Cirrus@Austlit

'Meet Maddy and her friends from the Gems!

'Maddy can't wait to play her first game of netball with her new team. She's been training hard and is eager to try out her skills. But Maddy's excitement soon turns to nerves when she realises that things might not go exactly as she imagined. What position will coach Janet put her in? What if she gets asked to sit on the bench? Suddenly, the netball courts are the last place Maddy wants to be!

'Perhaps some inspiration from one of the Australian Diamonds players will finally get Maddy hooked on netball!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Can shy Phoebe find her place in the Gems?

'Phoebe loves to shoot goals, and she's great at it too. She dreams of being a famous netballer and playing in front of thousands. The problem is that she's nervous all the time, even around her teammates – and there are only seven of them! Why can't she make friends as easily as Lily and Sienna? Things don't get any easier when her overenthusiastic dad starts coaching from the sidelines. Could anything be more embarrassing?

'Will a mystery puzzle and a new netball idol give Phoebe the confidence she needs to become a true member of the team?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Is being a Gem enough for Lily?

'Lily comes from a family of great netballers and dreams of playing for the Diamonds one day. She loves being on court and jumping for every intercept. But Lily's worried that she might never be tall enough to make it as a professional player. How can she get people to look past her height? To add to Lily's troubles, something very mysterious is going on at home. Things keep disappearing and turning up in the strangest places. Could her troublemaker brother have anything to do with it?

'Maybe a new move and a secret weapon will help Lily become the netball dynamo she is determined to be!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Will Maia ever fit in with the Gems?

'Maia's just moved to Australia from New Zealand and is finding it tough. She misses her cousins, her netball team and the way everything used to be so familiar. Even her school assignments are reminding her that she doesn't belong. When Maia's mum signs her up to play for the Marrang Gems, things start to look up. That is, until Maia realises that even the way they play netball in Australia is different!

'Can Maia learn a new style of defence from one of Australia's best players while still staying true to her netball roots?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Can Jade learn how to bond with the Gems?

'Jade has big plans to be a successful netballer in her favourite position, Goal Attack. She comes from a super competitive sports-mad family and wants to show everyone, her family included, that she's got what it takes. But so far, Jade's single-minded attitude has only succeeded in putting the rest of the Gems offside. Can Jade find a way to open up and let her teammates see that there is more to her than meets the eye?

'Perhaps a surprise friendship will teach Jade that she has to work with the team, not against them, to shine!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Does Sienna still have time to play for the Gems?

'Sienna is crazy about netball, especially playing Goal Keeper. But Sienna's other passion is horse-riding, and when her Uncle loans her a beautiful palomino to ride at Pony Club, Sienna is ecstatic. That is, until she realises that between netball and horse-riding she barely has a spare minute. Soon, Sienna is exhausted and both her schoolwork and netball skills are suffering. She's even starting to lose her well-known sense of humour!

'Will Sienna find a way to balance her hobbies and chase her dream of becoming a great Australian defender?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Is Prani happy with her role in the Gems?

Prani is the comedian of the Gems. She never takes anything too seriously, even netball, and loves having fun with her teammates. Lately though, Prani is starting to realise how much she does enjoy playing, especially as Centre. But there's always so many family commitments and events in Prani's life that she feels like she can't devote as much time to netball as the other Gems.

'Will Prani be able to let her new-found worries go and continue playing her fun and fluid style of netball?' (Publication summary)

'Will Sahar become the Gems' newest member?

'Sahar has only recently arrived in Australia but she's already found friends in Sienna, Lily and Maia. And when she sees them practising their netball moves, something inside Sahar sparks. Having never played netball before though, she doesn't believe she could be the player the Gems need – that is, until she gets out on court! However, it looks like some creative thinking will be needed in order for her to join the team.

'Can Sahar overcome the obstacles standing in her way and discover the joy of playing netball?' (Publication summary)