The Final Four

by Paul Volponi

Four players with one thing in common: the will to win

Malcolm wants to get to the NBA ASAP. Roko wants to be the pride of his native Croatia. Crispin wants the girl of his dreams. M.J. just wants a chance.

March Madness is in full swing, and there are only four teams left in the NCAA basketball championship. The heavily favored Michigan Spartans and the underdog Troy Trojans meet in the first game in the semifinals, and it's there that the fates of Malcolm, Roko, Crispin, and M.J. intertwine. As the last moments tick down on the game clock, you'll learn how each player went from being a kid who loved to shoot hoops to a powerful force in one of the most important games of the year. Which team will leave the Superdome victorious? In the end it will come down to which players have the most skill, the most drive, and the most heart.

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Basketball, Fiction, Contemporary, Teen

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2012

Reviews

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: Death of parent in car accident off page, death of sister in drive by shooting.

I am surprised how engaging this book was. However, I played basketball (not particularly well) throughout school, university and during my working life, right up until about 3 years ago when a peppy, over enthusiastic player crushed me and broke my leg. Thanks number 32. I am also not bitter about being asked to drag myself off the court so the game could continue. Anyhoo, residual issues aside, I understand the game. I would say about half of the book is literally a play by play of the semi-final game so I imagine this would be difficult to read if you didn't have an understanding of basketball or at least an interest in it. That being said it is so much more than a book about basketball. It looks at the potential exploitation of players, how players see the game in different ways in terms of how it can improve their lives, dealing with grief, and what it means to be part of a team. A thought provoking look at young people managing life in the world of high level sport.

[Greg S.]

Started this the day before school ended, and of course, it was my favorite book I read all year. I was sad about the ending, but other than that, one of my favorite(if not my favorite) books I've ever read. I suggest it to anyone who likes sports.

[Ben Chiang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is talking about the university basketball league in US which is the NCAA.This book begin with a kid called Malcolm McBride, he is the point guard of the Michigan State Spartans. In a game they were left down within 2 points and they only have got 6.9 seconds left but Malcolm crossed-over but suddenly step back for a wide space jumper and he knocks down a 3 point buzzer-beater with a tight defence. This book had shows that a sport can transcend different experiences, backgrounds and beliefs. Just because the game clock had stopped doesn't means that the hearts of the ten basketball players on the court have quit bounding. This is why the name of the book is called "The Final Four".

I love the part when Paul Volponi describing the movement of player when playing basketball on court because he's not just using the key-words in basketball he is describing the every single movement in the story.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie's Picks: THE FINAL FOUR by Paul Volponi, Viking, March 2012, 256p., ISBN: 978-0-670-01264-0
.
"Imagine all the people living life in peace"
-- John Lennon. (Yep. He was murdered, too.)

Why is the human race so successful at spawning murderous thugs? That's what I was sitting here thinking to myself as I equivocated about which of the two main characters I should be rooting for in this awesome basketball story that is so much more than a basketball story. Do I cheer for the abrasive college freshman phenom, from the projects in Motown, whose sister was accidentally murdered in a drive-by? Or should I be rooting for the kid from Croatia, the aspiring journalist who was sent off to America after his mentor uncle -- a crusading journalist in Croatia -- was blown into vapor by a car bomb set up by an organized crime syndicate he was writing about?

What is wrong with humanity?

"Play by Play Man: We're headed to a second five-minute overtime session. And a fight breaks out on the court! It's between the two mascots! Unbelievable! Sparty and T-Roy -- two guys in seven-foot foam rubber costumes -- get into a shoving match in a wild scene that's now being broken up by security.

"Color Commentator: This is what the Final Four is all about. Emotions pushed to the limits, and even more so now as we strap ourselves in for double overtime."

The relentless action and team dynamics on (and off) the court in this year's NCAA men's basketball Final Four provide an ever-present boom-box soundtrack that intersperses with the stories of four of the players on the court -- two from the heavily-favored Michigan State Spartans and two from the upstart Troy Trojans.

(This year's Final Four is being played in the Louisiana Superdome, which is also the setting for one of Paul Volponi's other YA masterpieces -- HURRICANE SONG.)

In addition to the cover-to-cover play-by-play capital-a Action in this hard-fought basketball contest, and in addition to the related stories of these four players, THE FINAL FOUR is also a tale about the money and the prestige that goes hand and hand with major collegiate sports and about the two coaches who are guiding these young men and creating name brands for their collegiate employers.

When I was an undergraduate in the seventies, I went to a fine state university. In those days, outside of that state there was not a whole lot of buzz about the school and many would stare blankly when I told them where I'd gone to school.

But now, twenty-five years after Jim Calhoun first became head coach of the UConn Men's Basketball program (a position that now earns him millions of dollars per year), I can mention that I went to UConn and vastly more people know all about that school because of its being a real basketball power: Including last year's NCAA championship, Calhoun's teams are now 6-1 in Final Four play and Calhoun is one of only five coaches in NCAA history to have won at least three national championships.

This is a totally big deal. What a school like UConn gains as a result of these winning ways is measured in money and enrollment and prestige and more money. And so it is that THE FINAL FOUR also reveals the not-so-pretty underside of this whole process.

"I don't know what, they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see"
-- Notorious B.I.G.

(In recent years, UConn has had to deal with many of the same NCAA sanction-related issues that are part of THE FINAL FOUR.)

"'I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.'
--Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time, despite being cut from his high school varsity team as a sophomore."
(One of the dozens of great basketball-related quotes employed as epigrams by author Paul Volponi.)

Patrick Jones talks about a year's truly great YA books being those which are chosen for both the Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list as well as the Best Fiction for Young Adults list. This, to me, is exactly one of these sort of books.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...

[Gus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response

I think this book is very good. The book gives a behind the scenes look at what college athletes could possibly be going through off the court. I think the author does a great job at describing very realistic problems. I also think the plot in this book is very good.

Plot

The book starts on the big stage of the college basketball semifinals. The book follows the lives of four players competing during the game. The four players come from a mix of very different economic and racial backgrounds. The book follows two players from each of the competing teams. The players from Michigan State are Malcolm McBride and Michael Jordan. Even though Malcolm and Michael are teammates, they don't share a very good bond. Michael is from a middle class life while Malcolm is from the housing projects of Detroit. The two don't get along very well and it transitions onto the court. The two players from Troy are Roko Bacic and Crispin Rice. Roko and Crispin have a strong bond, even though the two can't be more different. Crispin is from a nice town and he receives a lot of family support. Roko is a foreign born student from the war-torn country of Croatia. Roko witnessed the mob running his town when he was little and the murder of his uncle caused him to pursue his basketball dream. This dream has lead Roko into the United States. The four players carry their teams through the game with lots of passion. The game is a real nail biter and the background info being dispersed on the characters adds a real personal feel to the game.

Characterization

The aspect of having four main characters in the book is very interesting. The dispersal of information on each of the players' personal lives creates a good amount of emotion in the book. The background information gives the reader the ability to see what shaped these characters' into what they are. The reader is also able to see the characters' mature throughout the book as the game goes on. The game allows the reader to see each players' internal motivation for both the team and themselves.

Setting/Time

There is no time as intense as March Madness. The book takes place in the semifinal game and it gives the reader an atmosphere of competition. The setting gives the reader the ability to actually feel the intensity on the pages of the book. The semifinal game brings out the most of the characters involved. This gives the reader the ability to see the internal workings of each character and what motivates them. The time being in March adds an aspect of a deadline to the characters as it could be the last time they step on the court.

Thematic Connection

I believe the theme is overcoming adversity. I think this is the theme because every character had some sort of obstacle to get past in order to be where they were at. Malcolm McBride has to overcome the drive-by shooting of his older sister to push him into leaving the slums for pro dreams. Roko Bacic has to overcome the murder of his uncle who taught him how to play basketball and pursue a better life in the states. Michael Jordan has to overcome being named after a famous athlete in order to be who he truly is as a person. Finally, Crispin Rice has to overcome his girlfriends' rumored cheating to keep his mind focused on his love for the game.

Rating/Recommendation

I think this book is very deserving of five stars out of five. The plot to this book is very intense and it has a lot of detail to it. The characters in the book are very relatable to the reader and they add a personal aspect to the life of college sports. I think the detail put into the characters' lives is very crucial to the enjoyment of the book. This book is great for high school athletes with college dreams.This book is more likely to be intended for a male audience because it focuses on men’s college basketball. This book is also more likely to be intended for an audience of athletes and people who are involved in sports.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this during the Men's Final Four, and finished during the Women's Championship game. I appreciate Volponi's background, but felt this was a bit too manipulative and cliched. I could have done without the Crispin-cheerleader drama for sure, and I found Malcolm too stereotypical and overdone. No successful coach would put up with his extreme selfishness. There were times that Malcolm showed a softer side, especially concerning his sister, but the character was way over the top. Students could do some nice compare and contrast with the backgrounds of Malcolm and Roko; it's pretty obvious to adults, but there could be some great discussions. There are a few editing errors: it's Indiana University, not University of Indiana, and there's no "NBA combine" at this time (but hey, it's fiction, so there could be one, or they could rename the tryout camp) I enjoyed the quotes for each chapter, but found the repetitive game telecast description annoying-why not give them all names instead of saying play-by-play and color commentator, but naming the female sideline reporter? I also felt that the end was abrupt. I really enjoyed the description of Barker's home recruiting visit (wonder how many times neighbors are given $100 to "watch my car"), and appreciated Malcolm having two parents in the home and trying, for the most part, to stay out of trouble. Is there really that much time during a game to have complete trash-talk conversations? Or to break to a several-minute interview during a time out? Still, I enjoyed it.

[Zach N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book overall because of the suspense at times. One thing I really didn’t like was how the author closed the book. It was not a very strong conclusion

[Liza Wiemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who follow me on Twitter and Goodreads, it's no secret that I am a huge fan of Paul Volponi's. I became intrigued by his work when RESPONSE received the Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Honor in 2010. After that, I devoured his novels and dubbed Paul the King of Urban YA Fiction.

THE FINAL FOUR is one of Paul's finest novels. Volponi writes about March Madness, the time when the best college basketball teams play for the NCAA Championship. It's huge money, huge exposer, huge pressure. Volponi tells the story of two teams battling in the Final Four through the eyes of four players. Interspersed are newspaper and TV interviews, commentary. One of the characters is Michael Jordan-imagine what it must be like to love basketball, be named after one of the best players to ever play in the NBA, and always having to deal with being compared to your namesake: THE Michael Jordan. Another character is Malcolm McBride, a young man who'a nickname is "One and Done" because he's only playing one year of college ball until he's eligible to enter the NBA draft. Malcolm's outlook on life has definitely been shaped by poverty and the horrible experiences that have plagued his life. Crispin Rice is a character I really enjoyed, a leader for sure. But his life isn't as storybook as the media makes it out to be. My favorite character is Roco Bacic who survived some horrific experiences in Croatia to come to the US and fulfill his dream of playing basketball. Some of his story is told through a personal journal that captures unforgettable moments of terror.
The reader becomes immersed in the players' lives on and off the basketball court. The novel is rife with raw emotion, tragedy, and triumph.
There were several passages where I shook my head in awe. Even if you rarely on never read realistic fiction, THE FINAL FOUR should be your first. Get swept away in March Madness.
I highly recommend this novel for young men - seventh grade and up - who are reluctant readers. THE FINAL FOUR may very well be just the novel to inspire a love for reading.

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Paul Volponi's books and this is no exception! He gets the suspense and excitement just right in this book about basketball and 4 overtimes in a game that will totally drive you crazy with anticipation. Who will win this Final Four game between the Michigan State Spartans (Malcolm McBride and Michael Jordan) against the Troy University Trojans (Roko Bacic and Crispin Rice)is anyone's guess as we follow the story through the four main characters, (and there are so many more other memorable characters in this book!) newspaper stories, and news reporting by sportscasters. I so enjoyed Malcolm; he was easy to dislike with all his bravado, but he was a consummate player, who had a close-knit family, ethics that kept him away from the drug infested streets, parties and trouble. Volponi's trash-talking between the basketball players was cruel and amusing and created a dynamic that fueled the tension on the court. Roko's story was heartrending with his flight from Croatia and the loss of his uncle. But you knew he was going to do whatever it took to survive, be a leader, and be just like his uncle. I enjoyed the dynamics between Michael Jordan and Malcolm and loved his Reaction Paper: Basketball is Life! Crispin Rice's spur of the moment proposal teaches him (and his team) about living in the moment and the Troy of Hope good luck won't make them a winning team, but looking out for each other during the game is their winning strategy. I will be getting multiple copies of this book for our library and I know my reluctant readers, especially those that love basketball will be fighting for this book!

[Danny Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Four by Paul Volponi
1. I chose to read The Final Four because I read the synopsis on the summer reading list and it appealed to my interest in sports. Out of all of the fiction books on the list, this book interested me the most and jumped out at me when I was deciding what to read.
2. I liked how the author was able to keep the reader updated about the first semifinal game of the NCAA March Madness tournament, which was the main focus of the book while also getting into the personalities of the four main characters and their past. I often found myself trying to choose who I wanted to win the game based on their past and who deserved it more.
3. There were not many things I did not like about this book. However, I did notice that sometimes the language was repetitive and unvaried; though this did not ruin the overall story or message.
4. I would recommend this book to people who like watching or playing sports, especially basketball since that is the sport this book is about. I would not recommend it to someone who does not like to read a book that changes perspective to different characters.
5. I agree with Robert B. who says, “When I was reading this book I felt like I was right there and watching the game.” The book gives very detailed, down to the second descriptions of every play and the resulting score. The book also included commentary from TV announcers so you could even imagine watching the game on TV.

[Collin Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked the Final Four because I am a very big sports fan and i'm very interested in basketball. I can read any basketball book and easily fall in love with it. I liked many things from the book. What I liked most was how the author gave every point of view from each character and each perspective from every player. What I liked least about the novel was that he gave too many perspectives throughout each chapter and made the book some what confusing. He told too many stories that you could forget about. I recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in sports and exciting basketball action. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is not interested in sports and basketball isn't their favorite passing time. "The author wrote the story to show that even though people seem different they may be very much alike." - Kaleb Wolters. I totally agree with this statement. The author shows how all the characters are all alike in different ways. The author first showed how the characters were different but then turned it around and said how they all grew up in hood without an easy life. All in all, the novel was great and I very much enjoyed reading it.

[Matt Fritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Volpni's "Final Four" portrays the life of 4 student athletes trying to win the NCAA championship. Michael Jordan and Malcolm McBride play for the same team, MSU, but have very different personalities. Malcolm is MSU's star and is only playing so he can get drafted higher into the NBA. Michael Jordan is not as good as his other teammates, even with a name like that. The other team, Troy, is the underdog team, but still holding its own. Roko Bacic, originally from Zagreb, Croatia, is here in America playing basketball trying to escape tragedy from his home. Crispin Rice is newly engaged and trying to focus on his game instead of all the drama off the court. Who will come out on top when these two teams play to move onto the finals, the MSU favorite with only one star, or the Troy underdog that plays like a team.
Read this realistic fiction novel to find out want happens. If you like reading about sports you too would like this book.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response: I really liked this book, because it showed the intensity of an actual final four game. I also liked how throughout the book the author told me a lot of information about the characters. I did not like how long the author pushed out the Troy-Michigan game in the book, because it felt unrealistic that the game went to a fourth overtime. Also, I felt like the book would of been better if the author included the rest of the final four tournament and did not keep it to one game.

Plot: The book started out in a flashback when the starting point guard of Michigan found out his sister was killed in a drive by shooting. Throughout the flashback, Malcolm went to his sister’s funeral and talked about how his family was not going to be able to afford the tombstone. Then it cut back to the Troy-Michigan game in the last final minutes of regulation and Michigan was up. A couple minutes later, the game was all tied up with ten seconds left and Roko missed the game winning shot. After it was sent to overtime, the book had another flashback. Malcolm was about to sign on to Michigan State, but Coach Barker had to talk to Malcolm. He told Malcolm not to receive anything from anyone for free because it is against NCAA rules. The book cut back into the game as the tip off of the five minute overtime started and Troy grabbed the ball down and scored. Crispin, a player from Troy, fouled out after making contact with Malcolm while shooting. Then another flashback happened and it was about Malcolm and Michael getting into a fight in their dorm. It occurred because Malcolm said that Michael would never be as good as him and would never be drafted higher. After they got caught fighting, they got sent to the coach and he told them to run rows of stairs for how many free throws they missed. As the first overtime continued, the game was tied up and the overtime was almost over. Even though Roko got fouled, he missed both free throws to keep the game tied up with under a minute left. Malcolm then slowly went up the court to run time off the clock but missed the layup. Troy rebounded and got the last possession. Troy missed the shot to send the game into another overtime. The book flashed back to Malcolm and his father as they tried to find his sister’s tombstone in the cemetery. They finally found it, but it was not the one they had bought. It was a much bigger and more expensive tombstone. The book cut back to the game. The last overtime started and most of the players were tired, except Malcolm and he scored. Roko started heading down the court. He lost the ball and Michigan scored again. The book flashed back and Malcolm heard knocking on the door. He found his coach at his door. The coach asked if Malcolm had received anything from anyone and Malcolm told him about the tombstone. Coach Barker told Malcolm they would have to get rid of the tombstone, so he would not get in trouble with the NCAA. The book went back to the game. There was not much time left and the game was tied up. Michigan had the possession. Malcolm ran down the clock and scored in the paint giving Michigan a two point lead with only ten seconds left. Roko tried to score, but got shut down and Michigan won.

Characterization: Malcolm was a star freshman who was really cocky and thought he was better than anyone else at basketball. Malcolm did not change that much because in the beginning he was cocky about basketball. In his last game at the end of the book he was cocky to his own teammates.

Michael Jordan: He was teammates with Malcolm, but he acted the opposite of Malcolm. He was a respectful player who tried to not live up to the hype of his name. Also, he did not trash talk even when his team was in the Final Four game against a team that should not have been there.

Roko: He was a Croatian who played for Troy. He seemed like a nice guy, but Malcolm got him mad throughout the game. Malcolm got on his nerves as the game went on, so he started trash talking back.

Setting: The setting was in March during the college basketball tournament. The book took place mainly in the New Orleans Superdome. The New Orleans Superdome was important to the plot because it was where the final four tournament took place. The setting changed when it went into flashbacks. The flashbacks took place in Malcolm’s house in Detroit. Detroit was important to the plot because it was where Malcolm’s sister died.

Recommendation: I recommended this book to any teen boy who had an interest in basketball. The content of the book and the length of the book was meant for a high school level. It also had some curse words in it, so I would not recommend it to anyone who was not in high school.

[Noah Marker]

Personal Response:
The book The Final Four is a great read. I had a lot of fun reading this book. I will really look into more books by this author. I understood this book a lot easier than I think someone who wasn’t in basketball would. The only issue I had with this book was it never stays on track. It would always when talking about one player go to the next and talk about them. All of the chapters are about the players in the final game.

Plot:
The book starts in the Final Four basketball game. With the Trojans of Troy leading by two points and only 6.9 seconds left, it seems the game is over for the Michigan Spartans. Then Malcolm McBride ties it up to bring it to overtime. In overtime, both teams fought very hard and still end up in a tie. When talking about the Final Four, the author always writes about something from the players’ pasts. For example, Malcolm McBride lost his sister in a drive-by when he grew up in Detroit, MI. That is what fuels him to do his best each and every game is what he told a reporter at the game.

Characterization
Michael Jordan is a kid from the book The Final Four. He is not a famous NBA star but he sure does try to be. He works at everything that comes at him, so he can live up to his name. He tries to be the Famous MJ but can never quite make it there. MJś mindset changes a lot in this book. He focuses on what he wants to become all while people are telling him to be totally different because of his name.

A second character in the book is Malcolm McBride. He is the opposite of Michael Jordan. He is Troy’s scoring machine and only thinks about himself. He is so focused on himself going to the NBA after one year of college ball that he doesn’t stop to see his other teammates. For Malcolm, all he cares about is him and what he does for the team. The book does tell the reader that Malcolm had a troubling past. Losing his sister is what drives him to play ball. He got a tattoo on his arm for her to show everyone.

Setting:
This book takes place mostly in the Louisiana Superdome in the Final Four game against the Spartans and the Trojans of Troy. The location this book takes place really helps put in mind that these teams are playing for something great. It helps the reader picture what an important game this is to be in the Superdome and be playing for such a huge tournament.

Thematic Connection:
The theme in this book is to not back down. The teams went into quadruple overtime and both basketball teams never gave up an ounce. Both teams fought their hardest to win the game and are victorious. Michigan State won the game because their team never gave up. It was all because he never backed down. Malcolm never gave up. Even when the ending looks tough backing down was not an option in this book.

Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy the sport of basketball because this book talks a lot about it. I think male highschoolers would understand this book a lot easier because they know about the stress of being in a sport that doesn´t seem to go your way. I would also recommend researching the final four tournaments before reading this book. It would make the reading a lot easier knowing what it is. I would also, research the schools the Spartans and the Trojans of Troy to get some knowledge about what the schools are like.

[Cristian G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I read The Final Four by Paul Volponi. I really liked how entertaining this book was. The book always made me want to read more. I also liked how the book contained the perspective of four basketball players and their points of views. I didn’t like how the Spartans won the game at the end. I wished the Trojans would have beat the Spartans.

Plot
It was the semi-final game of the NCAA tournament, Michigan State Spartans vs. the Troy University Trojans. Malcolm McBride and MJ are Spartan players while Bacic Roco and Crispin Rice are Trojans. Malcolm had the idea to win the game to reach more fame and get drafted by the NBA. MJ, Roco, and Rice just wanted to win the game and were not in it for the fame. All of the four players either had a rough past or a motivation for which they fought for in this game. It was a tough game with the score being so close and time ticking down. It was a game filled with buzzer shots that kept the game going to overtime again and again. There was no giving up on either side of the court due to each players desires and motivations to win.

Characterization
There were four main characters in this book. Malcolm and Bacic had a rough past that made them the way they were while Crispin and MJ had other reasons to want to win. Malcolm came from a very poor family and his drive to successes was based on that. He wanted to support his family. Malcolm was very cocky all throughout the book. Malcolm did not really appreciate his teammates very well, but after the game he understood how much his team and teammates actually meant to him.

Bacic was from Croatia and wanted to play basketball for the fun of it and for his uncle that passed away. Bacic was more sympathetic and caring about his teammates. Bacic’s personality didn’t change throughout the book. MJ has fought to become the best while being in Malcolm’s shadow on the team his character also didn’t change throughout the book but he did progress as a player and became closer the Malcolm. Crispin was also a character that did not really change throughout the book but his conflicts in his life made him who he was.

Setting:
The Final Four took place in the present. The book also took place in the month of march because of the March Madness tournament in which they were playing in. The setting played a huge role on the intensity of the basketball game and the plot. The book mainly took place in the New Orleans superdome because that’s where the game was being played. Some flashbacks also took place in Detroit and Croatia. These locations helped understand the past of two of the four athletes in the book.

Recommendation:
I recommend this book to anyone who is likes action books. This book contains a lot of action which a lot of people will like. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is likes basketball or sports. I also recommend this book to some middle and high school students that are just looking for a good book. A younger audience would not be able to comprehend and fully enjoy the book. Any boy or girl can read this book because it is a book that everyone can enjoy.

[Carson Eagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being pushed around is an everyday occurrence on the courts on life and of course the court of basketball. However, during March madness, it is a matter of survival. The championship is so close they can practically taste it. The Final 4 by Paul Volponi is about 4 key players in Malcolm, Roko, Crispin, and M.J who are all basketball players playing for the Michigan State Spartans and the Troy University Spartans. They are fighting for not only the championship, but for love, fame, pride, and in Malcolm's case, hopes of making it to the NBA. The stakes could not be any higher. The story of these boys showcases the influence of pride and how it can interfere with relationships, importance of the game, and loyalty to your teammates and coach.
This book intrigued me from the moment I saw the cover. I play basketball a lot a love the sport so I was able to relate a good amount to this book. I think I can be most depicted as Malcolm McBride. He is very good, in fact the best point guard in the NCAA. He says "That's why my number is 11, two number 1s in a row"(14). However, Malcolm's comment shows that he is only worried about himself at the expense of him team, something I definitely do not do. The goal of reaching the NBA is the only thing that matters to him. I think what made this book the most interesting was the conflict of it. Malcolm create a great deal of conflict throughout the book such as his actions and other tragic events that related to him. His cockiness really got in the way of his game and his relationship to his coach, family, and teammates. Also, the death of his sister really put him on a whole different trajectory. His pride starts to get our of hand when he starts to target one of his teammates, Micheal Jordan. Another thing that makes this book so great is the comparison of all the players, especially MJ. MJ is a bench warmer with low self esteem. He considers himself "inferior" to other players. However, he has the will power the change and determination to grow. This can be seen when he says "MJ blocks out everything around him, Malcolm, the defenders, the crowd, and even how much that one shot means"(232). This really is very inspirational to not just me, but I think to most of the readers. That is really what basketball is all about. His self esteem increases on and off the court and he gained the courage to take a stand for himself because he is tired of being pushed around. This tenacity propelled MJ to become a leader on the court. I try to be a leader on and off the court so there are many instances in this book where I can really relate to and that it was makes it so interesting and makes me love it so much.
This story illustrates that friendship and teamwork is far more important then just thinking about yourself. I highly recommend this thrilling novel because it shows action and motivation on and off the court. It is a story of 2 rivals battling it out and putting everything on the line which I think is absolutely awesome. This book will take you through many twists and turns that deal with humility, loss, and truly learning to be part of a team.

[Morgan Folk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I thought, The Final Four , was a good book, because it was about sports and I love to read about sports and mysteries. Another thing I liked about the book was that I could relate to how the basketball team played. Lastly, I liked the book because it was not that long and I could comprehend most of it.
Plot:
The, The Final Four, was about a guy named Malcolm McBride who played for the Michigan State Spartans. Malcolm was the starting point guard and very good at basketball. Behind him on the court, he had many other good players. The story began when they were on the way to the final championship playing the Troy Trojans. Michigan State had been a good team all around, but the Troy Trojans were on an underdog comeback. They were close to the end of the game and Troy was up by two points. There were 9.6 seconds left on the clock and it was Michigan State's ball. Malcolm had the ball and passed it to Michael Jordan and then he passed the ball back. Malcolm shot the three pointer and the buzzer went off while he was still shooting. He made the basket and ended the Trojans comeback streak. The Michigan State spartans had won the championship game. MacBride had won the game for the spartans and that is how the book ends. It was kind of a sad ending, because the whole book was also about the Troy trojans and their season. Also, Volponi had talked about the season games. Including, the hard parts of their games and the good blowout games.
Characterization:
There were a lot of characters in this book, because it was about basketball and how both teams were very good. The main character was Malcolm McBride who was a black, very tall, and athletic man. McBride had a dream that he wanted to go to the NBA as soon as possible, and nothing could stop him. Malcolm had also been very cocky. He went to Michigan State thinking he was the best player on their team. He finally, near the end, realized that he wasn’t. Another character that I really liked was Crispin. Crispin played on the basketball team also. He was not very good, but he knew if he played he could get all the girls. When Crispin played in the final four, he shot a buzzer beater that won them the game.
Setting:
The setting of The Final Four was mostly on basketball courts in different cities. The book took place in 2012 and was based off a true story. Some of the book also took place at the college campus with their friends and girlfriends. The championship game took place at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to teens in high school or older. The reasons I say this is because there is adult content and has a high reading level. In the book, the author, Paul Volponi, says what college life actually is. I recommend this to people who like to play basketball or play basketball. Volponi has very descriptive words and he makes the reader get hooked to the book.

[Lilly Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final Four by Paul Volopini was a book that I unexpectedly really liked. As someone who grew up with an athlete brother I’ve grown up around basketball, but never seen the perspective of the player. One of this book’s biggest strengths is the way it can make you fall in love with every single character. Within this roughly two hundred page book you feel like you are best friends with every character. This made me more invested in the end of the book, and made me want to keep reading. I also really liked how this book brought up a very controversial issue that is relevant to today’s society. Should college athletes be paid to play? I personally hadn’t thought much about this, but after reading it made me think and form my own opinion. Some reviews on Good Reads are saying they thought that the book was cliche. I agree somewhat that some points have been used, but this didn’t prevent me from enjoying the book. I sort of enjoyed the classic feel of the book. Other people also said they thought the book got a little repetitive. I didn’t notice this while reading, but I agree. Each chapter or so began with the same couple ideas. A kind of obvious reason I didn’t like this book was because of the ending. I understand it can’t always be the good guys that win, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. I liked how I could connect this to something in my real life, and add to my previous knowledge of it. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy sports, but also just an exciting read. I think specifically it would be good for teenage boys looking for something to read. It has something they’re interested in, and could get them reading. Overall, I would say this book has it’s strengths and weaknesses, but so does any book. I really enjoyed it, and think a lot of other people could too. It makes you feel like you are sitting in the stands of that game watching your big brother play. It gives you a feeling of attachment to all the characters, and feel a sense that you know them in a way other books don’t always have. One question I do wonder about is how realistic it is to the real life college basketball world? That would make it a lot more interesting to know!

[Duane Brazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I liked how The Final Four talked about how the main characters’ lives were before they got to play college basketball. I felt like the book would have been better if they would not have been switching between Roko, Crispin, MJ, and Malcolm life's so much and the game because it was kind of confusing. I also did not like how they dragged the second to the last game out for half the book and then put the final game on one page. It was kind of disappointing.

Plot:
The main events in The Final Four were how the Spartans and Troy got to the final four and then played each other in the second to the last round of the NCAA tournament. There was a lot of hard work and closes games on the road for both of the teams to get there. They played pretty evenly throughout the game. The game lasted four extra five minute overtime periods, because they kept tying the game up. It ended with the Michigan Spartans take the win by one point.

Characterization:
Roko and Crispin played for Troy Trojans. Crispin and his girlfriend Hope were the teams good luck charm. He asked Hope out after a last second buzzer beater that started their winning streak. Roko wanted his home nation of Croatia to look up to him. He played a big part in helping his team make it to the final four. While on the other side the Michigan Spartans have Malcolm and MJ. Malcolm is just there to play his one year of college ball so he can go professional. That's how he got the nickname “One and done”. MJ just wanted a chance to prove what he can do. He also feels like he has a lot of pressure doing it, because he was named after Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

Setting:
The book starts on how the main characters grew up. Roko was from Croatia. He lost his uncle to some terrorists for writing a news article. Malcolm was from the projects of Michigan. He lost his little sister to a drive by at a young age. He got a tattoo of her in honor of her death. The majority of this book took place in the New Orleans Superdome, where the final four faced off in the NCAA tournament. Both teams struggled on the court to win the game, but Michigan Spartans ended up with the win but, got crushed in the final round.

Thematic connection:
There were a lot of themes in The Final Four, but a main one was never give up on your dreams. This was shown many times throughout the book. Malcolm grew up in the projects with no money all he had was a ball and a dream to be in the NBA. He gave it his all on the court. He got a free ride to college and made it into the NBA after one year of college basketball.

Recommendation:
I recommend The Final Four to ninth grade and up because it can be somewhat confusing. I gave this book a three out of five, because I did not like how long they dragged the last game on, but other than that I liked it. I think anyone who likes basketball, including both girls and boys will like it too.

[Quentin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quentin Avila

Ms. Ulloa

A1

2/11/18

I read The Final Four by Paul Volponi. Paul is a teacher from New York who taught incarcerated teens on Rikers Island how to read and write. He has other books such as Rikers High, Black and White and many others. His won numerous awards like Modern Language Assocation and Junior Library Guild.



There are four main characters in The Final Four. Malcom, Roko, Crispin, and MJ. They have the same goal which is to win the NCAA Division One Championship. They have to work hard in practice and workouts to thrash their opponents. Most importantly they must have desire to win which means they have to leave everything on the court by getting stops on defense and controlling the pace of the game. One big challenge the have is that they have to play each other in the final four.

The theme of the book was, to bring four players with different backgrounds to play each other in the final four. What I learned from the book is that you can't look down on your opponent. Which means you have to play your hardest every single day.

I really liked this book for many reasons. For example, it's a college basketball book about March Madness. I like how Volponi writes in depth about the play by play. And, how the players act in that very moment. I give this book an 9/10 because I just love basketball.

The point another was making in this book was to show how hard people have to work to get what they want and to have, the drive to never give up on their dreams. Like example when Malcom beat up MJ for missing a game winning shot.

I will recommend this book if you like basketball. And realistic fiction books. I'm definitely going to check more of Paul Volponi books.

[Justin Wachs]

Personal Response
I thought The Final Four is a good book. I like the suspense of it. I also enjoy that it is sports-related. I do not like that the plot is all over the place.

Plot
The Spartans and Troy are about to compete for who gets to play in the championship college basketball game. Troy is the underdog and Spartans should beat them no doubt. The game is close the whole time. It goes into overtime when Troy makes a last-second shot. It then goes into a second and third overtime. Everyone thinks Troy is going to win in the third overtime but the Spartans manage to tie it up. The Spartans took the win by one point in quadruple overtime.

Characterization
Malcolm starts the book as a cocky basketball player, but at the end of the book, he learns to play with his teammates more than do it himself.

MJ always has to live up to actual Michael Jordan’s legacy. At the end, he realizes that he is his own person and that he should not worry about what other people think.

Setting
Most of the book takes place in the Superdome, where the state regionals were happening. Other parts were in both of the colleges where Malcolm and MJ go to school. Some of Malcolm's storyline moments happen in Elmwood Cemetery which impacts the plot because his sister is buried there.

Recommendation
I recommend this book to other high school students. I think boys that like sports would enjoy this book. I recommend this book to ages 14 to 18 because of the mature content.

[Eric Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Final Four by Paul Volponi was a fantastic book, full of excitement, drama, suspense, and intensity. Paul Volponi wrote about March Madness, the time when the best college basketball teams play for the NCAA Championship. This book tells the story of two teams battling in the Final Four through the eyes of four players. Some of his stories are told through a personal journal that captures unforgettable moments of terror. The book allows the reader to become immersed in the players' lives on and off the basketball court as the book contains flashbacks, journal entries, memories, and stories. This novel is prevalent with raw emotion, tragedy, and triumph. There were several passages where I shook my head in awe and was intensely excited to see what would happen next. Lastly, I love the part when Paul Volponi described the movement of player when playing basketball on the court because he's not just using the keywords in basketball, but he is describing the every single movement in the story. Even if you rarely on never read realistic fiction, The Final Four should be your first as you will get swept away in the moments of March Madness. I highly recommend this novel for young men to readers who like basketball. However, The Final Four may very well be just the novel to inspire a love for reading.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that I read is called the Final Four by Paul Volponi. This book is about a NCAA championship in basketball and is really intense. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was very nicely put together. The characters in the book come from desperate backgrounds and did not have a lot of money. They are united in their desire to win this championship. Every character comes from one of the two teams that are playing in this championship. The use the championship as a private definition of success for themselves since they did not come from a lot. The book teaches me a lesson that means a lot to me. It suggests that "true meaning of accomplishment cannot be found in a single object or event, but rather in a state of mind." The setting of this novel and time it takes place is during March Madness, the main college basketball championship that everyone goes crazy for. The two teams playing each other are called the Michigan State Spartans and the Troy University Trojans. The viewers of the game want the Spartans to win and that drives the characters even more to win. Since I really love the sport of basketball it was easy for me to enjoy this book and I give it a solid 8.5 out of 10. The book wasn't extremely interesting but since I love basketball that definitely boosts up my rating.

-Casey Clarke

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm Mcbride, a freshman for the Michigan State basketball team is looking forward to getting into the NBA by doing the one and done rule. (There is a rule in the NBA which states that players have to go through at least 1 year of college before entering the NBA draft.)
The story is told by many people's perspectives, and the one that I like the most is the bravery of Malcolm to be the little guy playing with giants.
Malcolm, the freshman who is playing for Michigan State is the only freshman who is in the starting line up. In the final four the other team's players where all at least sophomores, but Malcolm didn't show any sense of fear. He played the game just like a pro and "kicking the butts" of those older people than him. Showing them that age does not matter, what matters is the skills of the game.
This can relate to NBA player Allen Iverson. He is a six-footer who played for the 76ers in the NBA. In the NBA 6 feet is not very tall, but for Iverson, its all about skills. So just like Malcolm, he went out and kicked the butts of all big men! Malcolm and Allen are small in different ways. But they have a similar part. Skill matters more than the body.

[Eli Hankins]

I really liked this book because of the fact that I play basketball. This setting was during the semi final game of the tournament. The kids in this book have the same mindset in basketball that I do to win the game. I like that the game gives basically a play by play of the semi final game which. I think that if you so not really know the game of basketball you might not understand. I would recommend this book to anyone that plays basketball or really enjoys watching basketball. I think that I would also tell kids that want to play basketball because it gives detail to some of the stress that comes with the game. I would have to say that my favorite character would have to be Malcolm he shows off his skills during the game and he does some of the moves that I do when I play. I really like the fact that Paul didn't just say that the players just shot the ball, but the fact that he described what they did. This book gives a lot of suspense which gives people the idea of what was happening during the game that the players were feeling. So overall I would recommend this book to people.

[Rilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting. I didn’t want to put down this book. It takes place in the projects.

[Cassi Haggard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This year The Final Four is my March Madness book. It's a tradition that I started last year (shush that's long enough to be a tradition) because I couldn't get enough basketball during March and decided to read Ball Don't Lie by Matt de la Pena. I loved the book and it pushed me to read more sports-centric YA.

The Final Four is an enjoyable fast-pace quick read. It's not as brilliant as Ball Don't Lie (which for the record is on my favorite list) but it was a fun read. It's a book about a basketball game, but not just about the game but all the stories leading up to the game.

With friends (okay mainly one friend and my dad...) I talk a lot about the narrative of sports. I truly love sports, not because I'm particularly athletic but I love the stories. For every game played on television, every player has a story of how they arrived at that place. Competitive sports can be tough and cut throat, but their also empowering and unifying. The Final Four explored the narrative of one game, a team from a traditional powerhouse basketball school (Michigan State University) and the little school that could (think Butler or VCU last year. If you don't watch basketball think small college down the street) facing off in the final four.

Something I liked about this story is that nobody was the bad guy. Malcolm, Mr. One-And-Done (meaning one year of college then the NBA draft), was not particularly likable. But the book delved into his story, exploring why he was a bad teammate and selfish player. This book was not a Big Bad School versus Tiny Good Guy School. It was two teams, both with their own backstory, playing a basketball game.

As someone who roots for one of the big basketball programs (University of Kentucky, Go Big Blue!!) I've often seen fans, writers and random observers make the big school the "bad guy". But that's not really an accurate portrayal. Sometimes One-And-Done players have a very heartbreaking story and basketball is their only way out of poverty (supposedly Eric Bledsoe's family lived in a car http://www.kentuckysportsnetwork.com/...) and sometimes big schools have the surprise player come out of mediocrity at just the right time (read about Josh Harrellson http://newyork.ibtimes.com/articles/1...).

The point is most every basketball team has a story. It's fun to root for the underdog, just don't make the big school the bad guy. (Unless it's Duke, but only because they made me cry when I was six).

I like the fact this book explored both teams and various stories, everything from future NBA stars to seniors planning to do something else after basketball. Because basketball is the combination of all these stories, and this one moment where 10,000 things are happening on court, plus a ball occasionally flying at your head.

Where this story lost points with me was the believability. If you didn't pick up from my ramble above, I watch a lot of basketball. Mainly I watch the SEC, but sometimes I find myself watching a game that I don't even care about just because it's basketball. March is pretty much all basketball all the time. So I know how games are shown on TV and I know what announcers say (unfortunately).

This story was told in different POVs--the color commentators, the players experiences leading up to the game, the radio announcers and some one-on-one interviews that they showed during the game. If you've ever watched basketball you'll probably be like "one-on-one interviews???!?!" because that's something that's just not done, at least not during the game (pre or post game). During the game, especially a final four game, time equals money. Every spare second is sold to the highest buyer for advertising purposes. They would never break away from the action or heaven forbid advertising to show pre-taped interviews with the players. They do stuff like that during the Olympics, or during slower sports, but not during basketball.

Yes I know I sound picky. But I read this book because I am a basketball fan. I can't be the only sports fan reading this book! I understand what they were using the interview portions to explore. However I just cannot suspend my disbelief that the NCAA (who the book happily criticizes for greed) would squander valuable advertising time on heart-tugging one-on-ones.

I also felt the story was a little clunky and obvious with the Trojans versus Spartans metaphor, especially the Hope of Troy sections. But the book was fun and fast-paced. It's a good March Madness read. Non-sport fan readers probably won't mind the interviews and won't get caught up on believability issues.

[Brody Deerberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is not very descriptive which makes the book hard to understand at points. MJ made me mad at many points because he was to focused on impressing a girl. The author also made me mad because the main characters play the Troy Trojans. Crispin is a little to devoted to basketball, and that gets in the way of his life. It also makes me mad how Crispin can not keep himself under control. I do like Roko's nickname called "Red Bull". I don't like it how the story is in 3rd person omniscient because it doesn't work with this style of book. This book was very repetitive and it ruined the book for me.Roko is trying to make it to the NBA but it will be challenging for him so that is one of reasons he is my favorite character. I don't like the ending how everyone goes off on there separate ways but it, was the only one that could've worked with the circumstances.

[Jordan Albrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Four by Paul Volponi is a book that captures the excitement and competitive nature of the March Madness tournament. The Final Four is a book that goes from many points of views. The points of view are from the players of both teams, Troy and Michigan State, and has a series of twists. The parts of the books I liked most included the backstories of the players, how the players on each team got along with one another, and the raw, competitive mindset of each player. My favorite player in the book was Malcolm because he was the best player in the game and even though he was cocky, he could back it up with one of his many moves to the hoop. Throughout the game he was the one Michigan State would lean on and he showed tremendous poise and confidence. One of the things I didn't like about this book was that it seemed to jump around a lot and would sometimes feel drawn out. I would recommend this book to someone who gets excited for the March Madness tournament or anyone who is a basketball fanatic. If I were to give this book a rating, it would be a 4 out of 5 stars, only because it was sometimes hard to follow.

[Toby Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of my second outside reading book is, The Final Four, by Paul Volponi

The main characters in my book include: Roko, Crispin, MJ, Malcolm, Coach Kennedy, Coach Barker, Hope, Aaron, Baby Bear, and Grizzly Bear

This novel takes place in a modern day setting at the championship of the Final Four, in the March Madness tournament. In the book Michigan State, the powerhouse of college basketball, meets against Troy, the biggest underdog in Final Four history. In this book, Paul Volponi chooses to switch perspectives every chapter, going from one player to the next. You learn about; Malcolm McBride, a freshman phenom PG for Michigan State; Roko Bacic, a strong hearted Troy PG from Croatia; Crispin Rice, the big-man center for Troy; and finally Michael Jordan, a benchwarmer for Michigan State, that feels he needs to live up to his namesake, the great MJ. As you read, you go from one setting to the next, learning how each of the players grew from a kid, to becoming a vital part of their team in the most important game of the year. You also see how the championship game unfolds, going play by play, overtime to overtime, and finally seeing who comes home with the victory.

As you progress through the book you find many different conflicts. In fact, each of the four players creates one problem throughout The Final Four. But, the most important conflict of this whole novel is the same conflict that occurs in any real basketball game which is, "Who will be the victor?". The book starts out with only 6.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and from there the game goes through many twists and turns. As the game progresses there are many exhilirating moments, like buzzer beaters, injuries, and there is even in game trash-talk that increases the excitement of the game. Finally, the conflict is resolved and the game comes down to one shot that ends the game.

This book was outstanding, and one of the best sports books that I have ever read. For anyone that loves basketball, like me, this is a perfect book for you. The Final Four has amazing detail, basketball action, and there are many thrilling moments across the game. As well as having basketball action and detail the book is very suspenseful. There were moments when I yelled, "SHOOT IT!", and as I read I was always on the edge of my seat. I could really connect to this book, and Paul Volponi did a great job of inserting the play by play analysis, where you can really get a great sense of basketball, and you even feel like you are in the stands. I loved this book, and if you are passionate about basketball, and love suspense, there is no greater book for you to read than The Final Four.