MMGM- Hoop Con and LeBron James: Beyond the Game

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
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Always in the Middle 

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Unleashing Readers

Shah, Amar. The Hoop Con (Play the Game #1)

May 7, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Raam Patel is very interested in playing basketball, and takes every opportunity to play in his Orlando, Florida area community. At the end of 6th grade, he and his friend, Cake, are also into basketball celebrities, merchandise, and the Hoop Con that is coming to their area. Cake's parents get tickets for him, but since they cost at least $500, Raam's dancing instructor mother and father who works for a relative are reluctant to buy him tickets. They would rather he attend Spelling Bee camp at the community center, especially since they have already paid for it. Through a contact, however, Raam's mother manages to get entry level tickets that don't have the same level of swag as Cake's. They still include court time with the star, Aron Hardaway, but Raam has difficulty on the court when it comes to sportsmanship. He doesn't like to pass to others, even when it is best for the team, which has led to problems in his previous experiences. When he gets drawn into a competition with a celebrity tween player, things get ugly. He not only doesn't do well, but he embarasses himself on the court. His antics are caught on camera, the player he idolizes shakes his head at Raam, and the videos go viral. To add insult to injury, Cake shares the video and refuses to take it down when Raam asks, because having it on his social media platform results in many more followers. Raam doesn't want to leave the house because everyone knows of his defeat. His parents, who are having work and relationship struggles themselves, have no patience for his hystrionics. They make him go to the Spelling Bee camp, but eventually make a concession; he can go to California to spend time with an aunt, uncle, and older cousin (actually an aunt, but nearer his age) Trina while the parents take time to work through their difficulties. While some people in California have seen the video, it's not as bad as being at home, and he has the opportunity to explore California and hang out with Trina. When new opportunities for competition present themselves, will Raam be able to work out the issues that are holding him back from being a winner?

Strengths: Readers who are fascinated by sports AND social media will definitely love Raam's embarassing brush with internet fame, and enjoy all of the opportunities that Raam has to see celebrities and revel in designer shoes and swag. There is plenty of basketball as well, and the cover alone will sell this story. The family dynamics and history are interesting, and I especially liked the difficulties with Cake, since middle schoolers seem to lose at least one good friend. Having Trina also be interested in basketball gives this appeal to wider audiences. This is a great middle grade debut by Shah, whose background as a sports writer imbues this book with a lot of authenticity. This is like Fred Bowen's books, but with a sort of less traditional, social media feel to it.
Weaknesses: While I am decently knowledgeable with the sport of basketball, I am woefully deficient in knowledge of its celebrity culture and all its trappings of clothing, gear, and NFT. For me personally, Raam wasn't as sympathetic a character as he could have been, but perhaps we will see him become a better person in the next books. 
What I really think: Sports book are a fantastic way to teach the life lessons that many language arts teachers and librarians wish to impart to students. The difference is that sports book actually get read, while award winners (especially ones that don't take student affection for the title into consideration) gather dust on their shiny stickers. While I didn't personally like Raam very much, he is a very relatable character, and middle grade readers who like a little schadenfreude dusted on the basketball court will empathize with Raam's embarassment and root for his comeback. I am looking forward to the next two purported books in the series. (Take the Shot is slated for publication on October 15, 2024.)

Maraniss, Andrew and Hodge, DeAndra. Beyond the Game: LeBron James

March 5, 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

LeBron James is probably the number one reason many of my students think that they have a chance at a career as a professional basketball player, but I wish that they would read this book and think instead about the ways that James has tried to help other people. James' story is a well known one in my state; he was raised by a young mother with few resources, helped by a family who took him in during the week and gave him stability, and did well in school and not only on the basketball court. After joining the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he did very well for himself but also paid attention to issues of social justice, and decided to give back to his community by founding an I PROMISE program in Akron which guarantees college help for children who stay in the program. The end of the book has basketball statistics as well as suggestions for ways in which young readers can help change the world. 

Strengths: Anything with James' picture on it will be checked out in two seconds flat in my library. Add Maraniss' story telling skills and Hodge's great illustrations, and I should probably just give in and buy two copies right away. This is a good length for reluctant readers, and the pictures will add to the appeal. I'm looking forward to other titles in this series. 
Weaknesses: Since I don't follow sports, I could have used a timeline of James' basketball career. 

What I really think: This is an essential purchase for middle school and elementary school libraries in Ohio, right along with Wetzel's Epic Athletes: LeBron James and Andrea Williams' We Are Family.