(4) YA Gridiron series. A former-soccer-player girl learns to become a kicker (Extra); a senior running back loses his spot to the new kid (False); a competitive linebacker considers pushing his concussed teammate back into a game (Hit). While lacking meaty plot lines, lessons about overcoming individual trials and practicing good sportsmanship are woven through these football-focused hi-lo novels. There are three other fall 2017 books in this series. Review covers these Gridiron titles: The Late Hit, False Start, and The Extra Point.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 SportsZone: Playmakers series. Each athlete profile written for newly independent readers begins with a short action anecdote. After some brief family and childhood background, the bulk of each adulatory biography deals with the development of the athlete from rookie to seasoned professional; charitable and community-building behaviors are briefly mentioned. Color photos help to personalize the rather bland narratives. Facts and quotes are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these SportsZone: Playmakers titles: Michelle Wie, Maya Moore, Mike Trout, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Rory McIlroy.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone series. Covering history, equipment, and some high-performing drivers in each event, these volumes provide readers with straightforward introductions to six motorsports. The books include details of the rules governing the sport, the vehicles used, and course requirements. Color and black-and-white photos and sidebars compete for attention with text on busily designed pages. The small-size font may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone titles: Rock Crawling, Tractor Pulling, Demolition Derby, Mud Truck Racing, Monster Trucks, and Rally Car Racing.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone series. Covering history, equipment, and some high-performing drivers in each event, these volumes provide readers with straightforward introductions to six motorsports. The books include details of the rules governing the sport, the vehicles used, and course requirements. Color and black-and-white photos and sidebars compete for attention with text on busily designed pages. The small-size font may put off some readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone titles: Rock Crawling, Tractor Pulling, Demolition Derby, Mud Truck Racing, Monster Trucks, and Rally Car Racing.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Great Warriors series. Ancient and medieval warriors are explored in these volumes. Each book provides a brief history of the fighters, details their arms and tactics, and delves into the lengthy training it took to become a gladiator or knight. Color illustrations and sidebars provide additional details. "Stop and think" questions promote critical thinking. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Warrior titles: Knights and Gladiators.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Counterattack series. Each of these formulaic novels focuses on a player from the Fraser High School girls soccer team. Along with team dynamics and soccer action, the narratives concern such issues as homosexuality, family responsibilities, and eating disorders. Characters aren't very nuanced, but the topics and sports angle will help this hi-lo series find an audience. Review covers these Counterattack titles: Under Pressure, Offside, Archenemy, and Out of Snyc.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 SportsZone: Sports' Biggest Moments series. These books offer a potpourri of memorable, unexpected, or groundbreaking moments in college, professional, and Olympic sports where even stars make mistakes and where sometimes little-known players become overnight heroes because of clutch performances. Compelling archival photos and well-placed sidebars supplement the dramatic action narratives that diehard young sports fans will devour. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these SportsZone: Sports' Biggest Moments titles: Biggest Chokes in Sports, Biggest Blunders in Sports, Greatest Comebacks in Sports, and Biggest Upsets in Sports.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Playmakers series. Part biographical narratives, part game commentaries, this series follows current elite NFL quarterbacks. Each book focuses on the player's athletic accomplishments (Luck's record-setting rookie year) but also on their backgrounds and personal lives (Kaepernick's adoptive upbringing). The text is dry, but exciting color photographs and "fun facts and quotes" add interest for reluctant readers and sports fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Playmakers titles: Joe Flacco, Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, and Colin Kaepernick.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman

(4) 4-6 Playmakers series. Part biographical narratives, part game commentaries, this series follows current elite NFL quarterbacks. Each book focuses on the player's athletic accomplishments (Luck's record-setting rookie year) but also on their backgrounds and personal lives (Kaepernick's adoptive upbringing). The text is dry, but exciting color photographs and "fun facts and quotes" add interest for reluctant readers and sports fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Playmakers titles: Joe Flacco, Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, and Colin Kaepernick.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman

(3) YA Unsolved Mysteries series. Archival photographs and sidebars combine with straightforward texts to discuss two criminal cases that continue to be compelling. Testimonies, evidence, and suspects are clearly presented along with current technologies that could solve these thirty-plus-year-old mysteries today. A concluding "Tools and Clues" feature recaps initial and current investigations. These well-researched titles will appeal to forensics and criminal justice fans. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Unsolved Mysteries titles: The Boston Strangler and The D.B. Cooper Hijacking.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Playmakers series. This series presents athlete biographies for middle-grade readers. Hometowns, family lives, and charitable work are briefly noted, but the dry text mostly highlights players' careers. "Fun Facts and Quotes" offer more personal information: Nowitzki refuses to endorse products to earn extra money; Brady almost always signs autographs when asked. Captioned color photographs add interest. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Playmakers titles: Dirk Nowitzki, Tom Brady, Carmelo Anthony, and Roy Halladay.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) YA Negro Baseball Leagues series. Despite occasional photo caption inaccuracies, this series is a worthy addition to any baseball collection. Who wouldn't admire players such as "Pop" Lloyd, who was hit by a foul ball in his left eye, hit in the right eye four innings later, and showed up to play the following day? Frequent quotations and plentiful archival photographs enliven this fascinating period in sports history. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Negro Baseball League titles: Great Hitters of the Negro Leagues, Great Pitchers of the Negro Leagues, The Negro Leagues' Integration Era, and The Story of the Negro Leagues.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) YA Negro Baseball Leagues series. Despite occasional photo caption inaccuracies, this series is a worthy addition to any baseball collection. Who wouldn't admire players such as "Pop" Lloyd, who was hit by a foul ball in his left eye, hit in the right eye four innings later, and showed up to play the following day? Frequent quotations and plentiful archival photographs enliven this fascinating period in sports history. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Negro Baseball League titles: Great Hitters of the Negro Leagues, Great Pitchers of the Negro Leagues, The Negro Leagues' Integration Era, and The Story of the Negro Leagues.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin