Hoops

Can you rise above the streets when the game is rigged against you? For 17-year-old Lonnie Jackson, basketball is more than a sport—it's his only shot at a better life. But when his new coach is a ghost from his past, Lonnie must decide if winning is worth the price. Discover how to navigate a world of pressure, temptation, and tough choices. You'll learn what it takes to trust a mentor with a troubled history, stand up to the dangerous influence of gamblers, and find the inner strength to play your own game, both on and off the court.

Walter Dean Myers was a trailblazing five-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and the third National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, celebrated for his authentic portrayals of urban youth. Growing up in Harlem, Myers drew from his own experiences on the basketball court and his deep understanding of the pressures facing young men to write compelling, realistic stories like Hoops. His work gave voice to a generation of readers, exploring the complex challenges of adolescence with honesty, empathy, and hope.