Michigan vs. the boys by Carrie S. Allen

Forced by budget cuts to join the boys’ hockey team, a talented young athlete endures hazing from her male teammates that escalates into assault, compelling her to choose between her college ambitions and staying silent.

Tumbling by Caela Carter

Five aspiring Olympic gymnasts, Grace, Wilhelmina, Leigh, Camille, and Monica struggle with their ambitions, insecurities and secrets while participating in the two-day U.S. Olympic Trials for Gymnastics, after which their lives will change forever.

Gravity by Sarah Deming

Sixteen-year-old Gravity Delgado has been breaking records and competitors since she started boxing with a legendary coach at age twelve, and now will reach the Olympics if her home life and romance do not distract her.

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Hannah Ward revels in the competition, intense rehearsals, and dazzling performances that come with being a member of the corps de ballet, but after meeting musician Jacob she begins to realize there could be more to her life.

Taking up space by Alyson Gerber

A talented twelve-year-old basketball player from a dysfunctional family begins to suffer from health issues before a crush asks her to be partners in a cooking competition, a situation that challenges her to stand up for her needs and accept herself as she is.

In the same boat by Holly Green

To redeem herself in her father’s eyes, Sadie must complete a 260 mile river race that tests her like never before, especially when she is forced to row with her worst enemy.

Hooper by Geoff Herbach

Adam’s basketball skills have brought him from a Polish orphanage to a loving adoptive mother in Minnesota and landed him a spot on a select AAU team, but a run in with police will force him to choose between his new family and the sport he loves.

Long bomb by Eric Howling

Fourteen-year-old Ed secretly wishes he could play for his Calgary High Mustangs team. He worries that he’s too tall, too skinny and too insecure — the exact opposite of star quarterback Tyrone.

Finding her edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

From a family of figure skating royalty, with gold medalist parents and an older sister headed to the Olympics, Adriana Russo fights to win the biggest competition of her life while trying not to let her heart get in the way.

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

They’re from two different worlds. He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys.  She knows the rules—no mixing between the staff and the family. Even with her dream of becoming a professional horse trainer herself, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either…

The Captain by Chris Kreie

When a scandal upsets the high school soccer team, the captain, Malik, struggles to bring his team back together and learn to trust a new coach.

The contender by Robert Lipsyte

Feeling the pressures of Harlem life and its drug problems, police, and street fights, a seventeen-year-old high school drop-out turns to boxing. He learns it’s the effort, not the win, that makes the boxer—that before you can be a champion, you have to be a contender.

Bright burning stars by A.K. Small

Sharing a bond forged by respective tragedies and a fierce love for dance, two lifelong ballet students question what they would do for their careers, and the affections of a popular dancer boy, when the body of a fellow student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year.

Freerunner by David Trifunov

Fourteen-year-old Patrick and his mother leave their small town for the city. When he gets into trouble with the law, the officer is willing to get the charges dropped if Patrick trains with him in parkour for twelve weeks.

The other side of perfect by Mariko Turk

When her dreams of a professional ballet career are shattered by racism and a devastating injury, Alina reluctantly transfers into public school and begins questioning her perfectionist standards before falling for an annoying castmate in the school musical.

We are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivan

A toxic coach finds himself outplayed by the high school girls on his team in this deeply suspenseful novel, which unspools over twenty-four hours through six diverse perspectives.

Far from normal by Becky Wallace

Maddie is sick of Normal—both her hometown of Normal, Illinois and being the ‘normal’ sibling. When she lands a summer internship with a sports marketing firm, she finally has a chance to crawl out of her genius brother’s shadow, and a glowing letter of recommendation could secure her admission to her dream college. But when the company tasks her with repairing the image of teen soccer phenom Gabriel, she wonders if she’s set herself up for embarrassment.

Compiled by Brooke Sarfati, 2025