Books by Jake Maddox

For twelve-year-old Autumn Holloway, a week at Blazing Hoops wheelchair basketball camp is a dream come true. She has high hopes that it will be her ticket to making friends and connections in the adaptive sports community. But Autumn struggles to fit in with her wealthier fellow campers. To make matters worse, she has to use a borrowed basketball wheelchair that keeps needing repairs. It takes a chance encounter to help Autumn realize that, no matter where she's from or how she speaks, she belongs at camp - and on the court - just as much as anyone else.

Fourteen-year old Aarash is nervous to start his first year at Freemont Central High School. Though his family has lived in the country since he was eight years old, Aarash still feels like an outsider. Then an older friend suggests Aarash join the school's wrestling team. Aarash is nervous but tries out anyway and is excited to make the team. But a bully on the mat makes Aarash rethink everything. Can he see his commitment through? Or will taking it to the mat cost more than he's willing to sacrifice?

Cameron Jones plays football not because he loves it, but because his dad believes he will one day earn a big prize: a university funding bursary. When his father's new job takes him from the big city to a small-town team, Cameron thinks it might be his chance to take a step back from the game. His new team is unorganized and his teammates seem uninterested in the discipline it takes to win. But maybe this new team is exactly what Cameron needs to make football fun again.

Layla loves playing basketball, especially with her best friend, Danika. Now, after spending most of the summer getting ready for trials, Layla is eager to move from substitute player to becoming one of the starting five. When trials finally arrive, Layla not only makes the first team but she's also chosen to be the team captain. All of her friends and teammates are excited for her. All, that is, except Danika who is jealous of her friend's success. Layla soon discovers that being both team captain and best friends with Danika is no easy task. Can Layla be a good team captain and a good friend?

Eager to follow in his father's footsteps, Ramon Hill wants nothing more than to be a starting attacker on his lacrosse team. But his dreams don't go as planned, and he's moved to a different position. Playing as a midfielder lets Ramon put his skills and talent to best use, but he can't help but feel disappointed. Will his new position lead to bigger and better things for him and his team?

Karate is the most important thing in Aliyah's life. It allows her to fight - and she's good at that. It also makes her feel like a winner. Nothing is more important to Aliyah than taking down an opponent, especially if it's her main rival, Suma. Things soon change with the arrival of a new student, Zoya, who also happens to be Suma's little sister. Aliyah sees something familiar in Zoya - an anger and aggression that reminds Aliyah of herself. Upon the request of Suma, and with the approval of the sensei, Aliyah agrees to train Zoya. Through their training, she helps Zoya control her anger but also manages to learn a valuable lesson of her own - winning isn't everything.

Nita and Sohail are thrilled when they win scholarships to attend the Alaska Young Explorers program. Both kids could use the prize money to help their families and set out to compete as hard as they can. But things take a turn when they're paired up on an expedition. The two make a misstep while hiking down a glacier and find themselves in dangerous territory. Nita and Sohail will have to depend on each other and learn to work together ... if they want to survive the Alaskan wilderness.

Jasmine Lopez and her brother Arjun love exploring the coral reefs around Fiji, where their marine biologist parents are stationed. Jasmine, already a certified scuba diver, dreams of following in her parents' footsteps and wants to help Arjun do the same.

After a big growth spurt, dancer Mercy Smyth feels completely out of step. It's going to take a lot of extra work and money that Mercy doesn't have to bring her skills back to competition level. Will Mercy ever feel graceful again?