Author: Walker, Paul Robert

Title: Hoop Dreams

Plot Summary: This is a story of two fourteen year olds, William Gates and Arthur Agee, and their struggle to escape the cold, dark, inner-city streets of Chicago. Their only way out is the game of basketball. Both boys come from poor, black families who are often on welfare and strive to stay together. Arthur and William have big dreams of playing in the NBA, along with thousands of others just like them, but these two may have the potential to make their 'Hoop Dreams' come true.

Review:There is a remarkable set of characters in this book. William Gates is a tough player on the court with great determination and strength off the basketball court too. At age 16 William becomes a loving and devoted father, who would give up anything for his daughter Alicia and girlfriend Catherine. A private school invited Arthur Agee to come and play basketball there after a scout saw him playing on the playground one day. Arthur suffered one of the biggest disappointments in his life when he was kicked out because his parents could no longer pay for his tuition. Arthur displayed extreme courage and perseverance when he enrolled at a public school, became their star player, and brought his team to the final stage of the State Championships.

The book Hoop Dreams teaches its readers a lot about endurance. Arthur and William showed endurance while they kept their dreams and believed in themselves. Neither of them turned to drugs or gave up when confronted with a challenge. An example of William's endurance is when he hurt his knee and had to stop playing basketball for a year. He trained every day until his knee became strong enough to play full time again.

This book is in the third person point of view. The author, Paul Robert Walker, used simple language which made it easy for the reader to grasp and relate to, although the topics discussed were powerful. There are flashes of poetic writing in the story mixed with the play by play narrative of the many basketball games played by William and Arthur. "William Gates holds the basketball confidently between his hands and gazes at the rusted metal hoop, outlined against the Chicago sky. There is no net and no one watching--just a boy, a ball, and a hoop. Pushing the ball to the pavement, William begins to dribble. One step, two steps, three steps. On the fourth step he takes off from his left foot, soars through the air, switching the ball easily from his left hand to his right, and slams it through the hoop. Wham!"

Interest Level: Grade 7-9

Genre: Miscellaneous

Quality: 4Q Popularity: 5P

(On a scale of one to five with five being the best.)

Reviewed by: Liana K.

Grade: 8

Date Reviewed: 12/13/98

School:Littleton Jr/Sr High School

City, State, Country:Littleton, Massachusetts. USA