Summer Ball by Mike Lupica

I enjoy listening to Mike Lupica when he's interviewed on the radio. He seems like a good guy, so I thought I'd give one of his books a try. Since he writes about sports for young people, I thought it would be a good idea to see if it's good enough to give Gabriel. Our tastes are pretty different, but I thought this might be one that would bridge the gap. We'll see! I'm giving it to him today.

This story features Danny Walker, a small (compared to his friends and teammates) basketball player. He's the son of a professional player and that helps explain some of his enthusiasm for the game. When we were raising Melissa, I was thoroughly surprised and impressed by her sports work ethic. Nothing was too much to ask in practice, and she practiced on her own. She has the passion to get better and will do anything to do it. Danny is like that, and I've often wondered if that's a trait that is inborn.

What makes this book better than most young adult literature is the sensitivity of the characters, the wisdom of the adults, though no one is perfect. My favorite aspect, though, is the way Lupica has Danny react to challenges. When he encounters a bad coach, Danny just works harder to impress him. Overcoming challenges with a great attitude is a recurring theme which would serve kids well, I think. I guess it's okay to have a loser coach; there are plenty of them out there. I do question, however, that he ended up looking like a complete chump at the end, when compared to Danny's nobility. There is something to be said for being obedient to your coach...not sure Danny and the team found the right balance there. But all in all, I think this book teaches good values.

I also like the friendships and the appropriate interaction between them. These kids are 12-14 years old, like each other, but don't go down any sexual roads at all. I appreciated that. And they support each other in very effective ways.

Lupica describes all the basektball moves and strategies in great detail. And even though I didn't understand or necessarily follow it all, it didn't detract from the story for me. I was able to follow it enough to feel joy when the game went well and pain when a shot was missed. Danny's floor pass also was described in a way that I could see. It also helped me understand that the game is more complex than I usually can appreciate.

I just heard Lupica interviewed on Imus this morning, and he's just signed a four-book deal with Simon & Schuster. The first of the four is out, and I might give it a try. I like how he weaves a story, makes his characters interesting and real, and is also unpredictable. Stay tuned for Gabe's reaction!