Rich Wallace

Sports Camp

A Junior Library Guild selection

“When 11-year-old Riley Liston arrives at Camp

Olympia, he quickly realizes that it’s going to be a long two weeks. As one of the youngest and smallest campers, he lacks the skills at basketball and softball that the older guys have. Normally, he wouldn’t mind – he knows he’s a good swimmer and runner – but the cabins are competing for the coveted Big Joe Trophy (named after the legendary snapping turtle that inhabits the lake), and Riley doesn’t want to be the person who takes the Cabin 3 Threshers out of the running.

--School Library Journal

“The exciting, tightly written sports passages drive the story and will keep kids turning the pages.”

--Booklist

“Riley is a true sportsman, giving his all even in the sports in which he doesn’t excel. Soon he’s included in the shenanigans of his cabin mates, including the rivalries that extend outside of sport. … The author includes horrifying ghost stories and the menace of a legendary snapping turtle rumored to live in the camp’s lake.”

--Kirkus Reviews

Nine-year-old Ben is playing on his first real soccer team, and the action is fast and competitive. As the season gets under way his team, the Bobcats, struggle to learn the game. The biggest hurdle is to overcome the rivalries within their own team and learn to play together. As they gain skills and knowledge, they quickly become one of the best teams in the Kickers League. The race for the playoffs grows increasingly exciting as the series unfolds.

The first three books in the series: Ball Hogs, Fake Out, and Benched, have already been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections. The fourth book, Game-Day Jitters will complete the series later this year.

“This new series designed for middle-grade readers focuses on soccer skills and sportsmanship and is full of play-by-play action.”

~Kirkus Reviews