Middle Grade Sports

Written for 10- to 13-year-old readers, VOLLEYBALL VIBE (James Lorimer & Co., Ltd.) shows how engagement in sports can boost self-esteem, and foster responsibility and teamwork. When Ria’s mom insists she must stop spending so much time on her cell phone, Ria reluctantly tries out for the volleyball team at her junior high school in Edmonton. Sutton, the determined team captain, starts to train Ria off the court. Although Ria does not become a superstar athlete, she realizes even small improvements in her volleyball skills boost her confidence and help her contribute . She further discovers the rewards of challenging herself and connecting with her teammates. Playing in the final match is the icing on the cake.

VOLLEYBALL VIBE is inclusive to reluctant readers, and is written for young people aged 10 to 13 years old.

The story is set in Edmonton, and it follows the volleyball system of play used within Edmonton Public School Board. With input from Volleyball Alberta and from an experienced Edmonton-based referee of junior-high, high school, and club-level volleyball, VOLLEYBALL VIBE is filled with game action and team dynamics that young people will relate to. It also features a sport that has overtaken girls' basketball in popularity.