by LeBron James
First published 2015
LeBron James moves from school to school across Akron, Ohio, never quite finding where he belongs. Each new classroom brings fresh stares and whispered questions. The constant upheaval makes friendships hard to form and grades harder to maintain. Basketball becomes his anchor. On the court, his size and skill speak louder than his frequent absences or unfamiliar face in the hallway. He pours himself into both athletics and academics, using sports as motivation to excel in the classroom. The work pays off when NBA scouts take notice. Draft day arrives in 2003, and LeBron hears his name called first. The professional league brings new challenges, but also the chance to prove that a kid who never had a stable home base can still reach the top. Two championship victories later, he has transformed from a displaced student into a champion, finding the belonging that eluded him in those Akron schools.
Genres: biography, african-american, sports, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Akron, Ohio
Period: 2003
24 pages · Paperback · Av2 by Weigl