Book List for Manuel
The first three books are all nonfiction (true stories) that are both sports/competition related and inspiring. All three tell the stories of people who had to overcome odds in order to achieve their goals.
Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
The story of the University of Washington 8 man rowing team made up of a group of working class boys, sons of loggers, farmers and shipyard workers who challenge and beat the elite East Coast teams and go on to challenge the team rowing for Hitler in the Olympics. We own both the original adult version and a young adult abbreviated version with additional photographs. This book has received tons of well deserved praise.
Spare Parts by Joshua Davis
Tells the story of 4 undocumented, Mexican American students at the University of California who enter an underwater robotics competition with their spare part robot and compete against elite science teams from IVY league schools, one which is backed by a large grant from Exxon.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Unbroken is the story of Louis Zamperini, an olympic athlete who is called to duty during the Second World War. When his plane is shot down in the ocean he spends a harrowing 47 days before being captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war. We own this book in the young adult version.
The next two books are about teamwork and what happens when you think about the world outside of yourself. And the third is an action packed mystery.
Losers Take All by David Klass
At Jack Logan's sports crazy high school, everyone must play on a team. As revenge, he and his ant-athletic friends start a JV soccer team with the goal of never winning. But things don't go as plan when they actually start winning and people start noticing.
Pop by Gordon Korman
Marcus moves to a new town during the summer and doesn't know a single person. While he is practicing football by himself he meets an older man who begins coaching him and who turns out to be a legendary retired NFL player. The trouble starts when school starts and Marcus finds an enemy in his new friend's son.
Fake ID by Lamar Giles
Nick Pearson's family is given one more chance in the witness protection program that has moved them all around the country. At his new school he stumbles upon a conspiracy and when a new friend is murdered he is forced to decide whether to stay low key (the motto of those in witness protection) or strike out and try to find the killer.
The last three titles are just good stories.
Living With Jack Chan by Jo Knowles
Josh moves in with his karate loving Uncle and has to attend a news school after fathering a baby with a girl from his old school. While he deals with his guilt and shame, he starts practicing karate and figure out who he is and where he belongs.
Paper Towns by John Green
Paper Towns is about Quentin, his love for the girl next door and the epic adventure he embarks on after she goes missing and leaves clues for him alone.
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
The best book about bullying i have ever read. Lucky Linderman has a bully, Nader MacMillan. As the bullying increases, Lucky begins to escape in his dreams to the jungles of Vietnam, where his MIA grandfather offers life wisdom and the opportunity to be the hero.