Shake's dream of making the varsity basketball team is in peril when he gets injured. Can he rebound and make his way back onto the court―and back to feeling like himself? For fans of Kwame Alexander and Jason Reynolds.
Beautifully designed with illustrations.
Malik Page―though unless you're his mama, call him "Shake"―dreams of making the Marshall Grove varsity basketball squad as an eighth grader. Then he'll be on his way to joining the ranks of Chicago legends like his pops and late Uncle Kenny. But when Shake fractures his ankle in a championship game, he's sidelined for the first time since his first dribble.
As his world is turned upside down, Shake feels like there’s ginger ale bubbling in his chest and sweat slicking on his palms. With a best friend who’s getting more distant by the day, a growing silence between him and his dad, and varsity tryouts fast approaching, Shake will have to cross up every obstacle to find a way back onto the court―and back to being himself. Thankfully in Marshall Grove, the sky is always full of hope.---from the publisher
256 pages 978-1250882059 Ages 8-12
Keywords: stories in verse, basketball, injury, self image, overcoming obstacles, determination, middle school, believing in yourself, finding yourself, friendship drama, hope, African American and Black stories, If You Liked The New Kid, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, diverse books, African American author, African American Black male, If You Liked Ghost by Jason Reynolds, If You Liked Slam by Walter Dean Myers, If You Liked Game by Walter Dean Myers, If You Liked Hoops by Walter Dean Myers, If You Liked The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze
*******
Other reviews:
"Stunning. This book is powerful." ―Newbery Medalist Tae Keller
"A masterful middle-grade novel." ―Newbery Honoree Jasmine Warga "Readers, make permanent room on your shelves―and in your hearts― for this witty and poignant novel." ―National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo
