Grace back on Court

by Maddy Proud

Netball nerd Grace Parker leads a busy life. Not only are there the usual challenges of high school, but Grace and her once enemy Amber Burns are trialling for the state under 15 netball team, dreamy aspiring rockstar Sebastian King is paying her a lot of attention, and Grace must decide between doing the right thing by her new netball friend Daisy, or going to the Kings of Linwood concert on Saturday night with her besties Mia and Stella. She thinks she has the solution, but will they understand?

It’s going to be a big year.

252 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2022

Reviews

[Penny Waring · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel provides a great picture of representative sport, from the try-out process to the final competition. Grace has to navigate a highly competitive try-out process and then training with a squad of top netballers as part of the South Australian team. Even though she has made the team, some of the other girls are less than welcoming. Luckily Grace and fellow netballer, Daisy, become firm friends. There is also plenty going on at school, and Grace has a new boyfriend.

Key themes include family, friendship, and being part of a team. There are elements of diversity with Grace's new netball friend, Daisy, being an indigenous boarder from the country who is navigating homesickness.

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this but as much as I love Daisy I wish we could have seen more of the Linwood girls (and Seb!).

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book netball obsessed me has always been looking for! Maddy Proud weaves together netball, school, boys, family and the everyday life of a teenager beautifully. The characters and the issues they encounter are realistic and those any young netballer could see themselves dealing with.

[Helen Farch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to the book Grace on Court, also written by Maddie Proud, but if you haven't read the first book, don't let this stop you from reading this one.

Grace is living her dream by being invited to train for the South Australian under-15 netball team which will play in a big competition in Sydney. Not only that, her relationship with her big brother's best friend - and lead singer of her brother's band - is developing and Grace just can't wait for that first kiss.

You don't need to play netball to enjoy this book - but particularly in the second half of the book there is a lot of netball and it may help to have an understanding of the game and the strategies of how it is played.

I think this book will really appeal to teens who love netball and will enjoy all the drama on court and off.

Thanks to @wakefieldpress for the review copy of this book.

[Annie Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it soooooooooooooo much!! Can't wait for the third book!

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for sporty girls, but it's more than just netball. It's friendships and family and navigating your own identity.

[Grace Breen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first, still very good

[hayles!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4!