Bump, Set, Gabby!

About this book

Gabby Reyes has been preparing for this tryout her whole athletic life. She has logged the drills, watched the film, and kept the journal. When she walks into the Westbrook Middle School gym on tryout day, she knows exactly what she wants: a spot on the sixth-grade squad as the starting libero.What she does not know yet is what the season will actually ask of her.Over twelve weeks of practice and eight matches, Gabby will learn to read the game three moves ahead, navigate a complicated partnership with the brilliant and exacting setter Zoe Park, support a teammate through a crisis that has nothing to do with volleyball, survive a technical slump that only gets worse the harder she thinks about it, and play the match of her life in a conference final she does not win."Bump, Set, Gabby!" is a middle-grade volleyball novel for girls ages 9-12 who are ready for a sports story that takes both the sport and the reader seriously. Each chapter is 900-1,000 words, with a narrative voice that trusts young athletes to think deeply about competition, teamwork, failure, and growth. Perfect for: Girls ages 9-12 playing school or club volleyball, or about to start their first competitive seasonMiddle-grade readers who want sports fiction with emotional depth and a strong female protagonistParents and educators seeking books that model resilience, self-awareness, and leadership through sportGift buyers looking for a meaningful, age-appropriate present for a tween athlete