• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 13 to 18

Playing ball is what keeps Podium Sports Academy's basketball captain going when things get rough. When there's trouble back home, Allie turns to basketball. Ditto when her relationship is in trouble or when she's at odds with her friends. But then tragedy strikes when an old knee injury resurfaces and Allie is told she might not be able to play again. With her hope of a future as an elite basketball player gone, Allie is overwhelmed with dark thoughts and feels she has nothing left to live for. That is, until unexpected support comes from two unlikely sources: her folks back home and her friends at Podium, her home away from home.
[Fry Reading Level - 3.0

LORNA SCHULTZ NICHOLSON a grandi à St. Catharines, en Ontario. Enfant, elle aimait lire, écrire et jouer à plusieurs sports. Elle a joué en tant que défenseure dans une équipe de hockey féminine et elle était membre de l'équipe nationale d'aviron. Elle est une auteure reconnue de livres destinés aux pré-ados et ados, de la série d'albums illustrés Puckster et de plusieurs livres documentaires sur le hockey. Lorna habite à Edmonton, en Alberta.

LORNA SCHULTZ NICHOLSON grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario, and as a child loved to read, write and compete in all kinds of sports. She is the respected author of many middle-grade and YA novels, the Puckster picture book series, and several non-fiction books about hockey, including the Amazing Hockey Stories series. Lorna lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her family. Not surprisingly, she is a HUGE Edmonton Oilers fan. Visit her online at www.lornaschultznicholson.com.

Lorna Schultz Nicholson's profile page

• Winner, Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens

"The [Podium series is designed to connect with teens by dramatically leading them through the possibilities their choices create and offering suggestions for successful outcomes. Author Lorna Schultz Nicholson achieves this without preaching to her readers."

Canadian Review of Materials (CM)

"A very well written book about teens in high school, who don't have just the regular pressures of high school and growing up to deal with, but are also high performing athletes . . . Highly recommended to young readers."

NetGalley reviewer

"Allie leads a cast of well-drawn, multicultural characters, some of whom have starred in other Podium books, giving a cohesive feel to this fictional high school. The action flows naturally, alternating between scenes of intense basketball action, solitary angst, and hanging with friends. Readers will identify with AllieÂs struggles and second-guess her choices, making this a valuable and worthwhile read for all teens -- elite athletes or not. Gripping, relatable and fast-paced, these books will appeal to a wide-ranging audience, particularly to teens reading below age level."

National Reading Campaign

"Hoop Dreams is the perfect book for my students who need a short novel to get them engaged in reading again. Thank you to Lorimer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I will be ordering this and others for my struggling readers."

NetGalley Reviewer

"I'm really impressed with the writing and character development. Dialogue is realistic, and the pacing is exciting. Will be recommending more from the Podium series."

Educator at Vancouver School Board

"Podium Sports Academy is a great concept. Take the pressures of a regular high school experience and dial them up tenfold -- and you have Podium Sports Academy."

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