Sign-In
Cart
Dean's Playbook: The One Who Showed Up
Paperback
Series: Dean's Playbook, Book 1
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jun 18 2026
Pages: 106
Weight: 0.31
Height: 0.27 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Everyone notices the touchdowns. Few people notice who stays after the crowd leaves.
Fourteen-year-old Dean Blake has become the person everyone counts on-on the field, in the classroom, and at home. As pressure builds from football, school, friendships, and expectations, Dean discovers that character isn't tested when life is easy. It's tested when nobody is watching.
Through difficult choices, unexpected setbacks, and moments that challenge who he wants to be, Dean learns that leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about showing up-again and again-for the people, values, and promises that matter most.
Perfect for middle school and young teen readers, Dean's Playbook: The One Who Shows Up is a powerful coming-of-age story about resilience, integrity, friendship, and becoming the kind of person others can trust. Filled with authentic dialogue, relatable challenges, and meaningful social-emotional learning, this inspiring novel reminds readers that success is earned one choice at a time.
Because anyone can show up once. Character is showing up when it gets hard.
Also from
Dean, Kelly
Fifth Grade-ish: 15 Stories About Friends, Fails, Firsts & Figuring Out Fifth Grade
Dean, Kelly
Christine, Harlee
Paperback
Carolina After Dark: 15 Ghost Stories Inspired by Real North Carolina Legends
Dean, Kelly
Raelee, Harper
Paperback
Also in
Young Adult Fiction
The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel: (A Modern Visual Adaptation of Homer's Epic Tale of Greek Mythology for Young Adults)
Hinds, Gareth
Paperback
Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]
Garber, Stephanie
Hardcover
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (National Book Award Winner)
Alexie, Sherman
Paperback
Piper at the Gates of Dusk: (A Young Adult Dystopian Adventure of Survival, Identity, and a Divided Future World)
Ness, Patrick
Hardcover
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories
Hart, Kate
Gansworth, Eric
Smith, Cynthia Leitich
Hardcover