If your middle schooler has caught Olympic fever, they’ll want to check out these reading materials that provide a history of the games, the science of the hottest summer sports and an in-depth look at some of the most famous athletes of all time.
The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation): The True Story of an American Team’s Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown
An adaptation of the well-reviewed adult title, this is the true story of an inspiring American crew team and their quest to win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
What Are the Summer Olympics? by Gail Herman
A brief history lesson on the Olympics, from their start in Ancient Greece to their current modern incarnation.
Science of the Summer Olympics by Lisa J. Amstutz, Christine Peterson
In this four-volume set, readers will discover the science behind swimming and diving; track and field; soccer, volleyball and cycling; and gymnastics.
PEOPLE Olympics 2016: The Best of the Games: Gold and Glory
Think of this as a fanzine of all the top athletes competing in the games.
Great Moments in the Summer Olympics by Matt Christopher
Sports fans will find these incredible stories of athletes like Jesse Owens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Mary Lou Retton thrilling. A well-written account by veteran sportswriter Matt Christopher.
Sports Illustrated Kids
For a full year of sports-related news, get them a subscription to SI KIds and they’ll always be up on the latest scoop.
Andrea Pyros is the author of My Year of Epic Rock, a middle grade novel about friends, crushes, food allergies, and a rock band named The EpiPens.
My book, SUPER GEAR:Nanotechnology and Sports Team Up is also a great Olympics book. It talks about the science behind the sports.