Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up

by Jenn Bishop

"A beautifully crafted tale of friendship, family, and forgiveness, with characters so vivid and real you can’t help but root for them, on and off the court." —Matt Tavares, New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Hoops  

Competitive basketball takes center court in this fast-paced novel about two girls finding the truth about themselves—and their families—against the backdrop of middle school and college hoops.

Cincinnati, Ohio, lives and dies by college basketball, with two elite Division I rivals separated by a mere three miles. Rory’s dad just secured a new coaching gig at the University of Cincinnati, so it means yet another school and move for her, only this time to her dad’s hometown. Rory’s life revolves around basketball; she’s never had a close friend outside of it. Could this be a chance for a fresh start?

Abby has always lived in Cincinnati, where her dad grew up playing ball and now coaches at Xavier University. But Abby has recently retreated from basketball after a frustrating season that left her confidence in shambles. This year, she finds herself on the outside looking in when it comes to her former teammates, and she could seriously use a new friend.    

The coaches' daughters connect over their shared love of the game when Abby chaperones Rory on her first day of school. But when Abby’s dad practically forbids their friendship because of something that happened between him and Rory’s dad when they were younger, Abby and Rory have no choice but to move their budding friendship underground.

Can the two of them get to the bottom of what went down between their dads in the 1990s before history repeats itself?

SPORTS BOOKS FOR This book stars two protagonists who love basketball in their own ways and features a spectrum of characters (including a basketball-playing nun!) who engage with the sport individually and distinctly. The breadth of athletes reflects the reality of sports for kids and young teens, making the story appealing to a wide range of readers.

AUTHENTIC & ACCESSIBLE Reluctant readers and book lovers alike will find a genuine story that conveys real emotions, family struggles, and insecurities driven by the tension of middle school sports.

FAST-PACED AND Unraveling like a mystery but moving like a he-said, she-said, and traveling through time and generations, this book has the right level of high stakes to keep readers hooked to the end.

ENDURING LEGACY OF As one of the world’s most popular sports, basketball is significant to people of all ages and carries a sense of nostalgia across generations. It’s played in schools across the globe, on official sports teams and in gym class, and brings members of communities together in parks and recreational centers. This sport’s positive influence on overlooked communities and students from economically impacted backgrounds also speaks to the importance of basketball at a social level.

Perfect

Genres: Middle Grade, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Basketball, Friendship, Audiobook, School

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 2023

About the author

Jenn Bishop is also the author of four other novels for young readers, including the Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner Things You Can’t Say. Her books have been named Junior Library Guild selections and Bank Street College of Education best books and have been finalists for state book awards. She currently calls Cincinnati, Ohio, home. What team do you think she roots for? Visit her online at jennbishop.com.

Reviews

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A five star rating from a non-basketball playing reader for a “heavy on bball” book has to tell you something. Jenn Bishop’s winner is written from the perspectives of Rory, Abby, and both their dads so that readers get the full picture of one friendship destroyed by a big mistake and another between the girls that is forced to be a secret because of their fathers’ feud. The personalities of the two girls are extremely well-developed and very likeable. Conversely, the two dads are harder to like due to skillfully detailed mistakes. Books that shift in perspective are sometimes clunky and seem to literally “bounce” from one person to the other, but author Jenn Bishop changes time and person smoothly. Having multiple viewpoints allows readers to become fully immersed in the past and present anger as well as the warmth and joy of a friendship that will make many yearn for one just like it. Great book for libraries serving grades 5-8, especially since books with strong female MCs who play sports are so hard to find. Text is free of profanity, sexual content, and violence. A budding romance is part of the story, but is limited to one date to the zoo and a little hand-holding. Main characters are either Black or Caucasian and are from a variety of economic backgrounds.

Thanks for sending #BookAllies a print arc, Jenn Bishop!

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basketball and realistic fiction fans along with anyone with a love for Cincy (aka Cininnati) will enjoy this story about middle schoolers, Rory and Abby whose dads happen to be coaches of the two rival teams in town; University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.
When Rory moves to Cincinnati with her Dad, she meets Abby. The two instantly connect and discover that not only are their dads both college coaches, but that they also were classmates, teammates and friends in the 1990s up until about 8th grade. The two set out to find out what made the two turn towards each other and become bitter rivals.
Chapters alternate between Rory, Abby and flashbacks to the past of when Nick (aka Rory's dad and head coach for the Bearcats) and Jason (aka Abby's dad and head coach for the Musketeers) were growing up.

[Anna Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. First, the whole book literally counts down to March Madness. Say no more (but I will....). I couldn't help but think about how fun it would be to have a parent as a popular basketball coach.

More amazing things this book does:
1. Proves you best friends are chill about tummy troubles.
2. Shows that it's never too late to apologize (especially grown ups).
3. Nuns as amazing basketball coaches. Yes and Amen.

I think I will pulling for University of Cincinnati and Xavier a littttleeee harder this season because of this book alone.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up is a fast-paced and compelling book about true friendships, family secrets, forgiveness, and basketball. With a lovable cast of characters, an immersive Cincinnati setting, and impressively woven multiple-perspective narration, this one is sure to hook middle grade readers and young teens alike.

Full review & content warnings: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/free-t...

[Joy Kirr · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much was going on at the start of this book that I was confused at first. Throughout, I had to keep check of who was narrating and who had which dad and for what team?? But by half-way through I guess I got it. I’m not sure about the writing, but I enjoyed the storyline, the courage of the girls and the secrets, as well. Aside from all the coincidences, it was very believable and hopefully very relatable to current eighth graders. A sports book for everyone.

[Laurie]

So, so good! Jenn Bishop's ode to basketball, friendship, and the city of Cincinnati charmed me from the first page and made me want to eat Skyline chili and get tickets to a March Madness game. Basketball fans will love the fast-paced on-court action and the inside look at a college sports rivalry, but it's the touching, thoughtful exploration of what it means to find—or lose—a best friend that makes this novel such a winner. I love Rory and Abby, and middle school readers will, too!

I’ve been lucky to read multiple early versions of this story plus the finished version, and it’s a total slam dunk for upper MG readers.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
This was a great middle grade reader. Read with my daughter (age 9.5) She enjoyed it but some parts I think her 12 year old sista would relate to more
Overall a good book about friendship, family, and basketball! (No you don't have to be a basketball fan to like the book... But it might help!)

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of rivalries, jealousies, and friendship centered on 8th grade girls but fleshed out by a backstory involving their dads when they were in 7th grade. Can’t wait to recommend to middle school girl basketball players although non-sports kids will still appreciate the friendship challenges.

[alisonwonderland (Alison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful upper middle grade novel about basketball and friendship. Wonderful on audio.

I would gladly return to Cincinnati for the girls’ freshman year!

[Kim Bahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for Ohio basketball fans; I learned a lot about the UC vs. Xavier rivalry. Love the basketball tension, the friendship dynamics, and the finish! Almost a 5!

[Ashley McNeese]

I loved this! Such a good friendship/sports story.

[Tricia Beaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025-2026 Missouri Truman Award nominee. Fabulous story about friendship, forgiveness, being true to yourself, and, oh yeah, basketball, basketball, basketball.

[Christie]

Basketball lovers, midwesterners and those who like to investigate what makes friendships both thrive and fall apart will all love this book! The way the characters are all interwoven (both the adults and the children) is interesting and realistic. I loved getting both the stories of what the two main characters were going through in the present, and what the fathers were going through in the 90s. As a 90s Bulls fan from Chicago, I also appreciated those 90s basketball references. This story will pull in middle school readers for sure!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Rory's dad moves them to Cincinnati to coach college basketball, Rory meets Avery, and they hit it off right away. Avery's father also coaches a college basketball team, which just happens to be the biggest rival of Rory's dad's team. While college basketball rivalries can run hot, the girls discover their fathers knew each other back when they were the girls' ages and have an even deeper grudge. How can they maintain their new friendship when the divide between their families runs so deep?

[Kat Mais · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025-2026 Truman Nominee about friendship with some good old basketball thrown in. As I read this during March Madness, I understand the ups and downs discussed in the book. Great read about stresses in Middle School and that a few words can feel like they destroy the only thing holding a friendship together

[Cindy Christiansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this one by @buffalojenn & loved it! Super relatable characters & a lesson in the power of friendship. Perfect timing for a March Madness, too, with a great look at the mental & physical game of basketball!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Forgiveness is a powerful thing. Not only for the person you're forgiving, but for yourself too."

My favorite sport is reading, but Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up caused me to actually read a book about basketball AND I LOVED IT! 🏀

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be my favorite of her books so far!

[Megan Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story about friendship!❤️

[Tracy Huebner · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun to read a book about local events and locations!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun idea for a book, especially how they did the flashback to the 90s with their dads. While heavily steeped in basketball, I feel like the friendship is front and center, so while it is a “sports” book, it is definitely a “middle school friendship” book too. I can definitely think of 4th and 5th grade girls I could hand this to even if they didn’t play basketball.

Once again, the theme of the book is “if you just TALKED to your friend, things aren’t as bad as you actually think they are” so true and so important!

At first I felt like the specificity of Cincinnati and the two teams was a meh for me, but I got into it pretty quickly. However, I am a fan of basketball, March madness, and sports rivalries, so this wasn’t a hard sell after all.

[Allie Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a well done (very middle grade) Middle Grade novel! I personally think kids go pretty wild for a solid sports novel and there absolutely aren’t enough “girl sports books” for this age group if you ask me. Loved that the main characters were female, BUT that male friendships were also equally explored (through the “past” portions). It had sweet messages and was well done! I rarely go five for a Middle Grade, but the fact this one took place in my city and centered around my NCAA Men’s Basketball team *and* my Alma mater’s team gets it the extra bump. It was too personally nostalgic and fun not to round up. Definitley a little love letter to Cincinnati! The book was aesthetically so pleasing and super fun, too!

[Barb Chamberlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a4.5. Read this as part of a book group, and have to share that Jenn is a part of the group!
That aside, I think she did a great job of putting together numerous issues that affected the characters’ lives: Rory’s parents going through a divorce, both girls families having had trouble in the past, teenage girls behavior, having to move around a lot. Great book for middle schoolers—but I have to say I enjoyed it greatly!

[Heather Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lone Star Book!

Read to see if I could recommend for my students, and the answer is yes! Filled with basketball, friendships, a little mystery, and most importantly the importance of communication, this would be a good book for my students to read.

A new girl moves in and makes fast friends with another you girl. They have so much in common, starting with their love of basketball and they soon realize also they’re dads grew up together, but no longer talk.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heartwarming story about two girls who become friends, even though their dads have history (we don’t know for a while what happened, but it’s clear by the end). I liked the friendship - it’s not smooth sailing completely and that’s realistic. I thought the part with the dads might have been worked out more smoothly than it would have been in real life, but I could live with it.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this multi narrator book with the most perfect title. When I think about how to describe it, the title’s words are what I come up with. Friendship, basketball, secrets, rivalry, and forgiveness. I’m not a sports fan by any means, but I still loved this book!

[Hanna *Middle School Librarian* · Rating 5 out of 5]

A near perfect middle grade novel. Immediately buying for my library (probably two!). I have so many girls obsessed with basketball but not having many options in our sports section. This toes the line between a sports book and a friendship book, and does so beautifully.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It owns that it is giving Romeo and Juliet, only BFFs and Dad's that are rival college basketball coaches. The real question is, how did their dads become rivals. It is clear that it is more than college rivalry. Can they maintain a friendship in secret? Will secrets destroy their friendship?

[Barb Keltner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle school book about friendship ... and basketball.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book! Loved all the Cincinnati references. If you love basketball and rivalries you’ll love this.