Off the Crossbar and Rebel Powerplay are summarized below. Have a read -

Introducing Charlie Joyce - the 14-year old star of David Skuy's new children's book series - the Charlie Joyce Sports Book Series. The first installment in the series is called Off The Crossbar - and things are not going well for Charlie. His father was killed in a tragic accident, and his mother decides to move the family to another town, Terrence Falls. So it's goodbye to all his friends, his school, and his hockey team, and hello to a new high school, where he doesn't know a single person.

The first day of school starts out okay - for about five minutes - when the three toughest kids in grade 9 begin to bully him. Things only go from bad to worse when the teacher announces tryouts for the school hockey team. Every year all the high schools in the area compete in a tournament, the Champions Cup. Charlie is a good player. He thinks this would be a great way to make some friends and get playing again. Unfortunately, his three new "friends" think otherwise. "The team's basically been picked, so why don't you try out for something else," he's told. "We need a towel boy," one kid taunts. "I could use a skate tightener," adds another.

Charlie knows he can't back down - not in front of the entire class. So he takes them on. "I usually let my game do the talking," he fires back. Now he's in for it. He has to try out - and he'd better make good or his classmates will never let him live it down.

So what does a grade 9 kid do? How about start his own team? It’s non-stop action, as Charlie faces up to his new life in Terrence Falls. Will he succeed? Only time will tell, as he battles his way against a mountain of trouble – on and off the ice.

Poor Charlie. All he wants to do is play hockey. But he missed tryouts back in April, and now he faces an entire winter without a team. Tough when all his friends have AAA spots lined up. Just when he resigns himself to missing the season – a new Terrence Falls team enters the league.

Charlie figures everything will be perfect – boy is he wrong! He forgets his arch-enemies - Jake Wilkenson and his crew - play in the same league; and his new team turns out to be a nightmare.

So what does a grade 9 kid do? How about start his own team?

Rebel Powerplay is the supercharged follow up to Off The Crossbar, and establishes Charlie Joyce as a classic sports figure. Charlie loves to play hockey – but will belligerent coaches, jealous teammates, and cheap shots, keep him off the ice?

Find out in Rebel Powerplay.