Courage on the Line

Cynthia Bates, an Ottawa teacher and coach who has worked with hundreds of young athletes, brings authentic sports experience to Amelie's story — a girl who changes schools and then must face her former teammates across a basketball court. At 117 pages, the book is compact enough for reluctant readers while still giving the themes of courage, loyalty, and belonging room to breathe. The relatable premise extends well beyond basketball fans: any child who has navigated a new school will recognize Amelie's particular vulnerability. The honest caveats: this title has minimal mainstream critical coverage, specific plot details were not fully confirmable from available sources, and distribution has been largely limited to Canada. For middle-grade sports fiction readers, particularly girls, it's a clean and well-grounded option — just not always easy to find.