James Buckley, Jr.
Who Is Lionel Messi?
A solid, accessible intro to Messi's career that highlights his medical journey as much as his goals, making it a good pick for kids who want the 'how' behind the star.
Read this next
All picks after this →Who Is Aaron Judge?
by James Buckley, Jr.
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 650L · 2024
A solid, fact-based intro to Judge's career that balances his stats with the human story of growing up in a small town.
Joey Pigza Loses Control
by Jack Gantos
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 650L · 2002
The best middle-grade book about ADHD from the inside—funny, unflinching about medication and shame, and honest that there's no cure, only managed momentum.
Who Is Shohei Ohtani?
by James Buckley, Jr.
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 650L · 2025
A timely and accessible entry point for young athletes interested in the 'two-way' phenomenon, though it lacks the deep cultural context of a full biography.