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Resurrecting Lazarus, Texas
When an upstart coach takes over a high school girls basketball program in Lazarus, Texas, he learns quickly that neither wins nor respect will come easily in this West Texas town where football is king. The powers-that-be do not take kindly to the natural order of things being upset, particularly from a newcomer and his ragamuffin team. Halfway through the tumultuous basketball season, during which the team struggles against opponents both on and off the court, tragedy strikes and leaves the team and the community reeling. Unexpectedly, the girls find themselves fighting not only to salvage their season but also to bring life back to Lazarus.
- GenresSports
386 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2012
4 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Barber
25 books19 followersA twenty-year educator, Nathan Barber has served in a number of roles including teacher, coach and administrator. As a writer, Barber has produced several classroom guides for teachers and much online content for test-prep companies. Barber also has written and published thirteen books, mostly in the field of education. His most recent project, an innovative new book for teachers from Routledge/Eye on Education, is called What Teachers Can Learn from Sports Coaches: A Playbook of Instructional Strategies. It is available now on Kindle, and print versions will be available August 27, 2014.
Nathan Barber's online presence can be seen in a number of places including his blog, The Next Generation of Educational Leadership, on Facebook at facebook.com/nathan.barber.author, on Twitter at @_nathanbarber, and at nathanbarber.com.
Nathan Barber's online presence can be seen in a number of places including his blog, The Next Generation of Educational Leadership, on Facebook at facebook.com/nathan.barber.author, on Twitter at @_nathanbarber, and at nathanbarber.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 28, 2013
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway.
I absolutely love this book! It has been difficult to put it down to eat and sleep over the past couple of days. It has been years since a book has captured my attention like this one. My emotions have ranged between cheering, crying, and getting really ticked off. I believe that parents, students, teachers, and sports fans will appreciate "Resurrecting Lazarus, Texas" as much as I have.
Mr. Barber, you definitely have a winner here!
I absolutely love this book! It has been difficult to put it down to eat and sleep over the past couple of days. It has been years since a book has captured my attention like this one. My emotions have ranged between cheering, crying, and getting really ticked off. I believe that parents, students, teachers, and sports fans will appreciate "Resurrecting Lazarus, Texas" as much as I have.
Mr. Barber, you definitely have a winner here!
August 19, 2012
Most of my friends that I told I was going to read this book responded with something like this, "But it's about girls basketball." I guess most people don't expect to see a football coach like myself picking up a book that centers around a girls basketball program. Those same friends are shocked when I tell them how good this book is! Barber takes the reader on a journey into small town West Texas and introduces all that this region is famous for. The center of the universe in Lazarus is its beloved football team. Barber's tale is one of overcoming long odds. This is the underdog story at its finest, though it's not what you'd expect. I came away from this book with a newfound respect for "minor" sports in general. The book shows that hard work and dedication is not reserved for the big boys on the block. It also teaches the reader many life lessons that can be applied to athletics, academics, and life in general. My new goal in life is to find Barber's inspiration for "Mary's Kitchen." I would absolutely reccommend this book to anyone.
August 8, 2012
Emily Dickinson writes, "There is no frigate like a book/ To take us lands away." This book took me squarely back into my first year of teaching. It is rare that a book about teaching delves so deeply into the heart that a [good] teacher has for his or her students, and even rarer is the book that so captures the combined idealism and struggle of a first year teacher.
This book is first and foremost about its characters; each character (including the town itself) is fully dynamic. (Even the villians are not fully evil!) The end of each chapter made me excited to begin the next (as every good, addicting book should)... however, while plot usually draws me in, I kept quickly turning pages because I wanted to know more about the history and psyche of the individual characters. By the end, Gabe Lewis and the entire little town of Lazarus were beloved friends.
Also, there are a few interesting things happening in this story. Obviously, there is an allusion to the story of Lazarus in the Bible. But, I particularly like the way that Barber ties the idea of resurrection to the soul of the town. Also, there is the way he plays around with time in the story. The reader gets a glimpse of something that happens in the future, and then Barber backs up the story to fill in the plot gap-- and it doesn't always go the way one expects. This may evidence Barber's history background, but in my opinion, this helps the focus remain on the characters.
This was a great read. I recommend it!
This book is first and foremost about its characters; each character (including the town itself) is fully dynamic. (Even the villians are not fully evil!) The end of each chapter made me excited to begin the next (as every good, addicting book should)... however, while plot usually draws me in, I kept quickly turning pages because I wanted to know more about the history and psyche of the individual characters. By the end, Gabe Lewis and the entire little town of Lazarus were beloved friends.
Also, there are a few interesting things happening in this story. Obviously, there is an allusion to the story of Lazarus in the Bible. But, I particularly like the way that Barber ties the idea of resurrection to the soul of the town. Also, there is the way he plays around with time in the story. The reader gets a glimpse of something that happens in the future, and then Barber backs up the story to fill in the plot gap-- and it doesn't always go the way one expects. This may evidence Barber's history background, but in my opinion, this helps the focus remain on the characters.
This was a great read. I recommend it!
September 10, 2012
I've never really been a coach, but I've taught for 16 years. I used to watch teacher movies to get me fired up for a new year, like "Mr Holland's Opus", and "Dead Poet's Society". This book is better than those. If you teach or coach, read this book. It will remind you why you teach/coach. If you don't teach or coach, read this book! It goes a long way toward showing the uninitiated what our world is like. How emotional it can be. How it can wear you out and invigorate you at the same time. It so well captures the little things in life that make teaching hard. The secrets we know about kids and families, the pain we feel when the very people we're dedicated to turn against us, the real pain when tragedy strikes our "adopted" kids. I really enjoyed this. It told a victorious story without feeling unbelievable.
August 3, 2012
A wonderful story about a girls basketball team in West Texas. It is impossible not to become invested in the characters as you root for the underdogs in this heartwarming story. In a genre saturated with dystopian societies and paranormal beings, Resurrecting Lazarus, Texas is a breath of fresh air. A great book for young adults and sports fans - a great addition to any middle school-high school library.
December 2, 2012
I received this through Goodreads First Reads. Resurrecting Lazarus, Texas is a gem of a book that I'm so glad I read. I'm not one to read books about sports, but this was much more than that. I loved pretty much every character; which is not something that usually happens. I was also excited every time I picked it up because I was so invested in the plot. Anyone who coaches, plays sports, or just wants to read a great underdog story would enjoy this novel!
June 4, 2016
@_nathanbarber Absolutely loved it! Felt very connected to the small town and it's people. I cried about Autumn and felt victorious when their score card improved. There were twists and turns to keep me immersed and unable to put it down too long. The ending was unexpected but still spokes volumes about the journey! A++ on uplifting, motivational, encouraging yet realistic! A must read! #summerreading2015
October 11, 2012
I am looking forward to reading this latest book by Auther Nathan Barber. I am sure it will be as exciting as his other books have been. I know I will not want to put it down until I finish every page.
January 12, 2021
So exciting!
This book was so good! It has all you want in the book! It made you laugh and cry. I don't even like basketball, but this book kept me turning the page as fast as I could!!
This book was so good! It has all you want in the book! It made you laugh and cry. I don't even like basketball, but this book kept me turning the page as fast as I could!!
August 15, 2014
I love sports movies. I love the underdog comes from behind to make good theme. But this was the firsts sports book I have ever read. I don't know if I would read another one though. I am not a sports fan and found that because I don't know the rules or plays of basketball the game play passages were confusing. I am certain basketball fans would not feel this way.
The story line was not linear instead it traveled between time and characters. I think this was to build suspense, but instead I felt that it distracted from the story.
Even with those two things distracting me from the story I did enjoy the story. I am giving this a 4 star. I wish I could do half. I would do a 3.5, but would rather err on a higher rating than a lower one so 4 it is.
The story line was not linear instead it traveled between time and characters. I think this was to build suspense, but instead I felt that it distracted from the story.
Even with those two things distracting me from the story I did enjoy the story. I am giving this a 4 star. I wish I could do half. I would do a 3.5, but would rather err on a higher rating than a lower one so 4 it is.
September 3, 2013
I highly recommend Resurrecting Lazarus, Texas to educators, coaches, athletes or fans. This is a great, easy to read book about an enthusiastic coach leading a team of underdogs. Throughout the novel, you get to know the players and the key people in their lives. I thought the author did a fantastic job of developing the characters, especially since there were so many. At various points in the book, I think we can all identify with this team and these characters during their victories and struggles.
The only thing I disliked about this book is that it ended...I wanted so badly to find out what happened to all of the characters. Though I suppose that's the purpose of a good book...to keep you wanting more.
The only thing I disliked about this book is that it ended...I wanted so badly to find out what happened to all of the characters. Though I suppose that's the purpose of a good book...to keep you wanting more.
February 2, 2013
Loved everything about this book. The author did a great job creating a picture of small town atmosphere and all it offers. All you Lazbuddie folks should grab a copy and enjoy it, anyone else who just loves sports or who may desire to know more about small town life should pick it up and enjoy it too. Quick and easy read. (We are currently looking forward to helping create a book trailer for this book too, how exciting!)
August 28, 2012
Iam not a sports fan But Nathan Barber,was one of the best books I,have read. It puts you right there.
Please put it in your to read books. Please,as it is on the top of my list. I really hope Nathan has more coming out so we all can read.
Thank you.
Nathan Barber.
Great Book.
Le Truesdale
Please put it in your to read books. Please,as it is on the top of my list. I really hope Nathan has more coming out so we all can read.
Thank you.
Nathan Barber.
Great Book.
Le Truesdale
January 25, 2013
This is the first book I have ever read that I thought would have been better as a movie, had a hard time making myself finish it. Good story, just strangly written, but I thought it dragged bad.
January 12, 2013
I knew what was going to happen at the end, but it didn't make any difference. "Sometimes the journey IS just about the journey."
July 2, 2013
A delightful story about a small-town girls basketball team. I enjoyed this heartwarming book and would recommend it to anyone looking for an inspirational story, not just those who enjoy sports.
October 10, 2012
Awesome book about a girls basketball team and 'the journey.'
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews