Library
Mrs. Benton
Collection Total:
2,550 Items
Last Updated:
Sep 10, 2023
The Extreme Team 6: Into the Danger Zone
Matt Christopher*****When an old friend comes to visit, Charlie is not at all happy with the changes he sees—especially when Rick gets reckless on his snowboard, chasing X and some of Charlie's other friends off the slopes.
The Extreme Team 2: Day of the Dragon
Matt Christopher*****While studying kung fu to try to overcome his clumsiness, Mark learns something that may interfere with his friends' plans for a group Halloween costume.
The Extreme Team 3: Roller Hockey Rumble
Matt Christopher*****When Bizz and her friends arrange a high-stakes roller hockey game with another team, Bizz is reminded about the importance of friendship.
The Extreme Team 4: On Thin Ice
Matt Christopher*****Savannah is excited about throwing a holiday ice skating party and has already invited friends from her new school, when she learns that Jonas has invited the crowd from her old school to a party the same day.
The Extreme Team 5: Rock On
Matt Christopher*****X's friends believe he can excel at any extreme sport, so when they want to check out the new climbing wall at the mall, he decides to hide his fear of heights rather than have them think him a coward.
The Extreme Team 7: Wild Ride
Matt Christopher*****Knowing that the mountain trails are unsafe for bicycles due to fallen trees and other obstacles, Jonas helps organize a clean-up crew in early spring, but when he hears someone else biking on the trail he cannot resist a ride of his own.
Finding Buck McHenry
Alfred Slote*****"Daydreamer Jason, 11, has just been [dropped] from his Little League team. Seeking solace at the baseball-card shop, he makes a startling hypothesis: 'Buck McHenry,' star pitcher [of the Negro Leagues], could be school custodian Mack Henry. Mr. Henry's identity, in doubt through much of the book, provides a mystery, a bittersweet revelation, and a satisfyingly dramatic denouement. The characterizations are pungent, the action (on and off the diamond) involving. A solid, rewarding story." —K.

Finalist, 1992 Edgar Allan Poe Award, Juvenile Category (Mystery Writers of America)
Children's Choices for 1992 (IRA/CBC)
Finding Buck McHenry
Alfred Slote*****"Daydreamer Jason, 11, has just been [dropped] from his Little League team. Seeking solace at the baseball-card shop, he makes a startling hypothesis: 'Buck McHenry,' star pitcher [of the Negro Leagues], could be school custodian Mack Henry. Mr. Henry's identity, in doubt through much of the book, provides a mystery, a bittersweet revelation, and a satisfyingly dramatic denouement. The characterizations are pungent, the action (on and off the diamond) involving. A solid, rewarding story." —K.

Finalist, 1992 Edgar Allan Poe Award, Juvenile Category (Mystery Writers of America)
Children's Choices for 1992 (IRA/CBC)
Finding Buck McHenry
Alfred Slote*****"Daydreamer Jason, 11, has just been [dropped] from his Little League team. Seeking solace at the baseball-card shop, he makes a startling hypothesis: 'Buck McHenry,' star pitcher [of the Negro Leagues], could be school custodian Mack Henry. Mr. Henry's identity, in doubt through much of the book, provides a mystery, a bittersweet revelation, and a satisfyingly dramatic denouement. The characterizations are pungent, the action (on and off the diamond) involving. A solid, rewarding story." —K.

Finalist, 1992 Edgar Allan Poe Award, Juvenile Category (Mystery Writers of America)
Children's Choices for 1992 (IRA/CBC)
The Million Dollar Race
Smith, Matthew Ross*****
Power Forward: Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream
Khan, Hena*****
Top Wing
Matt Christopher*****When his father is accused of causing a fire through faulty wiring, Dana tries to get to the bottom of the allegations. But when he discovers the shocking truth, he must decide whether to keep quiet or ruin a reputation by going public.
Bobby Baseball
Robert Kimmel Smith*****Ten-year-old Bobby Ellis loves everything about baseball, from the hits to the hot dogs. That's why he calls himself Bobby Baseball! Every day he dreams of becoming a major league pitcher and joining the stars in the Baseball Hall of Fame. And what better place to start his career than right here on his own Kids Club team, the Hawks?

But the hawks' coach happens to be Bobby's father, who has other ideas. "You're a natural second baseman," he says, expecting Bobby to be a model player who never makes a single mistake. Get real, Dad!

When Bobby pitches three winning games in a row, the Hawks rule. Suddenly Bobby's life seems like one big basball game—games on the field, games on TV, and games in his mind. Can Bobby keep on winning? Can he count on Dad?
The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship between a Boy and a Baseball Legend
Sharon Robinson*****Stephen Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York, which means he only cares about one thing-the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio. Aside from an occasional run-in with his teacher, life is pretty simple for Steve.

But then Steve hears a rumor that an African American family is moving to his all-Jewish neighborhood. It's 1948 and some of his neighbors are against it. Steve knows this is wrong. His hero, Jackie Robinson, broke the color barrier in baseball the year before.

Then it happens—Steve's new neighbor is none other than Jackie Robinson! Steve is beyond excited about living two doors down from the Robinson family. He can't wait to meet Jackie. This is going to be the best baseball season yet! How many kids ever get to become friends with their hero?
The Boy Who Saved Baseball
John H. Ritter*****Tom Gallagher is in a tight spot. The fate of the Dillontown team rests on the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. If Tom's team loses, they lose their field too. But how can they possibly win? Just when everything seems hopeless, a mysterious boy named Cruz de la Cruz rides into town and claims to know the secret of hitting. Not to mention the secrets of Dante Del Gato, Dillontown's greatest hitter ever. Since he walked away from the game years ago, Del Gato hasn't spoken a word to anyone. But now he might be Tom's only hope for saving his hometown. From the award-winning author of Over the Wall and Choosing Up Sides comes this imaginative tale of one boy's struggle to preserve the spirit of the game he loves.
The Million Dollar Shot
Dan Gutman*****Eddie Ball has the chance of a lifetime: to win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot-during halftime at the NBA finals, no less! A million dollars would mean the end to his and his mother's problems. But someone really wants Eddie to shoot an air ball on the big day, and will do anything to sabotage the million dollar shot...
The Basket Counts
Matt Christopher*****On-court hostility threatens Mel's place on the team Mel Jensen is new to the Titans basketball team, but he knows he could be a vital part of the starting lineup-if only two other players would give him a chance to show his stuff. But Caskie and Stoney seem bent on ignoring him, and Mel knows it's because he's black. Should Mel fight fire with fire, or should he try to get along, if only for the sake of the team?
The Great Quarterback Switch
Matt Christopher*****Can Michael and Tom read each other's minds? Michael and Tom Curtis are identical twins who share a love of football. Unfortunately, because of a tragic accident, Michael must watch from the sidelines as his brother calls the plays on the football field. During one game Michael concentrates very hard on a play he thinks could help the team, and Tom calls the exact play a split second later! Is it coincidence, or can the boys communicate through ESP? The boys try a daring experiment in which they push their telepathic powers to the limit ... and suddenly, impossibly, Michael is running the ball for a spectacular touchdown!
Face-off
Matt Christopher*****FACE-OFF A jealous teammate can lead to danger on the ice.... When it comes to skating, Scott Harrison can't be beat. Still, he can't believe it when he's asked to play for the Golden Bears hockey team. But soon his excitement turns to doubt, then fear, when a resentful teammate ruins his confidence. Scott must confront his nemesis or give up his dream of playing hockey forever.
Stealing Home
Matt Christopher*****Joey is sure he will not get along with the exchange student from Nicaragua who is staying with his family for a year, but they find common ground on the baseball field.
Thank You, Jackie Robinson
Barbara Cohen*****After Sam's father died, he became so wrapped up in the Brooklyn Dodgers that he could describe every game they'd played in the past four years. Nobody was very interested, until Sam met Davy. They came from different races, religions, and generations. But it didn't take long before they had a friendship that went well beyond baseball.
Return of the Home Run Kid
Matt Christopher*****Tired of warming the bench, Sylvester Coddmyer III accepts the offer of Cheeko, an ex-ballplayer, to help him improve his game, but Sylvester soon begins to feel that there is something fishy about Cheeko.
Hitting Glory
Robert Skead*****Hitting Glory is the heartwarming story of Lou Gibson, an eleven-year-old boy who finds an old, wooden baseball bat in his school's basement. When Lou recalls that the most famous graduate of his school, Public School #132 in New York, was Yankee great Lou Gehrig, he immediately sets off on a mission to prove that the bat once belonged to "The Pride of the Yankees." Lou's search sends him on a journey of triumph, tragedy and discovery.
Taking Sides
Gary Soto*****Lincoln is in a jam when his basketball team at his new school—where the students are rich and mostly white—faces his old team from the barrio on the boards. How can he play his best against his friends? No matter who wins, it looks like it will be lose-lose for Lincoln.
Taking Sides
Gary Soto*****Lincoln is in a jam when his basketball team at his new school—where the students are rich and mostly white—faces his old team from the barrio on the boards. How can he play his best against his friends? No matter who wins, it looks like it will be lose-lose for Lincoln.
Stealing Home
Mary Stolz*****When Thomas's Great-Aunt Linzy writes that she's coming for a "visit," Grandfather and Thomas have the sinking feeling her visit might last a lifetime.In this sequel to Storm in the Night and Go Fish, Stolz unveils the mixed blessings of having a long-lost relative move in, and all the love that can shine through if you know the secret to being a true family. "Stolz scores with finesse in this masterful book that really hits home." —SLJ.
Winning Season 9: Curveball
Rich Wallace*****The pressures of being an undercover reporter are getting to Eddie Ventura. No one on his baseball team has realized that he is the anonymous writer behind all the great new coverage their team has been getting from their school newspaper. The only problem is?not everyone is thrilled with the stories, or the uncanny way their secrets are being leaked to the press. Should Eddie quit writing for the school newspaper before his secret is uncovered?
Football Genius 1
Tim Green*****Troy White has a phenomenal gift. He can predict football plays before they happen. Any position. Any player. Any team.

When Troy's single mom gets a job working in public relations for the Atlanta Falcons, Troy figures it's his chance to prove what he can do. But first he has to get to the Falcons—and with tight security and a notoriously mean coach, even his mom's field passes aren't much help.

Then Troy and his best friends devise a plan to get the attention of star linebacker Seth Halloway. With Seth's playing and Troy's genius, the Falcons could be unstoppable—if they'll only listen.

Bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green scores a touchdown with this exhilarating novel, his first for young readers. Football Genius is an action-packed adventure with gripping suspense, a hero you can really root for, and an insider's look at the world of professional football.
When Willard Met Babe Ruth
Donald Hall*****It is 1917 in rural New Hampshire when twelve-year-old Willard Babson and his father see a roadster slide into a ditch in front of them. "You know anybody can pull me out of here?" asks the tall young driver—and Willard realizes he's staring at Babe Ruth, the best left-hander in baseball.
Danger Zone
David Klass*****In this award-winning novel, a young basketball star confronts a nightmare of racism in "one of the most thrilling climaxes in recent sports writing".—"Kirkus Review". .
Two-Minute Drill
Mike Lupica*****Chris Conlan is the coolest kid in sixth grade?the golden-armed quarterback of the football team and the boy all the others look up to. Scott Parry is the new kid, the boy with the huge brain, but with feet that trip over themselves. These two boys may seem like an odd couple, but each has a secret that draws them together, and proves that the will to succeed is even more important than raw talent.
Long Shot
Mike Lupica*****From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of HEAT, TRAVEL TEAM, and MILLION-DOLLAR THROW!

Pedro Morales loves playing basketball, but he's more of a team guy than a star - that would be Ned Hancock, the best player in their entire town. The two boys get along well, but their friendship is threatened when Pedro decides to run against Ned for class president. The election starts to affect their team, and Pedro learns who his real friends are and the best way to work together on and off the court.
Summer Ball
Mike Lupica*****The sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Travel Team!

When you're the smallest kid playing a big man's game, the challenges never stop—especially when your name is Danny Walker. Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny's heading to Right Way basketball camp for the summer, and he knows that with the country's best players in attendance, he's going to need to take his game up a notch if he wants to match up. But it won't be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny wondering if he really does have what it takes to stand tall.
Hot Hand
Mike Lupica*****From #1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica!

It's simple. All Billy Raynor wants to do is shoot. After all, he is one of the best shooters in the league. But with his dad as his coach, and his parents newly separated, somehow everything's become complicated. His brother Ben hardly talks anymore. His mom is always traveling on business. And his dad is always on his case about not being a team player. But when Ben's piano recital falls on the same day as the championship game, it's Billy who teaches his dad the meaning of being a team player.
Travel Team
Mike Lupica*****The #1 Bestseller!

Twelve-year-old Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court — but don't tell him that. Because no one plays with more heart or court sense. But none of that matters when he is cut from his local travel team, the very same team his father led to national prominence as a boy. Danny's father, still smarting from his own troubles, knows Danny isn't the only kid who was cut for the wrong reason, and together, this washed-up former player and a bunch of never-say-die kids prove that the heart simply cannot be measured.

For fans of The Bad News Bears, Hoosiers, the Mighty Ducks, and Mike Lupica's other New York Times bestselling novels Heat, The Underdogs, and Million-Dollar Throw, here is a book that proves that when the game knocks you down, champions stand tall.
Heat
Mike Lupica*****The #1 Bestseller!

Michael Arroyo has a pitching arm that throws serious heat along with aspirations of leading his team all the way to the Little League World Series. But his firepower is nothing compared to the heat Michael faces in his day-to-day life. Newly orphaned after his father led the family’s escape from Cuba, Michael’s only family is his seventeen-yearold brother Carlos. If Social Services hears of their situation, they will be separated in the foster-care system—or worse, sent back to Cuba. Together, the boys carry on alone, dodging bills and anyone who asks too many questions. But then someone wonders how a twelve-year-old boy could possibly throw with as much power as Michael Arroyo throws. With no way to prove his age, no birth certificate, and no parent to fight for his cause, Michael’s secret world is blown wide open, and he discovers that family can come from the most unexpected sources.

Perfect for any Little Leaguer with dreams of making it big—as well as for fans of Mike Lupica's other New York Times bestsellers Travel Team, The Big Field, The Underdogs, Million-Dollar Throw, and The Game Changers series, this cheer-worthy baseball story shows that when the game knocks you down, champions stand tall.
Safe at Home
Mike Lupica*****Nick Crandall feels like he doesn't belong anywhere. He doesn't fit in with his new foster parents. They don't know the first thing about sports - and he's not exactly the model student they want him to be. It's only a matter of time until they realize he's not the right kid for them. And Nick certainly doesn't belong playing varsity baseball. He's only twelve years old! His teammates want a catcher their own age. But Nick needs to prove that he belongs - to his parents, to his team, and to himself.
Safe at Home
Mike Lupica*****Nick Crandall feels like he doesn't belong anywhere. He doesn't fit in with his new foster parents. They don't know the first thing about sports - and he's not exactly the model student they want him to be. It's only a matter of time until they realize he's not the right kid for them. And Nick certainly doesn't belong playing varsity baseball. He's only twelve years old! His teammates want a catcher their own age. But Nick needs to prove that he belongs - to his parents, to his team, and to himself.
The Big Field
Mike Lupica*****Playing shortstop is a way of life for Hutch?not only is his hero, Derek Jeter, a shortstop, but so was his father, a former local legend turned pro. Which is why having to play second base feels like demotion to second team. Yet that?s where Hutch ends up after Darryl ?D-Will? Williams, the best shortstop prospect since A-Rod, joins the team. But Hutch is nothing if not a team player, and he?s cool with playing in D-Will?s shadow?until, that is, the two shortstops in Hutch?s life betray him in a way he never could have imagined. With the league championship on the line, just how far is Hutch willing to bend to be a good teammate?
King of the Mound: My Summer with Satchel Paige
Wes Tooke*****Baseball legend Satchel Paige changes a boy’s life in this coming-of-age tale from the author of Lucky.

When Nick is released from the hospital after suffering from polio, he is sure that his father will never look at him in the same way again. Once the best pitcher in youth league, Nick now walks with a limp and is dependent on a heavy leg brace. He isn’t sure he will ever return to the mound, never mind be the star he once was.

When Nick starts working for Mr. Churchill, the owner of the semiprofessional team Nick’s dad plays for, he meets Satchel Paige, arguably the best pitcher in the world. Not allowed in the major leagues because of his skin color, Satchel teaches Nick that some things can be overcome with hard work and dedication, and that just because you’re down, you are most certainly not out.

As Satchel and his unique teammates barnstorm toward a national baseball tournament, Nick wonders if he can really overcome what seems like the impossible and pitch again.
Stotan!
Chris Crutcher*****Stotan: A cross between a Stoic and a Spartin

It's the last swimming season for Walker, Nortie, Lion, and Jeff, and their coach is building their self-discipline in a grueling four-hour-a-day test of stamina designed to bring them to the outer edge of their capabilities.

As it turns out, Stotan Week is also the week in which secrets are revealed, and the four friends must draw upon their new strengths for an endurance they never knew they'd need.