by LeBron James
First published 2021
Jayden Carr has spent his summer training for Hoop Group, the free basketball program where NBA star Kendrick King learned to play. When Coach Beck announces the program is canceled, Jayden refuses to accept defeat. Four other kids share his disappointment. Tamika Beck wanted to become the first girl to start on the team. Chris King planned to show off for his famous uncle Kendrick. Anthony Pierson needed basketball to stay out of trouble. Dexter Donyel, standing just four feet six inches tall, dreamed of finally belonging to a team instead of watching from the sidelines. Each player saw Hoop Group as more than basketball. It represented family, hope, and escape. Now the five kids must work together to resurrect their season. They scrap and hustle to prove they deserve their chance on the court. Their fight to save the program becomes a test of friendship and determination.
Genres: fiction, family, contemporary, sports, basketball
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, heartwarming
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Setting: Hoop Group
256 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins