Bøker av Paul Volponi

"In The 32 Principles, famed jiu-jitsu instructor Rener Gracie, who has coached more than 350,000 students in 196 countries, presents the core teachings of jiu-jitsu and explains how they can apply to all of our daily lives"--

A fastball of a book by Paul Volponi-an author who knows sports and suspense! Julio Ramirez Jr. lives in the shadow of his famous father. Not just because Julio Senior is a pitcher for the Miami Marlins and famous for his scorching fastball, but because he defected from Cuba, leaving Julio and his sister and mother branded as the family of a traitor. Now sixteen, Julio has dreams of playing shortstop for Cuba's national team--until he's given the opportunity to sail to the U.S. Can he abandon his family, just like his Papi did? Is freedom worth the perilous journey and risking prison if he's caught? Will his Papi be waiting for him on the other shore-or, with the Marlins in the World Series against the Yankees, has Julio Senior forgotten all about his son?"An entertaining tale of baseball, family and loyalty."-Kirkus Reviews"Volponi once again delivers top-notch sports fare coupled with a deeper story of family and fidelity. . . Readers will identify with Julio as he juggles dreams, bitterness, and family loyalties in this lyrical, spare novel."-Booklist "A poignant story. . . this is a must-read for any teen who not only loves stories about sports but also enjoys reading about families."-VOYA

When SpongeBob SquarePants debuted, the fun-loving, pure-hearted title character took the world of animation by storm, riding a virtual tsunami of critical praise. This fast-moving, eclectic, and fun "biography" celebrates the show's history and provides fascinating insight into the show's creation, the episodes, the voice artists, and the fans.

A fascinating exploration of the science, history, literature, and culture behind comic book superheroes' powers and origins.How does Superman's strength allow him to squeeze a chunk of coal into a diamond? What's the connection between Wonder Woman's golden Lasso of Truth and a lie detector? Why does the Black Panther speak so many different languages? What does Natasha Romanova (aka Black Widow) teach us about the Cold War? All this and more is explored in Superhero Smart: Real-World Facts behind Comic Book Characters, written by award-winning author Paul Volponi. In a fast-paced, free-flowing narrative, Volponi reveals that there is so much more to spandex-clad superheroes than meets the eye. To truly understand their origins and powers, one must also understand science, history, literature, and the incredible diversity of people and cultures around us. The exploits and powers of almost every comic book superhero or villain have a basis in reality, opening the door to learning about so many things from the past and present. And in learning more about these heroes and our world, we can help prepare for and create a better future, just as superheroes strive to do every day in the pages of our comic books.

"Volponi, a multiple award-winning author, keeps the tension high from the first to last page ...The Final Four is definitely a winner." -VOYA, starred reviewMarch Madness is in full swing, and there are only four teams let in the NCAA basketball championship. The heavily favored Michigan Spartans and the underdog Troy Trojans meet in the first game in the seminfinals, and it's there that the fates of Malcolm, Roko, Crispin, and M.J. intertwine. As the last moments tick down on the game clock, you'll learn how each player went from being a kid who loves to shoot hoops to a powerful force in one of the most important games of the year. Which team will leave the Superdome victorious? In the end it will come down to who has the most skill, the most drive, and the most heart."Volponi nails it when it counts in this dynamic story." -Booklist, starred review"Volponi adroitly renders authentic and inspired basketball action." -The New York Times Book Review

"In 2019, the NFL issued a list of football's one hundred greatest game-changers, and among the legendary athletes and coaches was one broadcaster: Phyllis George. The first female anchor of a major network sports show, George broke the glass ceiling in sports journalism and embodied the complexities of the women's movement of the 1970s. As a young woman, George first hit the media radar in 1971 when she won the crown of Miss America and toured the world. While many in the budding feminist movement looked down on the pageant queen, George parlayed her success into a television career and excelled in sports journalism. While she was not immune to criticism, George was never deterred by it, and constantly showed her inner strength and perseverance. Through the decades she cultivated a reputation as one of the most respected and strong-willed players in the rough and tumble businesses of sports and network news, breaking through the glass ceiling in one of the most male-driven industries in the world. She was a pioneer who helped pave the way for a new generation of female broadcasters. A published author in her own right and champion of the arts, George remained a stalwart advocate for female empowerment until her death in 2020. In Phyllis George: Shattering the Ceiling authors Lenny Shulman and Paul Volponi trace George's evolution from Miss America to professional broadcaster, to arts advocate, author, philanthropist, and also as First Lady of Kentucky who was instrumental in getting her husband, John Y. Brown Jr., elected Governor of that state. George's life was defined by her professionalism, her strength of character, and her uncanny ability to leave an indelible impression on all she met"--

I Black and White møter vi to venner som kalles Black (Marcus) og White (Eddie) fordi den ene er svart og den andre hvit. De er elever på Long Island City High School, hvor de er stjerner på skolens basketballag. Meningen er at radarparet skal videre til college på idrettsstipend. Guttene har dårlig råd, og for å skaffe penger til skoleturer og kule sko begynner de å rane folk i bakgater og på mørke parkeringsplasser. Men en kveld går alt galt.Boka handler om vennskap, og om hvordan vennskap utfordres av egeninteresse. Et annet tema er det amerikanske rettssystemet og hvordan svarte og hvite fortsatt behandles ulikt. Black and White har fått flere priser, bl. a. The International Reading Association's 2006 Young Adult Novel of the Year.Siri Hunstadbråten har tilrettelagt romanen for elever i videregående skole. Skoleutgaven inneholder bakgrunnsartikler, samt gloser og oppgaver til hvert kapittel.Using authentic voices that will draw in both strong and reluctant readers, Volponi writes a taut novel that avoids didacticism and deftly balances drama and passion on the basketball court with each boy's private terror and anguish. Teens will want to discuss the story's layered moral ambiguities, heartbreaking choices, and, as Marcus says, 'the line that separates black and white'.- Gillian Engberg, Booklist

This book is an autobiographical account of the author's experiences as a 17-year-old intent on becoming a legitimate NYC streetballer at the highest level. Included as part of the narrative are the important social skills learned on the basketball court, showing readers that their time spent streetballing is meaningful beyond the sport itself.

This interactive book compels both reluctant and sports-crazed readers to its pages by examining how various teams from a range of sports received their names. Teen and pre-teen readers will gain knowledge of history, science, literature, math, and a slew of other subjects through the lens of notable sports teams.