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Fast Break by Mike Lupica

Fast Break

Mike Lupica

Penguin Young Readers Group · Print & ebook · August 23, 2016

A Sports pick for readers exploring Fast Break.

Basketball StoriesOrphans & Foster Kidsschoolsports
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Who it’s for
Basketball gives this story momentum, while a hard-won new start keeps the stakes personal.
Themes
Loss and foster care, Trust and belonging, Perseverance and ambition
Pacing
Fast

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For older readers: Slam!, High Heat, Ball Don't Lie

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About this book

From the #1 bestselling author of Heat, Travel Team and Million-Dollar Throw comes a feel-good basketball tale reminiscent of The Blind Side. Forced to live on his own after his mom dies and her boyfriend abandons him, 12-year-old Jayson does whatever it takes to get by. He will do anything to avoid the foster care system. He manages to get away with his deception until the day he gets caught stealing a new pair of basketball sneakers. Game over.

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Within a day a social worker places him with a family from the other side of town, the Lawtons. New home, new school, new teammates. Jayson, at first, is combatative, testing the Lawtons' patience at every turn. He wants out, yet the Lawtons refuse to take the bait. But not everyone in Jayson's new life is so ready to trust him. It's on Jayson to believe that he deserves a better life than the one he once had. The ultimate prize if he can? A trip to play in the state finals at Cameron Indoor Stadium–home to the Duke Blue Devils and launching pad to his dream of playing bigtime college ball. Getting there will be a journey that reaches far beyond the basketball court. "Eager fans will find this a slam-dunk. A must-purchase."–Booklist "Lupica's announcer-like delivery will have you breathless, on the edge of your seat, cheering."--Florida Times-Union

Beyond the Court

Basketball gives this story momentum, while a hard-won new start keeps the stakes personal.

Come here for

  • On-court ambition tied to the harder work of learning to trust.

Expect

  • A young player's guarded start with a family that won't give up on him.

Where it sits

Basketball Stories99%
Orphans & Foster Kids96%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Adoption Stories
  • Orphans & Foster Kids
  • Basketball Stories
Authors
Mike Lupica
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
August 23, 2016
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Loss and foster care · Trust and belonging · Perseverance and ambition
Reading lane
Adoption Stories