The Jersey Books in Order
Part ofGordon Korman Books in OrderThis page lists The Jersey books by Gordon Korman in order, with quick summaries and series background on the magic jersey that swaps kids into pro athletes.
Last updated: January 12, 2026
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Publication Order
8 books
The Team Player
by Gordon Korman
2001
Nick and Morgan need a lesson in teamwork, and the magic jersey delivers it the hard way. It zaps them into the bodies of a major-league pitcher and catcher, forcing them to work together on the field before they can switch back.
Need for Speed
by Gordon Korman
2001
The magic jersey drags Nick into a high-speed competition where split-second decisions matter and fear is not an option. To make it through, he has to learn preparation, focus, and trust, before the next turn wipes him out.
Head Over Heels
by Gordon Korman
2001
Nick knows his friend Coleman is dating trouble, but he cannot find a way to say it. The jersey steps in, swapping them into the bodies of Tony Hawk and Dave Mirra for an extreme showdown that makes their real-life fight impossible to ignore.
Fight for Your Right
by Gordon Korman
2001
When Morgan is swapped into the ring as boxer Laila Ali, she finally feels what it’s like to fight for respect in a sport that expects men to dominate. The jersey forces her to choose courage and control under pressure.
This Rocks!
by Gordon Korman
2000
Unathletic Elliot shocks everyone by becoming a natural at rock climbing, until a climb goes wrong and he is stuck on a cliff. Nick has to pull off a rescue with help from champion climber Katie Brown, before time runs out.
No Girly-Girls Allowed
by Gordon Korman
2000
Morgan loves soccer, but a crush makes her doubt herself, until a magic jersey swaps her into the body of pro player Cobi Jones. Now she has to play at the highest level and figure out what confidence really looks like.
Nick's a Chick
by Gordon Korman
2000
Nick has always trashed the WNBA, until the magic jersey drops him into the body of superstar Lisa Leslie. Now he has to compete under bright lights and learn, the hard way, how much skill and grit the game takes.
It's Magic!
by Gordon Korman
2000
Nick inherits an old sports jersey that turns out to be magic, and the first time he puts it on, he’s suddenly living a pro athlete’s life. What should be a normal day becomes a scramble to survive a big moment and get back home.
Series background & context
The Jersey stories are built around a simple, irresistible gimmick: a beat-up sports jersey that can swap a kid into the body of a professional athlete. One minute you’re worrying about middle school, the next you’re expected to perform on a real field, in front of a real crowd, with real stakes.
In these books, the jersey isn’t just a cool trick. It’s a blunt life lesson machine.
A small group of kids ends up linked to the jersey, and each installment drops them into a different sport, a different kind of pressure, and a different personal problem they can’t avoid anymore. The plots are funny and fast, but they also sneak in questions about confidence, teamwork, and what it feels like to be judged before you even touch the ball.
Some of the books lean into identity and assumptions. In Nick's a Chick, Nick has to rethink his dismissive attitude toward women’s basketball when he ends up swapped into the body of superstar Lisa Leslie. In No Girly-Girls Allowed, Morgan gets an intense dose of perspective when the jersey swaps her into pro soccer player Cobi Jones.
Others are about group dynamics and real-world consequences. The Team Player forces Nick and Morgan to work together by dropping them into the bodies of a major-league pitcher and catcher, where cooperation isn’t optional. Head Over Heels uses an extreme-sports swap to turn a friend conflict into something neither kid can ignore.
And sometimes it’s straight-up danger.
In This Rocks!, a rock-climbing outing turns serious when Elliot gets stuck on a cliff, and the jersey’s world of athletes suddenly becomes about rescue and problem-solving, not glory. Across the series, Fight for Your Right and Need for Speed keep the same pattern: the jersey shows up at the worst time, and the kids have to handle pressure they did not ask for.
If you like the magic-jersey idea but want it grounded in football first, the earlier Monday Night Football Club books focus on NFL swaps. This set expands the concept into different sports and different kinds of challenges, while keeping the tone light and accessible.
Edited by
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