Foul Trouble

Starred review from October 15, 2013
Two prominent high school basketballers navigate college decisions amid a throng of unscrupulous coaches, agents, shoe-company representatives and other hangers-on vying for their attention. The third-person narrator switches--sometimes unexpectedly--between two boys' points of view: Terrell Jamerson, one of the most aggressively recruited high school seniors in the country, and his friend and teammate Danny Wilcox. At a summer camp ironically called "School Comes First," the boys get their first taste of what will become a yearlong ordeal. Despite NCAA rules about what kinds of incentives high school and college basketball players can accept, sleazy men in suits keep showing up to court Terrell and anyone they think can influence him. There is a large cast of characters to keep track of, and the story unfolds over most of a year, but sophisticated readers will be rewarded. The on-court scenes excellently pair discussions of plays and strategy with nail-biting, second-by-second action. The off-court intrigue is similarly tense. Danny's quick temper, Terrell's occasional naivete and their coach's firm levelheadedness clash dramatically with the slick maneuvers of exploitative adults. The factors surrounding Terrell's choices are presented thoughtfully and without didacticism. Thorough and suspenseful; a must-read for those interested in basketball and the dealings surrounding the sport. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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November 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-A riveting, cautionary tale about behind-the-scenes, big-money pressures confronting talented high school athletes. Blending a breadth of basketball knowledge with an understanding of the vulnerability of young superstars, Feinstein deftly describes the on- and off-court friendships, dilemmas, and decisions made by Massachusetts seniors Terrell Jamerson and Danny Wilcox. When Terrell, the star forward, and Danny, the point guard, are invited to an elite summer camp, Coach Wilcox, Danny's respected and protective father, insists on coming, too-to coach and to keep an eye on the scouts, agents, and well-wishers who surround his players. Here, Terrell and Danny meet Bob Kelleher, a journalist whose personal mission is to expose the good guys and bad guys surrounding the teens. The camp is just the beginning of the media, marketing, and recruiting blitz that consumes nationally top-ranked Terrell. Danny encourages him to tell Kelleher about the backdoor propositions and manipulation that also engulf his mother and her boyfriend. After an emotionally grueling championship season, Terrell and Danny finally face the cameras and announce their college decisions. Teens will enjoy the vibrant court action, player repartee, budding romances, Danny's hot-tempered loyalty, and the realistic portrayal of Terrell's uncertainty. Harvard's Tommy Amaker, Duke's Mike Krzyzweski, and High School Basketball Illustrated's revered editor, Tom Konchalski, make cameo appearances, offering advice and promoting integrity. Meanwhile, two fictitious colleges are portrayed as emerging athletic powerhouses condoning illegal recruiting and kickbacks. Timely hot topics are embedded in this action-packed sports story. Readers will breathlessly await Terrell's final decision.-Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2013
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* Fueled by plenty of high-octane sports action, Feinstein's latest fast-break tale of intrigue and corruption in the world of athletics focuses on the hubbub surrounding a nationally ranked high-school basketball player. Terrell Jamerson has a clear path to the NBA, but there's an awful lot to navigate through: dazzling offers from colleges, enticing glimpses of the high life offered by unscrupulous scouts and agents, pressures exerted by sleazy friends, and eagle-eyed NCAA officials with agendas of their own. Fortunately, not only is Terrell level-headed but he has loyal friends in teammate Danny, a point guard who is also getting noticed by college recruiters, and Danny's stubbornly honest father, who coaches their team through a series of hard-fought games. A character from previous books, investigative journalist Bobby Kelleher, gets a significant supporting role, and Feinstein brings in actual players, coaches, reporters, and scouts for verisimilitude-building cameos. He also delivers blistering indictments of the NCAA: for leaning heavily on secondary young prospects while turning a blind eye to infractions by major ones and to the recruitment system for blatantly exploiting young athletes. Readers will understand how hard Terrell's choices areparticularly after two accidents make taking the quick money look like the safer option. They will cheer him, too, as a team leader who ultimately makes decisions for the right reasons.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)