Skip to main content

True Legend


True Legend
by Mike Lupica
Philomel, 2012.  292 pgs.  Fiction

      Drew "True" Robinson is the best high school point guard in the country.  He and his Mom have moved from New York to Southern California to nestle under the wing of Mr. G., a filthy rich basketball fan who started his own prep school academy just to assemble a grade-A basketball team and then to highlight Drew's talents.  His soon to be best friend Lee promises to be his wingman, hoping to bring a district championship to Oakley, and though his Mom warns him about believing his own hype and slacking off in his schoolwork, he soon begins to give in to casual lying and cheating, letting others "help" him with his homework and thinking life owes him whatever he wants. But one night when he arrives to shoot around by himself on a neighborhood court, lit only by the moon, he sees a ghost.  An old guy with skills--extraordinary skills--attacking the basket like an elite pro player.  When he hails the guy, the guy runs.  How Drew tracks down this playground legend, sees what might become of him if he keeps rationalizing away his integrity, and finds out who his "True" friends are carries Lupica's story to a deeply satisfying conclusion.  A near-perfect narrative for teens and tweens about being faithful to oneself and to those who matter most.  I listened to this book on CD, marvelously well read by Prentice Onayemi.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.