Streetball Is Life

October 30, 2020

GR 7 UP-Volponi recounts the adventures and lessons of playing street basketball in New York City the summer before his freshman year of college. The author and his team, a mix of adults and teens his own age, relentlessly combed the city's parks and courts looking for a game when they stumbled upon the court known as the Proving Ground. Meanwhile, Volponi faced decisions about his future, such as what classes to take, whether to play on his college basketball team, and navigating the dating scene. Back matter includes references and an interesting section about the influence of basketball on other aspects of culture, such as art, fashion, and cinema. The chapters are interspersed with quotes from famous basketball players and coaches as well as reflections on life skills gleaned from basketball, such as communication and various group dynamics. The memoir is filled with cinematic details and colorful characters, which bring the streetball subculture to life. While the text repeatedly stresses the diversity among the streetballers in their ages and backgrounds, race is never mentioned. As the narrative takes place in a city as racially diverse as NYC, this colorblind approach somewhat undermines the book's message about the unifying power of streetball. VERDICT An entertaining title that will likely be very popular with basketball fans and will appeal to readers who enjoy realistic fiction.-Aaren Tucker, Univ. of Illinois

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 9, 2020
The summer after he graduates from high school in the late 1970s, author Volponi cares about one thing: proving himself in the notoriously tough street basketball games that are a regular fixture in New York City parks. An only child of hardworking parents in Queens, Paulie forms a tight bond with four fellow streetballers whose backgrounds are as different as their on-court strengths. Together, they decide to test their collective mettle at the Proving Ground—a take-no-prisoners battleground for the most fearless ballers. Here, Paulie meets Pirate, a 40-something window-washer with a quick temper and an unparalleled knowledge of the game. Throughout the summer, Pirate and Volponi’s tough but talented teammates will test the teen’s dedication, courage, and talent. In writing that is more anecdotal than narrative, Volponi conveys a passion for basketball while sharing a bittersweet reminiscence of a pivotal summer. The on-court action is tendered with an almost awe-like respect for the game, the players, and the relentlessly fierce way they play. Sprinkled with quotes from basketball greats as well as reflective life lessons the author learned from playing, this informative memoir reveals the unrelenting world of streetball and the talented athletes who rule it. Ages 14–up.