The Rebound
Will be published approx. on 30. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-76118-230-3 (ISBN)
Description
After missing his eagerly awaited trial to play for the Under Sixteens Firsts, fourteen-year-old Harry Portelli has no choice but to play with the worst training team in the school.
The Redbacks are a mess. They can't pass. They can't shoot. They can't win.
This is not the future either Harry or his dad imagined. Harry has to dig deep to work out what basketball means to him and, with the help of surprising new friendships, he rediscovers his love for the sport as the Redbacks start to play like a team.
And then the school arranges a derby, the Redbacks against the Firsts, and Harry's heart sinks - the Redbacks are bound to be destroyed. But is winning all that matters? Harry learns that sometimes the sweetest shot is the one you get on the rebound.
A fast-paced feel-good story guaranteed to capture the imagination of readers of all levels by the bestselling author of Liz Watson's Diary of a Netball Star and Sam Kerr's Kicking Goals.
Perfect for:
- Readers 10+ who love uplifting stories about sport and overcoming the odds
- Kids who loved reading series fiction like Patty Mills' Game Day and Sam Kerr's Kicking Goals and are ready for the next level
- Parents, teachers and librarians seeking shorter fast-paced books that appeal to less confident readers
- Middle-grade readers who love Ted Lasso
'An excellent text for educators to explore themes of teamwork, resilience and integrity with students. Recommended for young NBL/NBA fans and any young person with a competitive, sporty streak.' Books + Publishing
The Redbacks are a mess. They can't pass. They can't shoot. They can't win.
This is not the future either Harry or his dad imagined. Harry has to dig deep to work out what basketball means to him and, with the help of surprising new friendships, he rediscovers his love for the sport as the Redbacks start to play like a team.
And then the school arranges a derby, the Redbacks against the Firsts, and Harry's heart sinks - the Redbacks are bound to be destroyed. But is winning all that matters? Harry learns that sometimes the sweetest shot is the one you get on the rebound.
A fast-paced feel-good story guaranteed to capture the imagination of readers of all levels by the bestselling author of Liz Watson's Diary of a Netball Star and Sam Kerr's Kicking Goals.
Perfect for:
- Readers 10+ who love uplifting stories about sport and overcoming the odds
- Kids who loved reading series fiction like Patty Mills' Game Day and Sam Kerr's Kicking Goals and are ready for the next level
- Parents, teachers and librarians seeking shorter fast-paced books that appeal to less confident readers
- Middle-grade readers who love Ted Lasso
'An excellent text for educators to explore themes of teamwork, resilience and integrity with students. Recommended for young NBL/NBA fans and any young person with a competitive, sporty streak.' Books + Publishing
Reviews / Votes
'An excellent text for educators to explore themes of teamwork, resilience and integrity with students. Recommended for young NBL/NBA fans and any young person with a competitive, sporty streak.' Books + PublishingMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Sydney
Australia
Publishing group
Allen & Unwin
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 10 to 14 years
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Weight
220 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-76118-230-3 (9781761182303)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Fiona Harris is an award-winning author, scriptwriter, and actor with over twenty years of experience across publishing, television and theatre. Over the past thirteen years, she has penned forty-seven books, including two adult fiction novels The Drop-off and The Pick-up; the middle grade fiction novel, The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks; five books and two graphic novels in the Sleepover BFFs junior fiction series; Holocaust survivor Abram Goldberg's memoir, The Strength of Hope; five books in Liz Watson's junior fiction series, Diary of a Netball Star; three books in the Trollsseries for Dreamworks; six books in Sam Kerr's junior fiction series, Kicking Goals, and two picture books for footballer Marcus Bontempelli. She also co-authored the children's book series The Super Moopers with Sally Rippin, and wrote four books in the Miraculous series, based on the animated kids TV series.
Fiona co-created the award-winning comedy web series, The Drop Off, with her husband, Mike McLeish, which aired on Channel 9, and in 2025 they co-adapted the script for the Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again, for Australian audiences. She has acted in numerous TV shows including The Beautiful Lie, Tangle, One More Shot, Offspring, Comedy Inc and The Librarians. Her TV writing and acting credits include Flipside, Skithouse and Prank Patrol.
Fiona co-created the award-winning comedy web series, The Drop Off, with her husband, Mike McLeish, which aired on Channel 9, and in 2025 they co-adapted the script for the Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again, for Australian audiences. She has acted in numerous TV shows including The Beautiful Lie, Tangle, One More Shot, Offspring, Comedy Inc and The Librarians. Her TV writing and acting credits include Flipside, Skithouse and Prank Patrol.