Middle School Rules

Author Sean Jensen traveled around Waseca County’s public libraries on Thursday, July 21, to share his books with kids and families. His series, The Middle School Rules, features colorfully illustrated non-fiction narratives following professional athletes through the highs and lows of their childhoods. Presently, six books are available with a seventh in production, and Jensen is already on the lookout for a feature for his eighth installment.

Jensen, already finding success as a sportswriter covering the NFL, says he was inspired to write for children when his son got to an age where he was interested in both sports and books. The majority of sports books for kids, Jensen found, were limited to surface-level information which would bore many young sports fans. His goal was to write sports books for kids with information a person couldn’t find with a simple internet search.

In pursuit of this goal, using connections forged as a sportswriter, Jensen wrote The Middle School Rules. He stated he interviewed as many as forty people for a single one of his books – seeking out stories that weren’t already widely published. Stories of these athletes before they were professionals, including how they navigated childhood troubles such as family separations and bullies. Each book highlights life lessons learned from these and other hardships and triumphs, which inspired the title.

While far from a comprehensive guide – as that was never the goal – these rules for middle school (or elementary or high school) give kids a stepping stone to relate to these athletes and examples of how people they may already idolize overcame the same issues faced by kids everywhere. In this fashion, the books come across as relatable and entertaining for sports superfans and casual enjoyers alike.