When four-year-old Conner starts pleading for hockey skates, his mother's dreamy fantasies of après ski's toasty fires, charming chalets, and chilled chardonnay rapidly evaporate. Soon, Astra reluctantly raises the white flag to the culture of hockey, and life becomes a whirlwind of early morning alarms, minivans stuffed with massive amounts of goalie equipment, ice-cold arenas, and appalling nutrition. Offside by a Mile - Confessions of a Hockey Mom, chronicles the frantic and frequently hilarious challenges of one family's fourteen-year odyssey into the world of minor hockey. The universal challenges, joys, and sorrows of supporting childhood passions at the cost of home-decorating ambitions, healthy diet avowals, personal time, gobs of money, full-nights' sleep, or any sort of downtime or personal freedom will be recognizable to parents everywhere. But with its wickedly frank and funny perspectives, Offside by a Mile offers a bubbly and refreshing tonic for it all....

Explore the extraordinary journey of young athletes in At the Death, the first compelling book in the Hampshire United Trilogy. This novel is not just about soccer; it delves deeper into themes of team spirit, friendship, and personal achievement, resonating with sports enthusiasts and young adult readers alike. At the Death transcends the typical sports narrative, weaving in social and spiritual elements as the team ventures into the afterlife. Facing their greatest sports and life challenges, the players learn invaluable lessons about strategy, camaraderie, and the essence of a perfectly played game. Join the Hampshire United team as they discover the true meaning of life and sportsmanship in a story that will captivate soccer fans of all levels. The strong young soccer players in At the Death have more on their minds and in their hearts than soccer, though team spirit is everything and embraces competition, friendship, pride in personal achievement and sports abilities, and how to face a worthy opponent. But there's more at stake here than beating odds or opposing teams, for At the Death takes soccer one step beyond in moving into the afterlife with a game that holds social and spiritual ramifications for all its players. The school team faces some of its biggest sports and life challenges and learns from the choices its members make about their friendships, strategies, and plays. What's the secret of a perfectly played game, and what happens when a team headed for their ultimate success faces their greatest test on another plane of existence? As the Hampshire United team comes to understand the true nature of life's meaning, soccer fans with all levels of familiarity with the sport receive a vivid story of this team's greatest victory.

'Mum there's something under my bed, ' Katy said as she forced her Mum's eyes open, 'Mum please wake up because there's something under my bed and it's making funny noises and it sounds like it's talking to itself, ' and when they looked there was indeed a wee something and from somewhere way in the back of Katy's Mum's wee brain she somehow knew that it had been under her bed when she was Katy's age but what she couldn't remember was what it had actually looked like so she hoped that this wee alien would explain who he or she was and why it was her

The inside story of The Jam and The Style Council by the man who oversaw their careers! Record industry executive Dennis Munday's frank account reveals the trials and triumphs of Paul Weller's career, from The Jam's first single in 1977 to the break-up of The Style Council in 1989. He also writes about Weller's post-style Council solo career with a unique insight. Working for Polydor, the author became a regular presence at the two groups' many recording sessions, effectively becoming an honorary member of both The Jam and The Style Council. Despite a sometimes stormy relationship with the band members - and eventually leaving Polydor - Munday was the vital link between Paul Weller and his record company or years. Here then is a uniquely intimate portrait of a rock hero and two influential groups written by someone who was at the heart of the action. This new edition of Shout To The Top has been updated to include details of Paul's new album 22 Dreams, ongoing changes in the line-up to his band and the emergence of From The Jam, the group featuring Paul's former colleagues Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler which is touring the world performing a set of Jam songs to great acclaim.

Presents 101 stories about embracing and making the most of those long winter months.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling YA author Stacey Lee’s final book in her debut middle grade duology: a whimsical, mile-a-minute adventure inspired by Chinese mythology. Twelve-year-old Winston Chu has already rescued his sister, saved the moon’s qi, and kicked Mr. Pang’s sorry magpie-turned-human butt to the curb—but now he’s about to face an even bigger problem: Mr. Pang’s older magpie-turned-human brother, Mr. Gu. Sure, Mr. Gu might be the current front-runner to be San Francisco’s next mayor, but, as Winston knows all too well, appearances can be deceiving—and Mr. Gu, despite his cheerful laugh and brightly-colored shirts, is definitely hiding something. Because all of a sudden, there’s an eerily punctual fog that seems to follow him on his trips to an island in the bay. And grown-ups are turning up all the across the city with no memory of who they are, but with plenty of enthusiasm for their favorite mayoral candidate. And then there’s the flocks of exotic birds that have begun amassing in every corner of the city. For Winston and his friends, there’s no denying something. . . fowl. . . is afoot. And the only one who might have the answers they need to save the city? Their old nemesis, Mr. Pang. . . Winston’s magical adventures come to a thrilling end in this whimsical, rollicking ride filled with invisible windbreakers, mischievous mustaches, and badminton rackets of destiny. Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, soon to be a series on Disney+.

Brendan Cummins has made more senior hurling championship appearances than any other player in the history of the game. In an era that produced such brilliant goalkeeping talents as Davy Fitzgerald, Donal Óg Cusack and Damien Fitzhenry, many would argue that Cummins has earned the right to be considered the greatest of them all. Following his League debut for Tipperary in November 1993, Cummins went on to play at the top of the intercounty game for 19 consecutive seasons. He won two senior All Ireland medals, five Munster championships, four League titles and five All Star awards. From fearless shot-stopping to pinpoint accuracy on his puck-outs, Cummins was unrivalled in the consistency of his performances, a consistency underpinned by a sometimes punishing physical commitment, mental discipline and great attention to detail. He was the rock upon which Tipperary built their team under many managers and changes of personnel. Brendan Cummins' story is the story of Tipperary hurling over the last two decades. The ups and downs. The dramas. The characters. From his senior championship debut in 1995 under Fr. Tom Fogarty to his final games under Eamon O’Shea, Cummins has seen it all. Standing My Ground is a remarkable account of an extraordinary career.