Dragon Hoops

I didn't have any idea past basketball, of what this book was about. Since it was done by Gene Yang, I knew I was going to read it though. I love books that take place locally to me. I can picture it, I even know some of it already so this book was a lot of fun in that respect. And honestly, who doesn't love a great sports story? Yang addresses many sensitive topics well and this reads more like a memoir than a story. I really, really enjoyed this.

A perfect delight of a book! It's exciting but also full of kindness and empathy.

I don't typically read graphic novels but I enjoyed this one. It was an easy read and I learned some things about basketball. My daughter also read it and enjoyed it..

Gene Luen Yang tells the true story of the attempt of the basketball team at the high school where he works to win the state championship in this new graphic novel, Dragon Hoops. In the process, he also explores racism in sports, the history of basketball, and the individual struggles of those on the team. And he somehow manages to also intertwine the story of the basketball team with his own personal struggles to combine his work as a teacher with that of his work as a graphic artist and his desire to be a good dad and husband.

Man, I loved this story! I want to tell someone to go read it. Now. Would you do that for me?

Teens (and adults) will LOVE this book! He covers the history of men's and women's basketball while serving an exciting through line story of the Bishop O'Dowd High School 2014-2015 baseketball season (I teared up at the last game, he builds such realistic excitement and emotion), offers a window into many of the main high school player's lives, and frames the story with his own meta-moments about his writing process (not sure as many kids will connect to this piece but some will and adult readers definitely will) and how his storyline decisions and who/what he includes will affect the reader. The only downside is it's a brick of a book, at 430+ pages hardback, and that visual thickness might initially put some kids off, but booktalking this will be an easy sell and kids will definitely feel accomplished that they've tackled such a thick book, and then spread the love on to other kids! Will definitely need to purchase multiple copies.

Fantastic! Highly recommend if you are interested in basketball, comics, high school stories. Heck, just read it regardless.

me when I heard Gene Luen Yang was writing a book about sports: :/
GLY when he realized he was going to write a book about sports: :/

and so I ended up loving this memoir/history. He wrote from the perspective of someone who was always bored by sports (same) and so was able to really figure out what made them interesting to a reader like me. It's such an interesting narrative between his own personal life, his students' lives, and the history of basketball, especially with an eye toward racism and progress made.

Just so compelling and thrilling. Knocked it out of the park. (Sports reference!)