Track season is here. So is Maggie. A story of grief, grit, and learning to rise.
As track season begins, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon offers more than a sports story. It is an uplifting novel about loss, resilience, courage, and the long climb back. For girls in sports, the families who support them, and the coaches who help them rise, Maggie is a reminder that strength is built one brave effort at a time.
Dr. Melissa White, a sports psychology consultant and pole vault coach whose athletes include Olympic Trials champion Bridget Guy Williams, lower left, teaches athletes how to build confidence, resilience, and focus. Her lessons for winning in sports and in life are found in the chapter questions of Maggie Vaults Over the Moon.
Track season often begins with a focus on physical preparation — strength, speed, repetition, and form. But athletes, coaches, and parents know that success in sports is shaped by more than workouts alone. Confidence matters. Resilience matters. So does the ability to recover from disappointment, face fear, and keep moving forward when the path gets difficult.
That is where Maggie Vaults Over the Moon reaches beyond the boundaries of a traditional sports novel.
In Maggie Steele, readers meet a young athlete whose journey is not defined only by competition, but by loss, perseverance, and the slow, hard work of becoming stronger from the inside out. Her story speaks to the reality many young people face: the challenge of carrying pain, doubt, and uncertainty while still trying to move toward something hopeful.
That is also why the contribution of Dr. Melissa White adds such value to this edition. A sports psychology consultant and pole vault coach whose athletes include Olympic Trials champion Bridget Guy Williams, White has spent years helping athletes develop the mental habits that support success in competition and in life. Her chapter questions invite readers to think more deeply about courage, focus, resilience, and identity — the very qualities Maggie must learn to build.
What makes the book endure is that it does not reduce victory to the clearing of a bar or the outcome of a meet. It understands that some of the most important triumphs are quieter and more personal. They take place in the mind, in the heart, and in the decision to keep going.
As a new season begins, that may be the most lasting message Maggie has to offer. Not every young athlete will become a champion. But every young athlete will face moments that demand courage, persistence, and belief.
The world could use more Maggies.
And perhaps this spring, a few young athletes stepping onto the runway or approaching the starting line will recognize something familiar in her story — and discover that they already carry some of that same strength within themselves.
Learn More About Coach Melissa White
The discussion questions and mental training ideas connected found in the book come from the work of Dr. Melissa I. White, a sports psychology consultant, educator, and pole vault coach who helps athletes develop the mental skills needed to perform at their best. Dr. White works with athletes across the country and offers guidance designed to help competitors gain the mental edge they need to perform at their maximum potential.
To learn more about her coaching and consulting work, visit:
Performance Edge Consulting
Performanceedgeconsultingpa@gmail.com
https://www.performanceedgeconsulting.org
For fans of great audiobooks, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is performed brilliantly by Tavia Gilbert.
Start Your Season with Maggie
Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats, making it easy to share with athletes, students, and families.
The book has become a favorite among:
student athletes
track and field coaches
middle school classrooms
parents looking for meaningful sports stories
It also makes a thoughtful team gift, end-of-season award, or “Maggie Award” for athletes who demonstrate courage, perseverance, and leadership during the season.
If you’re a coach, teacher, or parent looking for a story that encourages resilience and mental strength, Maggie’s journey is a great place to begin.