Athletics – Born to Run by Cathy Freeman, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
Originally published in 2007, Cathy Freeman’s Born to Run was released as a picture book in 2021 accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis. This book charts Cathy’s life – her dream as a little girl of winning a gold medal becoming a reality at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. An inspiring story of self-belief and determination, this book is perfect for readers aged 5+.
Tennis – Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Known for her international bestsellers The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel Carrie Soto Is Back serves up the cutthroat world of tennis. Carrie Soto, retired from the game for six years, was a fierce and relentless player – the best the world had ever seen. Until now, when her world record of 20 grand slams is under threat. Carrie comes out of retirement and returns to the court in this captivating story that reckons with the cost of greatness.
Boxing – Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
Taking the internet by storm and featured on the New York Times Best Books of 2024 (So Far) list is Rita Bullwinkel’s Headshot. This electrifying debut novel follows eight teenage girls as they compete to be named the best young boxer in the country. Following each character fight by frenetic fight from the semifinals on, the story uncovers the sacrifices they have made to make it to the competition and explores what motivates young women to fight when no one else is watching.
Football – Personal Score by Ellen van Neerven
From a young age, writer and poet Ellen van Neerven played football, discovering it can be a painful and exclusive world. In Personal Score they blend memoir, poetry and cultural studies into a book that examines the sport’s contradictions and troubled relationship and history with race, gender and sexuality. Lauded for its emotional honesty and searing insight Personal Score brings a queer First Nations perspective to sports place in our country and questions what it means to play sport on stolen, sovereign land.
Surfing – Breath by Tim Winton
Winning him his fourth Miles Franklin Award, Tim Winton’s Breath is a haunting coming of age story with surfing at its heart. Bruce Pike looks back on his adolescence and the dangerous world of surfing and relationships he was inducted into, where limits were tested and friendships fractured. With Winton’s signature style and evocative descriptions of the ocean and landscape this book has become an Australian literary classic.
Basketball – My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas
Phoebe’s life is turned upside down at 17 when she moves from the city to live with her father in the country. She joins a new school and the local basketball team becomes a lifeline as she begins to fit in. But as she grows, coming to terms with her parent’s divorce, an alcoholic mother and a racist world, her place on the team is under threat and her worries spiral out of control. Jared Thomas crafts a heartfelt story of identity and resilience in this book for 13–18 year olds.