Jake Maddox graphic novels

Gus Blackburn daydreams of being a hero wide receiver on his school's football team, but he is not naturally athletic or fast, so he spends most of his time on the bench--until his father points out that most dreams actually take hard work before they can come true.

When the coach of his middle school summer soccer team retires Andre, his friend Cullen, and their teammates are horrified, and when their new coach implements some highly unusual training methods Cullen is so frustrated that he quits the team--but Andre sticks with it, hoping that there is method in the madness that will lead to a championship.

While practicing for the Tower Hills Half-Pipe Challenge, Payton Park suffers an embarrassing wipeout, which his friend and competitor Matt posts to the internet where it becomes an instant sensation; now he is having trouble putting the fall behind him, and remembering that having talent is only part of success--it also takes a lot of hard work.

"After only ever playing pick-up games, Ana Ramirez is excited to attend a basketball summer camp where she'll play on a real team with real teammates. But when the coach says they'll use something called "zone defense," the shooting guard feels totally lost and starts to doubt her skills. Can Ana get out of her comfort zone and ask for help?"--

When twelve-year-old twins Lydia and Marco are invited to join their dance studio's jazz team, Lydia is thrilled but hip-hop-loving Marco worries about being the only boy on the team. Includes glossary, discussion questions, and information about dance.

Years before he became the star quarterback of the Bobcats, thirteen-year-old Alex Summers enjoyed throwing backyard passes to his best friend Oscar Matthews, but Oscar is an afterthought on the team, and now he has decided to quit football and join the school play instead; Alex feels betrayed and the boys' friendship is coming apart--and it will take an honest expression of their feels to save it.

Thirteen-year-old Javier Moreno has just transferred to Howard Middle School, but his skill as a striker is already well known and the Bisons are expecting that he will turn their season around; but soon the fame goes to his head, and he starts hogging the ball and showing off--and it is up to his friend Aimee to remind him that soccer is a team sport.

At his grandfather's farm, Toby joins his cousin and friends for nature runs in the woods, navigating their homemade obstacle course, but fears he may reinjure his ankle in the upcoming Wild Run. Includes discussion questions, notes about obstacle courses, and glossary.

Grace loves swimming and is excited about joining the relay team, but not being able to make friends with teammate Chloe upsets her, especially when Chloe blames Grace for a disqualification. Includes discussion questions, information about swimming, and glossaries.

Now that twelve-year-old Anya is old enough to join her fourteen-year-old sister Marina on the fast-pitch softball team things are becoming tense between them: Anya has trouble catching her sister's pitches and resents Marina's criticism and being moved to the outfield, Marina is increasingly obsessed with her role as captain, and angry because Anya does not seem to take the game as seriously as she does--and with an important game coming up the sisters...

When a local eSports team asks Valentina to join them for an upcoming tournament she realizes she needs to learn teamwork to succeed.

"Robyn Ray is a young hockey player with lots of speed and one big problem -- she can't seem to make a goal. Can her formerly famous hockey star grandpa help her build the skills she needs to score? And will her team come together when it matters most?"--

Thirteen-year-old Devante Briggs loves basketball, but now he is just the sixth man off the bench for his school team, putting up with the snide remarks of some of the other players--until an outbreak of food poisoning gives him his chance to show off his skills.

Zack is a fine defensive outfielder, but he has trouble hitting the ball--until his friend, Jamie, offers to help him using a virtual reality batting program.

"Harper's passion is parkour. Moving over, under, and around obstacles in unique ways makes her feel like a superstar. But when the big parkour competition is cancelled, Harper has no place to compete--unless she joins a gymnastics team. Will Harper find the same passion for gymnastics as parkour?"--