman team next year are on the line. Can she find a way to ace her classes like she does on the court?

Long-time gymnast Brielle decides to join a competitive cheerleading team, while keeping her spot on the gymnastics team. She figures the practice schedules don't conflict, so she shouldn't have any trouble managing the two sports. But things don't go as planned, and Brielle soon finds herself pulled in too many directions. Will Brielle learn to prioritize or will she let people down, starting with herself? Themes of responsibility and respect provide inspiration for included discussion questions and writing prompts, making this a great choice for libraries.

Lily Richter and her family are moving, which means she’s leaving behind her BFF and the dance team ― the two most important things in her life. Stuck in an unfamiliar school, she’s feeling lost and alone. Worse still, she isn’t connecting with her new teammates, and the captain seems to have it out for her. Now Lily’s moves are suffering as she falters in practice and in competition. Will she be able to get back in sync and dance to win? A glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and bonus competitive dance facts make this action-packed sports story as engaging and educational as it is exciting.

Figure skater Eva Chen is looking forward to sharing her latest routine. She’s skating to a song with Mandarin lyrics as a special nod to her Chinese grandmother. But when a fall results in a concussion, Eva is forced to take time off the ice. To make matters worse, Eva overhears some fellow skaters making fun of her song. Will Eva find the strength to return to the ice despite her setbacks?

Jake Maddox is back, and this time, he's playing for keeps. Jake Maddox JV Girls features the same engaging elements readers have come to know and love about Jake Maddox Girl Sports Stories, including a glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and nonfiction sports information. These longer stories take their game to the next level with characters who will face tougher challenges, harder opponents, and be forced to work even harder to win.

After a big growth spurt, dancer Mercy Smyth feels completely out of step. Her new height has thrown off her center. Now dance moves that used to be easy are challenging and gymnastics skills that were always tricky are nearly impossible. It's going to take a lot of extra work--and money that Mercy doesn't have--to bring her skills back to competition level. Will Mercy ever feel graceful again?

As an eighth grader, Suzy has just joined the high school gymnastics team, so she is crushed when she gets injured and can't practice or compete. Meanwhile her mother wishes she wouldn't participate in gymnastics and would focus her efforts on her piano playing instead. Facing pressures from her team, her coach, and her mother, Suzy has to take charge of her own destiny. Can she make a comeback in time to help her team defeat its biggest rival?

Despite her impressive hockey skills, Kyla Woodson’s first year of high school isn’t going as planned. The varsity team didn’t recruit any freshmen, so she’s stuck on JV unless she can impress the coach enough to be added to the roster mid-season. But with an old rival also vying for a spot on varsity, plus dealing with her parents’ recent divorce and her mom’s irritating new boyfriend, Kyla has more to worry about than just her game and fights to keep her temper in check. As the pressure mounts, will Kyla be able to keep her cool off the rink and on it and skate to win? A glossary, writing prompts, discussion questions, and bonus hockey facts make this action-packed sports story as engaging and educational as it is exciting.