While it is not impossible to love books and sports, I find most readers prefer to curl up with a book than to go out and tackle someone for a ball. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to vicariously read about sports. Here are some sporty books I enjoyed when I was a kid.

Kids

Go for the Gold Gymnasts series by Dominique Moceanu and Alicia Thompson

This middle grade series gets straight into the competitive world of gymnastics touching such points as anorexia, the physical strain on the body, pushy parents and financial straits that come when seriously committing to a sport. And that’s not even getting into the interpersonal relations in a team where you support yet also compete with each other for the top score. This gives a realistic look into the joys and struggles of the sport and as co-written by Olympic champion, Moceanu it fittingly describes and depicts the amazing feats the girls do.

For a kids (and more dated version) of this, try The Gymnasts by Elizabeth Levy.

Silver Blades series by Melissa Lowell

Also based on a tight knit friend group of four, these girls compete in ice skating compeitions across the country and aspire to be in the Olympics. It really emphasizes the hard work and effort that goes into the sport and how dreams can get crushed, competitors can get nasty and

Pretty Tough series

This series, written by various authors, focuses on a different girl for a different sport. More specifically the male-dominated ones like football and baseball as well as classic tennis and basketball. However, unlike what you might think it is not all about fighting sexism (well except the football one). Rather it focuses on how the sport gives them control and passion in their life but how it can also complicate things. From squabbling with formerly close sister-teammates to packed schedules to burgeoning romances, can these girls manage to keep their head in the game. It’s likely, after all they’re pretty tough.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

This is the first book in a sports romance series, and no, the athlete in this book is not the boyfriend. Rather Jordan is the all-state star quarterback of her high school football team and her two crushes are the ones that support her talent. Is it wish fufillment, especially with all the men respecting her and such, maybe? But I enjoy it. It’s really all about the romance and Jordan allowing herself to be vulnerable and swept up into romance. Very sweet.