Maggie Vaults Over the Moon

by Grant Overstake, Katerina Stefanidi (Foreword by), Melissa I White (Contribution by)

Overview

"Girls who play sports and the coaches and families who support them will thoroughly enjoy this warm, uplifting story." -Christine Brennan, Best-Selling Author of "On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports."

"A fine YA novel about perseverance in sports and in life." -KIRKUS REVIEWS

When a fiery car crash kills her older brother, Maggie Steele is trapped. Grieving and shattered, she is left to grind the gears of a giant grain truck on her family's Kansas farm, staring at a future that feels as flat and empty as the plains around her. To escape her nightmare, she discovers a daring path forward: the pole vault.

It's a sport of defiance, of launching your body skyward to battle the crushing pull of gravity-and for Maggie, it's her only hope. But as she fights to master the dangerous discipline, she faces small-town ridicule, Title IX roadblocks, and the haunting voice of her own self-doubt.

The crossbar is raised higher and higher, a fragile boundary between the girl she is and the person she could become. With everything on the line, can she find the courage to silence the haters, trust her instincts, and finally soar?

More Than a Story: An Essential Tool for Athletes, Coaches, and Teams

This definitive edition of Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is designed to inspire champions on and off the field. It features exclusive content to spark discussion and build mental resilience:

• Foreword by Katerina Stefanidi, the reigning Olympic Pole Vault Champion.

• Chapter Discussion Questions crafted by Dr. Melissa I. White, a Language Arts Teacher with a Doctorate in Sport Psychology, designed to explore themes of perseverance, goal-setting, and overcoming adversity.

"An inspirational pick for young adult fiction collections." --MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781732304758
Publisher:	Grain Valley Publishing Company
Publication date:	05/11/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	246
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

The author of two award-winning novels, Grant Overstake began his notable journalism career at age 18 as a part-time reporter for The Wichita Eagle. He went on to graduate from the University of Kansas journalism school where he won the William Randolph Hearst Award, considered the Pulitzer Prize for college journalists. At age 24, he joined The Miami Herald, a paper that shaped many best-selling authors. Grant returned to the Sunflower State to edit weekly papers, earning numerous Kansas Press Association Awards, and two Golden Wheat Awards from the Kansas Farm Bureau. Grant's first novel, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon (2012) earned rave reviews from Kirkus Reviews and listed as a "Cool Back to School Novel" by Publishers Weekly. The audiobook was performed by Audie Award-winner Tavia Gilbert. Maggie recently was named one of the best track and field novels of all time by Citius Mag. The story was reissued in May 2021 by Grain Valley Publishing as a new title, with a new foreword by Olympic Champion Katerina Stefanidi, and chapter questions for mid-grade students written by Mental Performance Consultant, English teacher and coach, Dr. Melissa White. The Real Education of TJ Crowley (Grain Valley Publishing 2018) was picked to be a Candid Conversations Book Club selection by the Wichita Public Library. The novel won "Best Book" and "Best Design" awards for 2019 by the Kansas Authors Association. It was the first time that a novel won both top awards. Grant's publishing firm, Grain Valley Publishing Company produces award-winning books with teams of freelance editors and designers from around the nation.
Olympic pole-vault champion Katerina Stefanidi has won medals in all five major international athletics championships, including the gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games. In her teens, she set age-group world records at almost every level. Today she is a professional athlete who lives and trains in the United States with her husband and coach, Mitchell Krier, where they are preparing for her next big competitions. Born and raised in Athens, she is considered the finest female athlete in the storied history of Greece, where in Ancient Olympia the Olympic Games began.
The discussion questions for Maggie Vaults Over the Moon were created by Dr. Melissa I. White. She is a Language Arts (ELA) Teacher and Mental Performance Consultant with a Doctorate in Sport Psychology who uses Maggie Vaults Over the Moon to inspire her own athletes at Hempfield Area High School in Western Pennsylvania. Dr. White earned a master's degree in Exercise Science: Sport Psychology from California University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Western States. While earning her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Bethany College (West Virginia) she competed in the pole vault and javelin events. Like the hero Maggie Steele, Melissa was the only girl pole-vaulter at her high school, where she set a school record that lasted for over a decade. Her counseling practice, Performance Edge Consulting, helps athletes across the nation gain the mental edge to perform their best. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, watching sporting events, listening to music, and most of all, training her Australian Shepherd, Wendy Lou, who also works with her clients as a sport therapy dog. To learn more about Dr. White's sport counseling service and download a free goal-setting worksheet, visit performanceedgeconsulting.org.

Editorial Reviews

"That one in a thousand books you'll carry with you forever!" --Margaret Wheatley, 16, Florida

"Girls who play sports and the coaches and families who support them will thoroughly enjoy this warm, uplifting story." --Christine Brennan, USA TODAY sports columnist and best-selling author

"An inspirational pick for young adult fiction collections." --MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

"A fine YA novel about perseverance in sports and in life." --KIRKUS REVIEWS

"One of the most pure and wholesome young adult books I've ever read, appropriate for 4th grade and up." --Shannon Clark, Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador

"The positive influence this book can have on young athletes is invaluable." --Erica (Bartolina) Fraley, US Olympian, Coach of Champions

"I myself experienced loss when I was a young girl. Sports were my outlet and helped me through some of the hardest times of my life. This book captured me cover to cover. I highly recommend it." --Becky Holliday, US Olympian

"I enthusiastically recommend it!" --Barbara Gruener, National School of Character Coach

"I loved the book and wish I had written it." --Kimbrook Tennal, Hall of Fame High School Coach

"I highly recommend it for all teens, especially those seeking direction during the storm and stress of adolescence." --Timothy M. Tays, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist

"A well-written tale of epic courage." --Kim Ring, Middle School Teacher

"A beautiful story of triumph through adversity." --Bill Vogrin, COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE

"Will translate to anyone who allows themselves to be young at heart." --John Rinkenbaugh, TV Producer, Former Kansas Boy

"A magical story written through the eyes of a teen." --Mark Miranda, Sports Dad

"The world needs more Maggies!" --Jolene Frook, Sports Mom

From the Publisher

In this debut young adult novel, a farm girl rebounds after a family tragedy, soaring to new heights as a pole-vaulter. Teenager Maggie Steele has just lost her brother Alex in a tragic car accident. He was a beloved son and brother and also an all-star high school athlete in a small Kansas town where high school sports matter. Maggie is reminded each day of her brother, and she struggles to cope with life on the farm without him. She's the only child left to take over the family business, and she has a sinking feeling she'll be trapped there forever. As she begins her senior year, she still suffers from grief and anxiety about what to do with the rest of her life. When it appears that she'll never be able to get over these difficulties, she begins talking to her deceased brother; to her surprise, his voice answers her. Alex's voice guides her to take up pole vaulting, and he coaches her on how to be the very best at it. Through his coaching, Maggie finds her purpose. Overstake's novel exudes sweetness; in some ways, it feels as if it takes place in another era, as it lacks the dark edge seen in other popular YA stories. Former sportswriter Overstake's crisp style also gives the pole-vaulting scenes authenticity and tension. The story will most likely engage younger teenage girls, but its themes will resonate with anyone who has suffered profound loss. A fine YA novel about perseverance in sports and in life.

Kirkus Reviews