First published 2020
Gene Yang teaches high school and writes comic books, but he doesn't understand sports. His childhood friends nicknamed him "Stick" because every basketball game left him hurt and frustrated. Now the Dragons varsity team at his school is having their best season in decades. Each win moves them closer to the California State Championships. Gene starts paying attention to these young players and discovers their journey rivals any comic book adventure he's ever created. He decides to document their quest for the state title. As Gene follows the team through their historic season, he finds himself drawn into their world. The Dragons' pursuit of their championship dream begins to transform not just their own lives but Gene's understanding of what makes a story worth telling.
Genres: american, contemporary, biography-memoir, high-school, comics, graphic-novels-comics, basketball, academic
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
446 pages · Hardcover · First Second