On Point

April 1, 2018
In this second installment of the Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream series, Zayd navigates challenging times on his new basketball team and changing relationships with both his best friend and his favorite uncle.Pakistani-American fourth-grader Zayd has made it to the elite gold team, but now the team is losing games. His best friend, Adam, whom Zayd loves playing with, is losing interest in basketball and is acting different. Zayd's uncle Mamoo is also less fun to be around; he's at the center of plans for his upcoming wedding, which is all anyone at home talks about. The family holds planning meetings and dinners, and they travel out of state to shop for the wedding in Edison, a "Little Pakistan"-like town in New Jersey. When Adam misses basketball practice, the coach puts Zayd on point guard. Zayd is not sure he can do it, but the harder he works, the more his confidence and abilities grow. He even shares some lessons from basketball with his uncle and soon-to-be aunt about taking charge while being a team player. Khan stays firmly in Zayd's perspective while keeping the many elements of his life--family, friends, and passions--in focus too. With just enough action to keep readers turning the pages and a sprinkle of age-appropriate realizations throughout, this small book is a great pick for elementary-age readers. Players on Zayd's team are diverse; Adam is Jewish.A delightful follow-up from a writer who understands children, family, and culture. (Fiction. 7-10)

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May 1, 2018

Gr 3-6-Fourth grader Zayd Saleem learns about himself both on and off the basketball court in this second book in the series. Zayd's parents weren't thrilled that he snuck away from violin lessons to play basketball, and now that he's made the team, he's finding out that it's not all sweat and glory. His best friend Adam, grumpy about leading a losing team, joins the football team, and Zayd can't help but see this as a betrayal. Meanwhile, Zayd's cool uncle Jamal Mamoo is engaged, and every family member has different expectations for his Pakistani American wedding. In this tight novel that is fast-paced but never rushed, Khan deftly ties together larger themes of teamwork, friendship, and standing up for oneself in the face of family or community expectations, without distracting from the textured realities of the boy's daily life. In short chapters with accessible vocabulary, this story will appeal to grade-school readers looking for a rousing sports yarn, a touching family story, or an exploration of friendship and conflict. Some may prefer to read the first installment, Power Forward, first, but enough context is given so that this works as a standalone. VERDICT An excellent sports series for younger middle grade or reluctant readers.-Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2018
Grades 2-5 Having made the coveted Gold Team (in Power Forward, 2018), Zayd looks forward to a winning season with his best friend, Adam. Unfortunately, the basketball team starts out on a major losing streak. Adding to this is further disappointment when Adam begins acting distant and showing an interest in football instead. When Adam quits the team, the coach makes Zayd the new point guard, which places great pressure on him to lead his teammates to a victory. Meanwhile, at home, Zayd watches his young uncle begin preparations for his marriage, with the couple's parents dictating all the decisions with little regard to their feelings. Can Zayd step up to be a leader on the court and also convince his uncle to step up and voice his opinions about his upcoming nuptials? Zayd's exploits in this second volume again find a great balance between sports action and realistic fiction featuring the everyday life of a boy from a traditional Pakistani family. Readers will look forward to further adventures featuring Zayd.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)