Stealing the Game (Streetball Crew, 2) - Softcover

Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1423194691 ISBN 13: 9781423194699

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2016

Synopsis

Chris Richards has always looked up to Jax, his older brother and his parents' "golden child." Lately, though, Jax has been full of surprises. First he dropped out of law school; then he started hanging out with some shifty-looking friends. One day Jax asks Chris to recruit his best middle school teammates for a pick-up basketball game in the park. Chris doesn't think much of it until the wrong team wins and Jax goes ballistic. It turns out that Jax bet on the game, hoping to earn enough money to repay a debt to someone who doesn't forgive easily. While Chris tries to walk a thin tightrope between helping his brother and staying out of trouble, his friend Theo does some behind-the-scenes detective work to learn what Jax has been up to. The day Chris is roped into a police investigation is the day he realizes he made the wrong play. Praise for Sasquatch in the Paint
"A crisp tale of sports, smarts and what it means to be your own man or woman-or boy or girl, if you happen to be 13...It seems to be an embarrassment of riches to be, say, one of the best basketball players in history and also write tightly entertaining novels for kids, but there you have Abdul-Jabbar. Fearless, caring sports fiction." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A humorous novel that delivers a heartwarming story about growing up, facing down bullies, and learning what true friendship is all about." -School Library Journal "The depth and realism Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld bring to the novel keep it from being a run-of-the-mill sports story... Readers will feel a kinship with Theo as he maneuvers through tough but realistic choices."-Publishers Weekly
"This smart, sensitive novel is full of simple truths that extend far beyond the court."--Booklist
"This funny and inspirational novel based on Kareem's sudden growth spurt as a middle-schooler captures the excitement of playing basketball and the anxiety of growing up--while growing tall, which I know a little something about. Kids will learn about the wonderful world of basketball and the importance of friendship and following your dreams." -Magic Johnson

About this title

About the Author

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975) and for the Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989), helping his teams win six NBA Championships. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points, and he is also the league' s leading All Star, playing on nineteen teams. Kareem gave the game the skyhook, considered basketball's most classic, and lethal, offensive move. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. Since retiring, he has been an actor, basketball coach, and a New York Times best-selling author. He recently published an adult mystery, Mycroft Holmes, and his nonfiction book, What Color Is My World?, won the NAACP award for Best Children's Book. In 2012 he was selected as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador. Currently Abdul-Jabbar is a contributing columnist for Time magazine.

Raymond Obstfeld is a novelist, screenwriter, and nonfiction writer. His second novel, DEAD HEAT, was nominated for an Edgar Award; he also wrote an award-winning YA novel entitled JOKER AND THE THIEF. Obstfeld has previously collaborated with Abdul-Jabbar on the sports memoir ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS: MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE HARLEM RENISSANCE, the nonfiction picture book WHAT COLOR IS MY WORLD?, and the middle grade novel SASQUATCH IN THE PAINT. Obstfeld currently teaches creative writing at Orange Coast College as an associate professor.

Review

PRAISE FOR SASQUATCH IN THE PAINT

"A crisp tale of sports, smarts and what it means to be your own man or woman-or boy or girl, if you happen to be 13...It seems to be an embarrassment of riches to be, say, one of the best basketball players in history and also write tightly entertaining novels for kids, but there you have Abdul-Jabbar. Fearless, caring sports fiction." ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

PRAISE FOR SASQUATCH IN THE PAINT

"This smart, sensitive novel is full of simple truths that extend far beyond the court."―Booklist

PRAISE FOR SASQUATCH IN THE PAINT

"This funny and inspirational novel based on Kareem's sudden growth spurt as a middle-schooler captures the excitement of playing basketball and the anxiety of growing up--while growing tall, which I know a little something about. Kids will learn about the wonderful world of basketball and the importance of friendship and following your dreams."―Magic Johnson

PRAISE FOR SASQUATCH IN THE PAINT

"The depth and realism Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld bring to the novel keep it from being a run-of-the-mill sports story...Readers will feel a kinship with Theo as he maneuvers through tough but realistic choices."―Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR SASQUATCH IN THE PAINT

"A humorous novel that delivers a heartwarming story about growing up, facing down bullies, and learning what true friendship is all about."―School Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1423194691
• ISBN 13: 9781423194699
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304