The Underdogs

Small but fast twelve-year-old Will Tyler, an avid football player in the down-and-out town of Forbes, Pennsylvania, tak... (more)

Small but fast twelve-year-old Will Tyler, an avid football player in the down-and-out town of Forbes, Pennsylvania, takes matters into his own hands to try and finance the city's football team, giving the whole community hope in the process. (less)

The Underdogs tells the story of Karen Shirk, felled at age twenty-four by a neuromuscular disease and facing life as a ... (more)

The Underdogs tells the story of Karen Shirk, felled at age twenty-four by a neuromuscular disease and facing life as a ventilator-dependent, immobile patient, who was turned down by every service dog agency in the country because she was g2stoo disabled.g3s Her nurse encouraged her to tone down the suicidal thoughts, find a puppy, and raise her own service dog. Karen did this, and Ben, a German shepherd, dragged her back into life. g2sHow many people are stranded like I was,g3s she wondered, g2swho would lead productive lives if only they had a dog?g3s A thousand state-of-the-art dogs later, Karen Shirk{u2019}s service dog academy, 4 Paws for Ability, is restoring broken children and their families to life. Author Melissa Fay Greene weaves the latest scientific discoveries about our co-evolution with dogs with Karen{u2019}s story and a few exquisitely rendered stories of suffering children and their heartbroken families. Written with characteristic insight, humanity, humor, and irrepressible joy, the book is a compassionate exploration into our attachment to dogs, what constitutes a productive life, and what can be accomplished with unconditional love. (less)

"A shy, overweight 12-year-old & her best friend take on the case of a popular 16-year-old who died mysteriously leading... (more)

"A shy, overweight 12-year-old & her best friend take on the case of a popular 16-year-old who died mysteriously leading to a breathtaking surprise twist"-- (less)

In Barksdale Academy (in the town of Barksdale) most canines strive to be Best in Show; Nova, Duke, Harley, and Peanut h... (more)

In Barksdale Academy (in the town of Barksdale) most canines strive to be Best in Show; Nova, Duke, Harley, and Peanut have never won anything, but this year Nova is determined to get her pack to pass their agility exam--even though Duke is aftraid of thehigh ramp, Harley just wants to chase squirrels, Peanut can not make it through the hoops, and Nova herself gets so excited she keeps knocking the whole practice course over. (less)

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Will Tyler can fly on a football field. He may not be the biggest running back around, but no one can touch him when it ... (more)

Will Tyler can fly on a football field. He may not be the biggest running back around, but no one can touch him when it comes to hitting the hole and finding the end zone. And no one can match his love of the game. When Will has a football in hand, he may as well be flying for real because life can't touch him - his dad isn't so defeated, his town isn't so poor, and everyone has something to cheer for. All of which does him no good if the football season is canceled. With no funding for things like uniforms and a cared-for playing field, with seemingly every other family moving to find jobs, there simply isn't enough money or players for a season. Unless one kid can rally an entire town and give everyone a reason to believe . . .For fans of his bestselling novels Travel Team and Million-Dollar Throw, Mike Lupica delivers a feel-good sports story that will have readers cheering where they sit. (less)