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Description
It's been a year since Robert's brother died, and Robert is miserable. He no longer cares about school or friends, and he's angry all the time.
When Robert is forced to join the soccer team, he wants to hate it. But the team's energy is contagious. Robert channels his brother's love of music into his game and starts rocking his time as goalie.
The name Jake Maddox has become synonymous with sports books for kids, and these two titles depict the lives of young athletes with maturity and depth. In Horseback Hardships, Leah moves to a new town, which comes with challenges to her love of riding horses, as her passion creates both friendship and strife among others. Rock 'n' Goal, and underdog soccer story for new player Robert, is a study of how the loss of a loved one can be both debilitating and encouraging at the same time. Added to both heartfelt stories is plenty of vocabulary and information to help readers unfamiliar with the sport gain knowledge. Leah and Robert are positive examples of young people who don't let hardship stop them from becoming the best version of themselves. VERDICT This series continues to enrich the lives of those it reaches, motivating kids to excel in sports and foster a love of reading.
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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. ¿Quién es Jake Maddox? ¿Atleta, autor, viajero mundial o los tres? Ha surfeado en Hawái, buceado en Australia y escalado las montañas de Perú y Alaska. Sus libros abarcan desde los deportes de equipo más populares hasta actividades al aire libre, aventuras de supervivencia e incluso carreras de autos. Sus hazañas han inspirado a numerosos escritores a seguir sus pasos, ¡literalmente! Cada una de sus historias está marcada por el trabajo en equipo, el juego limpio y un fuerte sentido de autoestima y disciplina. Siempre un jugador de equipo, Maddox se da cuenta de que se necesita más de una persona para crear un libro lo suficientemente bueno para un joven lector. Espera que las lecciones aprendidas en la cancha, el campo o la arena y el ritmo de velocista campeón de sus libros puedan motivar a los niños a convertirse en mejores atletas y lectores de por vida.
