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Books for young adults by Carl Deuker

Coming Fall of 2024

Selection from Shadowed

"If Colin is open," Varner says to me, "get him the ball. If not, you take the final shot. Bryce, Arthur—you two hit the boards. Everybody got it."

    We nod. The horn sounds.

    Colin inbounds to me. Charles posts, and I feed him the ball. Colin's man drops down to double-team, and Charles passes the ball back out to me. Colin breaks hard toward the hoop, then stops on a dime and spots up in the corner. He's wide-open, clapping his hands, calling for the ball. The crowd has been counting down the seconds . . . "Six . . . Five . . . Four . . ." He's a good shooter, he's got a clean look, and I've got time.

    I know the right play, but I don't make it.

    Instead, I take a hard dribble toward the hoop and pull up for a fifteen-footer. A defender is on me, his hand in my face. Somehow I get the shot off, but the ball barely draws iron; Rainier Beach snags the rebound; the horn sounds.

    Game over.

Available Now! 

Audio version also available.

 

Laz has a major league arm, but how can he get a major league team to look at him? 

Booklist--Starred Review of Golden Arm

Deuker's realistic novel pits poverty, friendship, teamwork, self-reliance, and supportive adults against wealth, privilege, overambition, and overbearing helicopter parents. Even readers who don't like baseball will be riveted to this human-interest, underdog story. J.B. Perry

GOLDEN ARM 
Nominations and commendations

Bluegrass Award (Kentucky)

Sequoyah Book Award (Oklahoma)

Black-Eyed Susan Award (Maryland)

Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award

Amazon Best Book April 2020

Junior Library Guild Selection

When his time comes, will Brock find the courage he needs?
*****
 
"Deuker antes up the complexity of a formulaic plot by painting his characters in shades of gray. Richie Fang is stubbornly annoying, and he seems to beg for the role of victim; Hunter is becoming aware that he can't be a star QB without an equally talented receiver; Mr. Gates is discovering that there are aspects of his son's future he can't secure or control. Fans who count on Deuker to put a provocative spin on an already satisfying story won't be disappointed."  Elizabeth Bush, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
Swagger is now available in paperback and hardcover
Gym Candy
Runner
Night Hoops is out in a new edition with excellent paper and print quality. Many thanks to Graphia for the fine work.