5 children's and YA books featuring sports stories
From football and cricket to athletics and even a little superhero magic, sporting stories for children and teens are about much more than what happens on the pitch or track. Here, Kimberly Whittam, author of Quiet Storm and Always Angel, shares her favourites.
"Sport has always been a big part of my reading and writing life. My debut novel, Quiet Storm, has sport at its heart, with Storm discovering a talent for athletics and finding confidence through being part of a team. So, for this list, I wanted to celebrate other books that have children and young people at the centre of sporting stories. From football and cricket to athletics, these books explore much more than what happens on the pitch or track. They're stories about friendship, family, confidence, identity, ambition and learning to believe in yourself, themes I also explore in my most recent novel, Always Angel."
Kimberly Whittam, author of Always Angel
The Dream Team: Jaz Santos vs. the World by Priscilla Mante (8+)
Jaz Santos loves football and dreams of becoming a star. When her mum moves out, Jaz decides to form her own girls' football team, bringing together seven very different girls. But getting everyone to work together proves much harder than she imagined. This is a warm, funny story about football, friendship, family and ambition. I love that Jaz simply loves football and wants to be brilliant at it. Her identity is part of her story, but it isn't the whole story. It's a joyful celebration of girls, friendship and finding your place in a team.
Last Girl In: Kerry-Ann Fights to Stay in the Game by Cheryl Diane Parkinson (8+)
Kerry-Ann loves cricket, just like her Jamaican grandpa, who taught her to play when she was little. When older players try to take over the local cricket ground, Kerry-Ann and her friends refuse to give up their place. The story also takes Kerry-Ann back in time to discover more about her grandpa and the Windrush generation. I love how cricket becomes a way for Kerry-Ann to connect with her family, culture and history, while the story explores friendship, fairness and standing up for yourself.
Striking Out by Ian Wright and Musa Okwonga (9+)
Jerome Jackson is thirteen and dreams of becoming a professional footballer. But while football is his passion, life outside the pitch brings its own challenges. Inspired by Ian Wright's childhood, this is an uplifting story about ambition, perseverance and finding people who believe in you. I think it's a great choice for young football fans, but you don't have to be obsessed with football to enjoy it. At its heart, it's about having a dream and continuing to chase it when things get difficult.
The Boy with Wings by Lenny Henry (9+)
Tunde is a twelve-year-old boy whose life changes dramatically when he discovers he has wings! Suddenly, he has to figure out his powers while helping to protect the world from a dangerous enemy. Although this is more of a superhero adventure than a traditional sports story, sport and running are an important part of Tunde's character and his journey. It's funny, exciting and packed with adventure, friendship and family. I love that Tunde gets to be the hero, surrounded by a brilliant group of friends. It's a fun choice for readers who like their sport mixed with a little bit of superhero magic.
Running My Own Race by Abena Eyeson (9+)
Kofi dreams of becoming a professional athlete, and his talent earns him a place at a prestigious private school. But suddenly, there's pressure coming from every direction – his mum wants him to make the most of his academic opportunity, his community wants him to make them proud, and his best friend worries that he is changing. Add in a rival determined to beat him, and Kofi has to work out what he really wants. I love this book because athletics is central to Kofi's story, but it's also about identity, friendship, family, ambition and finding your own path.
Always Angel by Kimberly Whittam
A powerful novel about second chances, friendship and finding the courage to rewrite your story.
Angel finds school hard.
She talks back to teachers, she storms out of lessons, and she's had more detentions than any other Year 8 student... ever. But really, Angel wants to be good. She wants to fit in, she wants to make friends, and she even wants to win the school baking contest.
But it's hard to be good when everyone expects the worst. And with her mum not well enough to look after her, and Angel making more and more bad choices, she's starting to run out of chances...
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