Olympic dream

Doug Cannon is fourteen and spends most of his free time at a screen, mastering video games and not much else. Carrying extra weight and few friends, he has little reason to think much of himself. That changes when he discovers bicycle racing. Gradually, the sport pushes him toward a healthier body and a sense of his own worth.

Matt Christopher is known for sports stories written for young readers, and this novel follows the same pattern. It focuses on one boy's personal growth, showing how physical effort can reshape how he sees himself and how others see him. The book is short and direct, suited to middle-grade readers who enjoy sports fiction about perseverance.