In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl, here are a dozen young adult novels featuring football.
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Jordan is captain and quarterback of her high school's football team. A new guy in school threatens her position and could put her hopes for college scholarship in jeopardy.
Crackback by John Coy
Miles used to enjoy playing football. Now he has been sidelined by a new coach, and he feels pressured by his father and his teammates.
Crossing Lines by Paul Volponi
Adonis struggles to do the right thing when the other football players bully a new student.
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
D.J. has spent the summer working on her family's dairy farm and training the quarterback of her school's rival team. She shocks everyone when she then decides to go out for her school's team.
Leverage by Joshua Cohen
Gymnast Danny and her teammates are bullied by football players. Then a new student joins the football team and becomes her unlikely friend.
Love, Football, and Other Contact Sports by Alden R. Carter
A collection of short stories set in high school follows students both popular and not.
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
Nate's family desperately needs money and his best friend needs an operation to prevent her from going blind. He has the chance to win a million dollars through a throw at half-time at a Patriot's game.
Payback Time by Carl Deuker
Mitch reluctantly agrees to cover football for the school paper, and he senses a hidden story in Angel.
Pop by Gordon Korman
Marcus becomes friends with a retired professional linebacker whose odd behavior gets Marcus in trouble.
Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game by John Feinstein
Eighth graders Stevie and Susan Carol solve a mystery at the Army-Navy game.
Running Wild by Thomas J. Dygard
Pete discovers his love for football when the coach and a police officer encourage him to join the team. His old gang comes looking for him jeopardizing his new life.
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
Tired of being ignored by her boyfriend in favor of a feud, Lissa comes up with a radical plan to end the rivalry between the football and soccer teams.