Fred Bowen Sports Story Series

Chris wants to be a star scorer like his brother—so why does his coach keep him waiting on the bench?

Chris comes from a sports-loving family. His brother is the star scorer on the high school team, and is being recruited by Division 3 colleges. Chris longs to earn the same adulation, and he’s a good scorer for his junior high team. But why won’t his coach start him? He’s better on defense than his rival, Carlos, and nearly as good a shooter. 

Soon Chris becomes obsessed with earning a place in his team’s starting lineup. He does everything he can think of—including being an invaluable player every time he comes in. But nothing seems to get Coach’s attention. Even after he learns the history of the valuable “6th man,” Chris can’t seem to let it go. How will he ever be a big scoring star? 

For every kid who hates to read but loves basketball, comes a suspenseful novel with plenty of play-by-play sports action.

Chris wants to be a star scorer like his brother—so why does his coach keep him waiting on the bench?

Chris comes from a sports-loving family. His brother is the star scorer on the high school team, and is being recruited by Division 3 colleges. Chris longs to earn the same adulation, and he’s a good scorer for his junior high team. But why won’t his coach start him? He’s better on defense than his rival, Carlos, and nearly as good a shooter.

Soon Chris becomes obsessed with earning a place in his team’s starting lineup. He does everything he can think of—including being an invaluable player every time he comes in. But nothing seems to get Coach’s attention. Even after he learns the history of the valuable “6th man,” Chris can’t seem to let it go. How will he ever be a big scoring star?

For every kid who hates to read but loves basketball, comes a suspenseful novel with plenty of play-by-play sports action.

Fred Bowen is back with more soccer action—and a mystery—in his newest Sports Story, perfect for fans of Mike Lupica and Tim Green. While soccer-playing twins Aiden and Ava lead their teams to a championship season, they try to solve the mystery of their town’s missing soccer trophy.

Thirteen-year-old twins Aiden and Ava and their good friend Daniel, all avid soccer players, have just learned their county league soccer trophy mysteriously disappeared forty years ago from the town library. It was never recovered. So between games and practices for the town’s soccer championships, the three friends try to solve the case.

But will these amateur detectives be able to unravel the mystery and find someone who had both motive and opportunity to commit the crime? Will their teams make it all the way to the championships?

In this story, Bowen tackles important topics like equal recognition for women in sports. The afterword provides more information about the real-life disappearance of the original World Cup trophy.

Eager to find his place at his elite new school, ninth-grader Tim Beeman is torn between running track and trying out for football. Where will he feel most comfortable and be able to put his fast running skills to best use?

When Tim sets a new school record for the fifty-yard dash during the first week of classes, he reveals his special talent: speed. Before long, the track and the football teams are both urging him to join their sport. Tim is torn. He feels he has a lot to offer the football team and is eager to join this popular group, but he can’t shake a lingering fear of being injured. He would definitely be an asset to the track team, but he is drawn to the more prestigious football team. How can Tim put his talent to the best use and at the same time satisfy his own needs?

The afterword offers relatable athlete struggles about making choices and developing friendships as well as an important conversation about player safety.

Like many athletes, Trey is superstitious. How could he not be when he just made the Ravens travel team, thanks to his lucky charm—a piece of rare sea glass he found on his grandmother’s beach?

This stroke of good fortune reinforces his superstitious behavior, and the rituals become more and more important to him. In spite of some teasing and even some sarcasm from his teammates, Trey persists―he never steps on the foul line, he obsessively taps the corners of home plate when he’s at bat, he always chooses the same lucky bat. Why stop? After all, his tactics are working; he’s doing quite well on the field and in the batter’s box.

Then one day he can’t find his lucky sea glass. He searches everywhere, but it’s no use. Trey’s performance begins to slip, and he’s convinced that his future with the Ravens is doomed. Things don’t start to improve for Trey until his uncle reminds him of his grandmother’s favorite saying: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Can Trey take those words to heart and find his swing again…even without his lucky charm?

This book explores the age-old conflict between luck and hard work. In the afterword, readers can learn more about famous players with their own lucky charms and superstitions.

Richie Mallon is known as “the shooter”—the one on the team who scores most of the baskets.

Every day he practices at his driveway hoop, perfecting his technique. Richie never plays any other roles on the court, leaving it to his teammates to do the assisting and rebounding.

Under a new coach, Richie makes the team but isn’t given a starting position. So when his shooting skills fall into a slump, can he find a way to become a better-rounded player and stay on the team?

Bowen returns with another fast-paced story of sports, teamwork, and talent. The afterword offers real-life stories about some of the great shooters in basketball history.

The Franklin High Panthers need a new quarterback.

Freshman Jesse Wagner knows the plays, but he feels he is too small to be QB material. Jesse’s brother Jay has a problem of his own: his college coach wants him to switch from quarterback to safety. The brothers agree on a deal: Jesse will try out for quarterback, and Jay will try playing safety.

Meanwhile, Jesse and his teammates recruit an unlikely kicker for their team―a girl named Savannah who is a goalie from the girls’ soccer team.

In the afterword, Bowen provides real stories of successful professional athletes, like Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, who did not “look the part.”

Isaac is determined to pitch a perfect game: no hits, no runs, no walks, and no errors.

He can’t settle for less if he wants to make the summer all-star team. But when he allows a hit, Isaac keeps losing his cool on the mound and can’t get his head back in the game.

Then Issac meets a very interesting Unified Sports basketball player who gets him thinking in a different way about the whole idea of a “perfect” game. But will this change in perspective help him be a better pitcher?

Themes of kindness, friendship, perfection, and ability star in this inspiring installment of Fred Bowen’s Sports Story Series. The afterword provides interesting facts about the Special Olympics.

Josh is so excited when he earns a spot on the United, an elite travel soccer team with exceptionally talented players. So why can’t they win a game?

Despite grueling practices and talent, Josh’s teammates are prone to hogging the ball and seem to only play for themselves. He begins to wonder if made a mistake leaving his old team.

But just when he’s about to give up, Josh learns that the 1999 United States Women’s World Cup team faced similar difficulties the year they won it all. Can Josh convince his coach (and his team) to use team-building exercises like the U.S. women’s team used to make them stronger?

Fred Bowen returns with another edge-of-your-seat Sports Story Series title emphasizing the important values of teamwork and relationships. An afterword offers more information about the 1999 United States Women’s World Cup team.

Can street ball and technical play mix it up on the court and score wins for the team?

Ben and Logan are looking for a new point guard for their team, and they are sure they’ve found one in Antonio “Hud” Hudson, the new guy at their school. But there’s one problem: Hud plays fast-paced pickup ball, and coach says that’s against the team rules!

So when Ben finds Hud playing pickup, he has to make a decision. As captain, can he help Hud balance his passion for the game with his dedication to the team?

Author Fred Bowen delivers another action-packed tale of skill, friendship, and teamwork as three boys work together to make the best of two worlds. In the afterword, readers can learn the real story of pickup ball and Holcombe Rucker Park, Harlem’s famous basketball court where many NBA greats—including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J, and Jamal Mashburn—got their start.

Eighth grader Matt Monroe is a shoo-in for starting quarterback for the Parkside Middle School football team this year. Or so he thinks.

Devro, a new seventh grader, looks impressive. He’s consistent and can run the plays almost as well as Matt. And he’s got speed. Could he ruin Matt’s chances of taking the position as quarterback? Utilizing Matt’s journal, author Fred Bowen shows readers the importance of reflection and teamwork as one strives to be a better player.

In the afterword, Bowen shares the real story of Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer, a book by Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jerry Kramer and sportswriter Dick Schaap covering the 1967 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl-winning season.

Brett Carter, the Wildcats’ star forward, is a hotshot on his basketball team—or at least he was.

After missing an easy layup shot at the buzzer in one of the most important games of the season, he feels like a total loser. And things only get worse from there… At his best friend’s birthday party at a rock-climbing center, Brett freezes on the wall. Then he blows an easy question in the American history bee at school. And when he gets back on the court, he can’t get rid of this terrible pounding in his chest. Brett is losing his confidence fast. With the championship game is coming up, can he overcome his fears and play like a “winner” again?

In the afterword, author Fred Bowen shares real stories of well-known players and their hard-fought comebacks.

For Jake, there is only one thing he loves more than playing shortstop for his team, and that’s winning.

So when newcomer Adam joins the team, Jake is excited to see that this guy can do it all—pitch, hit, field! But as their team racks up win after win, Adam’s talents dominate every game and Jake can’t help but wonder: Do he or the other players even matter? Or will he learn that even the best players must rely on their teammates?

This action-packed story of teamwork and friendship was inspired by Babe Ruth and the 1927 Yankees, the group that many have called “The Greatest Team of All Time.”

Known for his crazy fastball pitches, Jack has never had a problem striking a batter out. Until now.

This season, he’s playing in a new league where the distance to the catcher’s mitt is a lot greater, and he can’t get seem to get into the strike zone.

Then a baseball coach at a local college shows Jack some new pitches and tells him about Steve Dalkowski, who never made it out of the minor leagues because he wouldn’t throw other pitches. At first Jack doesn’t listen to the coach’s advice, but with the season on the line, he realizes that the coach was right. Is it too late to change his game plan?

In this installment of his Sports Story series, author Fred Bowen shows readers how to battle the ache of disappointment and rise to new challenges. Readers can learn more about pitching phenoms Steve Dalkowski and Sandy Koufax and their Major League Baseball careers in the afterword.

Sam loves football. There’s nothing better than the rush he gets when his team, the Cowboys, are working together—moving closer and closer to the end zone.

But in a key game, the Cowboys beat their archrivals to remain undefeated, thanks to a major play by Sam.

However, the celebration ends when he and his teammates make an unwelcome discovery: The winning play was illegal. Is the Cowboys’ perfect season in jeopardy? Did they really deserve to win?

Author Fred Bowen delivers exciting play-by-play action along with an important story of winning and losing, truth and consequences, and good sportsmanship. The afterword reveals the inspiration for this story: the controversial 1940 Cornell-Dartmouth game.