Our teen book spotlight this week is all about Basketball!! We are getting to that time of year, one of craziest sports events which is known as March Madness! Even though it may look a little different this year (kind of like everything else as well), it is still a basketball lover’s dream as it is nonstop action and games. We can start to get into the March Madness mood with some amazing fiction and nonfiction books about and inspired by this American pastime. If you love to play the game or just like to watch those who do, then you need to take a look at these titles. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #yabasketball as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new teen book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay--Told from alternating perspectives, Bunny takes a basketball scholarship to an elite private school to help his family, leaving behind Nasir, his best friend, in their tough Philadelphia neighborhood.
Foul Trouble by John Feinstein--Over the course of one tumultuous year, high school friends and talented basketball players Terrell Jamerson and Danny Wilcox discover the on- and off-court dealings—both good and bad—involved in player recruitment. Their story begins during a summer basketball camp, when Terrell begins receiving a great deal of attention from recruiters and scouts looking to sway him with incentives—perks which may or may not even be within their power to offer. Together, Danny and Terrell learn to navigate the throng of personalities they meet, all while maintaining their on-court skills in riveting scenes that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
The Final Four by Paul Volponi--As March Madness comes to a close, the Michigan State Spartans face off against the Troy University Trojans to see who will play either Duke or North Carolina for the national title. Amidst the ongoing rivalries and preparations is Malcolm McBride, a freshman at Michigan State who is destined for a future in the NBA. On the other side is Trojan Roko Bacic, a Croatian immigrant who is happy to play his favorite sport while getting a free college education in the process. As the backstories of these characters and their teammates are revealed, author Volponi illuminates a thought-provoking interpretation of the pros and cons of college sports and the competition between student athletes and professional college players.
The Back Roads to March by John Feinstein--The author spends one season of Division I college basketball searching out the unsung, unheralded, and unknown players and coaches for which playing basketball is a passion and their only goal is making it to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Journeys to arenas large and small, in various leagues, to enjoy the sport at its purest.
NBA 75 by Dave Zarum--Traces seventy-five years of the NBA, highlighting major events, moments, players, coaches, and championships. Features 150 archival images, and seventy-five stories of tragedies, celebrations, scandals, and achievements.
Boost by Kathy Mackel--Relocating from Arizona to Rhode Island to help out at their ailing aunt's sheep farm, 13-year-old Savvy and her older sister, Callie, must adjust to their new town and school while they work hard to increase their level of sports competition. At six-foot-two, Savvy is a talented basketball player and dreams of making it as a starter for her elite basketball team. Stress-related weight gain has Callie focused on shedding enough pounds to become her cheerleading squad's flier. When steroids are discovered in Savvy's gym bag, accusations fly.