Roster Rebound

By Jake Maddox and Maria Lia Malandrino

Nina’s basketball dreams have been dashed. After moving to a small town, she learns her new school doesn’t have enough players to form a girls b-ball team. Nina is bummed until she finds out the boys team is short one player—and anyone can try out. Nina decides to take a shot, and her hoop hopes rebound when she wins a spot on the roster. But not everyone is pleased she made the team. Can Nina prove herself as a power forward? Or will she buckle under pressure when a teammate tries to foul things up? Find out in this exciting, easy-to-read chapter book by Jake Maddox!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Aug 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669033288

Jake Maddox

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler – or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps – literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Book preview

Jake Maddox Sports Stories: Roster Rebound by Natasha Deen, Illustrated by Maria Lia Malandrino

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Chapter One: A New Start

Chapter Two: An Unexpected Surprise

Chapter Three: Sharks at Half-Court

Chapter Four: Shark Bite!

Chapter Five: Tryout Time!

Chapter Six: Practice Problems

Chapter Seven: Game Day Disaster

Chapter Eight: Foul Out

Chapter Nine: Friendship Pivot

Chapter Ten: Game On!

Author Bio

Illustrator Bio

Glossary

Discussion Questions

Writing Prompts

Basketball Lingo

Explore More

Copyright

Back Cover

Cover

Title Page

Table of Contents

Start of Content

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back cover

CHAPTER ONE

A NEW START

Sunshine glinted off the metal rim of the basketball hoop on Nina Jefferson’s driveway. Nina didn’t feel the warmth of the sun, though. She told herself she didn’t feel warm because she was focusing on perfecting her three-point shot.

But that’s not the truth, she thought.

Truthfully, she was using her favorite thing—basketball—to erase the nervousness thrumming through her body. Today was her first day at Willow Heights Middle School.

Her dad’s job as a city administrator meant a move from Minnesota to Janesville, Illinois. Even worse than being the new kid was being the new kid in the middle of the school year. Especially in Janesville. It was a tiny town in the middle of nowhere.

Everyone will already have made friends, Nina thought. Will I spend the rest of the year alone?

The butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Nina balanced the basketball on her finger and spun it. The lines of the ball blurred and some of the