Block and Attack

After a growth spurt, Hazel is ready to move from setter to an outside hitter on her volleyball team. But when her teammate fractures her foot, Hazel is needed as a middle hitter. Hazel struggles to adjust to her new position. Even worse, she’s missing her dad who is serving in the military overseas. Does Hazel have what it takes to block and attack the challenges that keep coming her way?

Author Biography

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler – or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps – literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers. Giulia Balsamo, Cartoonist and illustrator from Palermo with a passion for drawing that has accompanied her since she was a child. She began her artistic studies at the School of Comics in Palermo, from 2019 to 2022. Once finished, she created her first works in the field of publishing for children and young adults. She collaborates as a layout artist with Rainbow for “Winx” and with Simon and Schuster for the graphic novel “Spirited”. In 2024 she created “Rosalia Pop”, one of the short stories in the graphic novel “Gulp! Rosalia”, in collaboration with Repubblica and the School of Comics.