No Slam Dunk

August 15, 2018
Can you be a leader and a teammate on the court and off?Wes Davies should be playing the best basketball of his life; he is a small forward on the elite Annapolis Hawks seventh-grade team, and his former nemesis, flashy point guard Dinero, is now his teammate. But victories on the court can't make up for troubles at home. Wes's father, Lt. Michael Davies, has returned from a final Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan with injuries that are both physical and emotional. No longer his son's mentor and hero, Lt. Davies has moved out of the family home to combat the elusive enemy that is PTSD, relying on alcohol rather than his wife and son for support. Wes is convinced that if he can be a basketball standout, his father will again be the man he was. Meanwhile, Dinero has issues of his own, with a hypercompetitive father who aggressively stage-manages his son's career. Short chapters that leave readers intrigued will capture basketball fans who love exciting play-by-play and who appreciate references to the stars of today. Lupica handles complex issues of scarred veterans, fathers and sons, and the difference between competition and battle with ease, making the familiar story of the redemptive power of sports feel new. Wes is white, and Dinero is cued Latinx; naming conventions point to a diverse team overall.An easy-to-read sports book that taps into basketball as both a means of connecting characters and a platform for problem-solving. (Fiction. 10-14)

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October 1, 2018

Gr 4-7-Wes Davies's father always taught him that in basketball, what mattered most was being a good teammate. However, when Wes's dad comes back from his last Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan, he isn't there to cheer Wes on as his travel team, the Annapolis Hawks, compete for a championship. As things get harder with his teammate Dinero and his father's struggles, Wes relies on basketball more than ever. Lupica's on-court descriptions are accurate and fast-paced; readers' hearts will beat to the shot clock and cheer on Wes's every move. The chapters are short and alternate between basketball and Wes's home life, making this a fast read for reluctant readers. But while he achieves gritty realism on the court, the non-sports scenes and themes are not as well executed. Lt. Davies's has PTSD and issues with alcohol abuse. Wes speaks of it often to his school counselor and mother, but never gets angry or has any negative emotions about the situation. Wes's only concern is for his father and his father's feelings. There is no reckoning or much accountability, just an acceptance of wrongdoing. Many readers will likely be left waiting for a confrontation that never comes as Wes's hero worship is taken to new extremes. VERDICT Purchase with caution where Lupica is very popular.-Kerri Williams, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2018
Grades 5-8 Combining contemporary issues with basketball action, this middle-grade novel will be a sure-fire hit with readers who love sports. Wes has been selected for an elite basketball team with some of the best players his age, including Dinero, another player who is at the top of the game. But Dinero plays for himself, likes to show off, and feels a bit threatened by Wes' talent. Off the court, Wes is dealing with his dad, a former Navy Seal who has returned from Afghanistan with PTSD. Lupica weaves contemporary family issues, such as mental illness and overinvolved sports parents, with action-filled basketball scenes. Detailed descriptions of basketball games every few chapters are sure to keep sports fans reading. Some of the current player references may date the book quickly, but the overall topics of teamwork and family will stay relevant. Hand this to readers of Tim Green or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Streetball Crew series. An additional purchase for collections where sports novels are popular.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)