The Fifth Quarter

Get ready to hit the court in this heartfelt, sporty, graphic novel, the first in Mike Dawson's middle-grade duology about a girl who deals with her insecurities through her love of basketball.

Lori Block is fully dedicated to her fourth-grade basketball team―even if she’s stuck in the “fifth quarter,” the extra practice period where the less experienced players take the court and the points don’t count.

But for Lori, it matters. Every drill, every pass, and every small improvement gives her something she doesn’t always find elsewhere: confidence. On the court, she feels capable. Off the court, things are more complicated―awkward friendships, shifting expectations, and the growing uncertainty of where she fits in.

As Lori pushes herself to improve her game, she also faces new challenges beyond basketball: navigating school dynamics, managing her own expectations, and preparing for her first overnight away from home.

Through it all, she has to decide what real courage looks like―on the court, at school, and in herself.