What do you think?
Rate this book
True Legend
#1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica makes his return to the basketball court!
There's a reason teammates call him "True." Because for basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks--and with problems.
Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy's head grounded--and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court and takes True under his wing.
In this age of street agents promising riches to kids barely out of elementary school and college programs being taken down because of recruiting violations, True Legend is a resonant and inspiring novel in the Lupica tradition.
There's a reason teammates call him "True." Because for basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks--and with problems.
Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy's head grounded--and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court and takes True under his wing.
In this age of street agents promising riches to kids barely out of elementary school and college programs being taken down because of recruiting violations, True Legend is a resonant and inspiring novel in the Lupica tradition.
292 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2012
350 people are currently reading
1662 people want to read
About the author
Mike Lupica
110 books1,206 followersMichael Lupica is an author and American newspaper columnist, best known for his provocative commentary on sports in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews
May 20, 2013
I rated this book 5 of 5 because it is a really good book that has good theme and really shows how the game of basketball is. It is about a kid in high school named Drew and he is an amazing point guard. He has just moved to a new school and has just started the basketball season. He meets a basketball legend who shows him the way to get out of trouble and make it to the pros so he doesn't end up like him. But Drew doesn't follow that until he realizes that he needs to make a change before it is to late. Drew needs to learn how to take care of himself he always has people doing things for him. His best friend Lee is everything to Drew and he helps him in school. Drew also really likes a girl named Callie Mason but struggles at first. They call him True Robinson but Drew really learns how to become true to himself before its too late.
Mike Lupica did a good job on explaining the book and keeping you hooked to the book to the point when you don't want to put the book down. He explains the importance of school and basketball throughout the book and also delivers a message to the reader. He is an amazing author and I have read all his books about basketball and this is one of his best.
Overall this is one of the best books I have ever read and I recommend this book to anyone who likes sports and is in to a good book.
Mike Lupica did a good job on explaining the book and keeping you hooked to the book to the point when you don't want to put the book down. He explains the importance of school and basketball throughout the book and also delivers a message to the reader. He is an amazing author and I have read all his books about basketball and this is one of his best.
Overall this is one of the best books I have ever read and I recommend this book to anyone who likes sports and is in to a good book.
October 31, 2016
Personal Response:
I read the book True Legend by Mike Lupica. I, thoroughly, enjoyed the entire book. I thought Mike Lupica made the book very exciting and enjoyable to read. Overall, it was a good book and many interesting things happened in the plot.
Plot:
The plot throughout the story was about how the main character Drew, was an amazing basketball player but had to learn not to let it all go to his head. In the beginning of the book Drew moved to California from New York to play basketball at a very good high school, Oakley Academy. A very rich man named, Mr. Gilbert, paid for him and his mom to move and gave his mom a new job. Mr. Gilbert was a huge basketball fan, and he paid for a huge gym at Oakley Academy. The reason Mr.Gilbert new about Drew was because he saw him play at the high school all star game on ESPN. Mr.Gilbert would give Drew anything and everything he wanted because of how good Drew was, and he knew when Drew made the pros he could be as agent. Mr. Gilbert convinced Drew that he was the only person who mattered on there team and that he should only play to show off himself and not to get injured. Drew would go play basketball at night by himself at an old court in Morrison. One night Drew was going to the court and saw a man was already there playing. The man was doing amazing shots and dunking the way Lebron could in the pros. Drew tried to confront him but as soon as he did the man ran away. During one of his games he saw the same man in the stands. That same night the man talked to Drew about how he played selfishly, but when Drew asked his name he just said he was a legend. As it turned out he was Urban “Legend’ Sellers. A basketball player who when he was in high school was amazing, much like Drew. Legend started to believe he was a legend and did not practice or do any school work and he got expelled. He hurt his knee falling down some stairs at a club, and he couldn't play again. Legend taught Drew how to be a team player and not be cocky. Drew helped Legend get into his school, so he could get his high school diploma. Drew learned how to put his team first and they won the championship. Legend got his diploma and was very proud of Drew for not making the same mistakes as him.
Characterization:
The main character Drew was the best basketball play in all of high school. He was a good kid who lost his way when he started buying into his own hype. He realized he was not the only important person and started putting his team first. He also started not using everyone for his personal gain.
Setting:
This book took place in modern day Agoura Hills, California where Drew lived. It was important because California was where his high school was where he could play basketball. It was important it took place during this time period because that made it very relatable.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to 14-16 year old males who enjoy watching, playing, or learning about basketball. It is a good story to show how when people are very good at anything, even if they are the best, they cannot let it go to their heads. I think it is a good book for males of this age group, because they can relate to the main character.
I read the book True Legend by Mike Lupica. I, thoroughly, enjoyed the entire book. I thought Mike Lupica made the book very exciting and enjoyable to read. Overall, it was a good book and many interesting things happened in the plot.
Plot:
The plot throughout the story was about how the main character Drew, was an amazing basketball player but had to learn not to let it all go to his head. In the beginning of the book Drew moved to California from New York to play basketball at a very good high school, Oakley Academy. A very rich man named, Mr. Gilbert, paid for him and his mom to move and gave his mom a new job. Mr. Gilbert was a huge basketball fan, and he paid for a huge gym at Oakley Academy. The reason Mr.Gilbert new about Drew was because he saw him play at the high school all star game on ESPN. Mr.Gilbert would give Drew anything and everything he wanted because of how good Drew was, and he knew when Drew made the pros he could be as agent. Mr. Gilbert convinced Drew that he was the only person who mattered on there team and that he should only play to show off himself and not to get injured. Drew would go play basketball at night by himself at an old court in Morrison. One night Drew was going to the court and saw a man was already there playing. The man was doing amazing shots and dunking the way Lebron could in the pros. Drew tried to confront him but as soon as he did the man ran away. During one of his games he saw the same man in the stands. That same night the man talked to Drew about how he played selfishly, but when Drew asked his name he just said he was a legend. As it turned out he was Urban “Legend’ Sellers. A basketball player who when he was in high school was amazing, much like Drew. Legend started to believe he was a legend and did not practice or do any school work and he got expelled. He hurt his knee falling down some stairs at a club, and he couldn't play again. Legend taught Drew how to be a team player and not be cocky. Drew helped Legend get into his school, so he could get his high school diploma. Drew learned how to put his team first and they won the championship. Legend got his diploma and was very proud of Drew for not making the same mistakes as him.
Characterization:
The main character Drew was the best basketball play in all of high school. He was a good kid who lost his way when he started buying into his own hype. He realized he was not the only important person and started putting his team first. He also started not using everyone for his personal gain.
Setting:
This book took place in modern day Agoura Hills, California where Drew lived. It was important because California was where his high school was where he could play basketball. It was important it took place during this time period because that made it very relatable.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to 14-16 year old males who enjoy watching, playing, or learning about basketball. It is a good story to show how when people are very good at anything, even if they are the best, they cannot let it go to their heads. I think it is a good book for males of this age group, because they can relate to the main character.
May 5, 2017
Personal Response:
I thought this was a great book. I enjoyed reading Drew’s story about his childhood in New York and his new life as a star in California. He was a junior at a school which was not really known to do well in basketball, that is until Drew arrived. He was getting attention from all over the place, starting from when he made a few great passes while ESPN was covering one of their games. As of that day, he had been getting more and more attention as he lit up the court. This book also had a great message in it. Although Drew was such a great athlete, he was still almost cut from the team because academics come first. On top of having issues with school, he was also having trouble dealing with the media and his own big head. With the help from a friend, he was able to realize the importance of teamwork and responsibility.
Plot:
Drew Robinson was a high school basketball star from California. He was the number one “need to get guy” for colleges. He played point guard for Oakley Academy, a team which had not had much success in the past. Drew changed that very quickly. He was always being looked out for by his friends, teachers, and especially Mr. Gilbert. Seth Gilbert was a very wealthy man that noticed Drew from the game covered by ESPN. He loved his talent. He gave Drew anything he wanted, and he treated Drew like a son. Even with all of this money and attention, Drew still went to the old run down courts near his house late at night to ball or just relax. On one of his trips to the court, he saw an older man playing and could not believe his eyes. The old man could do things on a basketball court that only professional players were able to do. Drew tried to talk to him, but the man ran away. Later that month, he saw the man at one of his games, right after he made the game-deciding shoot and miss. Drew went to the park later and found the man playing ball. The old man talked down on Drew’s decision of not passing the ball. He called Drew out for what he really was: selfish, a show boat, greedy. This made Drew angry, mostly because he understood the man was speaking the truth. Drew wanted to catch up with the man again and talk to him more. While sitting in English class, Drew’s teacher assigned a research paper. He thought the perfect topic for him would be streetball legends. He did some research on old ballers, trying to find out who the man was. He came across a man, Urban “Legend” Sellers. Sellers used to play for a high school team in Sacramento, but he let his life get away from him. He turned to drugs and alcohol, eventually “dying” in a fire at a homeless shelter. Drew could feel that this was the same man he had talked to. Drew continued going to the park, trying to meet up with the man, but he hadn’t been showing up. Drew finally saw him one day and followed him home. He knocked on the door and refused to leave without the man telling him his real name.The man confirmed that he was the man that Drew had been researching. As it turned out, a different man had been staying in Sellers’ room at the homeless shelter when it burned to the ground. Urban had been living near Drew now for quite a while, and he had a job working for the city. Drew asked if he could use Urban’s story for the paper he had just been assigned. Urban agreed to let him use the story of his life. These two created a strong relationship together. The old legend taught Drew a lot about basketball, focusing on the concept of teamwork. He also taught him how to be a better person. By learning from his own mistakes, Urban was able to show Drew a better path to follow. Urban made Drew a better player, and more importantly, a better person.
Characterization:
Drew Robinson was an amazing athlete. He had an amazing gift for the game of basketball. He worked much harder than anyone else did, trying to perfect his game. In being so much better than everyone else and always hearing the “hype” about himself, he became arrogant and selfish. Drew began to look towards his future career instead of his team and their goals. This attitude was also seen in games when Drew did not pass at the last second or dive for a loose ball. He met Urban and the man started to change the way Drew saw everything, including himself. Drew began to realize the importance of his teammates and friends. He lost his cocky attitude and selfishness. He started to become a better basketball player, and more importantly, a better person.
Setting:
Drew lived in present-day America. He was living in California with his mother, after moving from his old, run-down house in New York. Being a stellar athlete in California, Drew experienced tons of publicity. He was constantly on camera or being interviewed. Drew's personality was negatively affected by the continual media attention he received. It caused him to get a big head.
Being influenced by his NBA idols, Drew would not always make the best decisions.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to high school, male athletes. They would be able to connect with Drew’s personal life and some of his struggles, on and off the field or court.
I thought this was a great book. I enjoyed reading Drew’s story about his childhood in New York and his new life as a star in California. He was a junior at a school which was not really known to do well in basketball, that is until Drew arrived. He was getting attention from all over the place, starting from when he made a few great passes while ESPN was covering one of their games. As of that day, he had been getting more and more attention as he lit up the court. This book also had a great message in it. Although Drew was such a great athlete, he was still almost cut from the team because academics come first. On top of having issues with school, he was also having trouble dealing with the media and his own big head. With the help from a friend, he was able to realize the importance of teamwork and responsibility.
Plot:
Drew Robinson was a high school basketball star from California. He was the number one “need to get guy” for colleges. He played point guard for Oakley Academy, a team which had not had much success in the past. Drew changed that very quickly. He was always being looked out for by his friends, teachers, and especially Mr. Gilbert. Seth Gilbert was a very wealthy man that noticed Drew from the game covered by ESPN. He loved his talent. He gave Drew anything he wanted, and he treated Drew like a son. Even with all of this money and attention, Drew still went to the old run down courts near his house late at night to ball or just relax. On one of his trips to the court, he saw an older man playing and could not believe his eyes. The old man could do things on a basketball court that only professional players were able to do. Drew tried to talk to him, but the man ran away. Later that month, he saw the man at one of his games, right after he made the game-deciding shoot and miss. Drew went to the park later and found the man playing ball. The old man talked down on Drew’s decision of not passing the ball. He called Drew out for what he really was: selfish, a show boat, greedy. This made Drew angry, mostly because he understood the man was speaking the truth. Drew wanted to catch up with the man again and talk to him more. While sitting in English class, Drew’s teacher assigned a research paper. He thought the perfect topic for him would be streetball legends. He did some research on old ballers, trying to find out who the man was. He came across a man, Urban “Legend” Sellers. Sellers used to play for a high school team in Sacramento, but he let his life get away from him. He turned to drugs and alcohol, eventually “dying” in a fire at a homeless shelter. Drew could feel that this was the same man he had talked to. Drew continued going to the park, trying to meet up with the man, but he hadn’t been showing up. Drew finally saw him one day and followed him home. He knocked on the door and refused to leave without the man telling him his real name.The man confirmed that he was the man that Drew had been researching. As it turned out, a different man had been staying in Sellers’ room at the homeless shelter when it burned to the ground. Urban had been living near Drew now for quite a while, and he had a job working for the city. Drew asked if he could use Urban’s story for the paper he had just been assigned. Urban agreed to let him use the story of his life. These two created a strong relationship together. The old legend taught Drew a lot about basketball, focusing on the concept of teamwork. He also taught him how to be a better person. By learning from his own mistakes, Urban was able to show Drew a better path to follow. Urban made Drew a better player, and more importantly, a better person.
Characterization:
Drew Robinson was an amazing athlete. He had an amazing gift for the game of basketball. He worked much harder than anyone else did, trying to perfect his game. In being so much better than everyone else and always hearing the “hype” about himself, he became arrogant and selfish. Drew began to look towards his future career instead of his team and their goals. This attitude was also seen in games when Drew did not pass at the last second or dive for a loose ball. He met Urban and the man started to change the way Drew saw everything, including himself. Drew began to realize the importance of his teammates and friends. He lost his cocky attitude and selfishness. He started to become a better basketball player, and more importantly, a better person.
Setting:
Drew lived in present-day America. He was living in California with his mother, after moving from his old, run-down house in New York. Being a stellar athlete in California, Drew experienced tons of publicity. He was constantly on camera or being interviewed. Drew's personality was negatively affected by the continual media attention he received. It caused him to get a big head.
Being influenced by his NBA idols, Drew would not always make the best decisions.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to high school, male athletes. They would be able to connect with Drew’s personal life and some of his struggles, on and off the field or court.
March 4, 2016
What I liked in this book:
I really enjoyed how I could relate to the main character, "True" Robinson" in the book. Also, I liked how the book was true to reality and how that even being a great athlete comes with a few bumps in the road in order to get to stardom. For instance, True was looking to lead his team to a championship but got in a car accident when trying to evade police. His best friend, Lee said it was all his own fault and received a suspension of four games while True got off the hook. True later told coach that it was him and received a suspension that cost his team a win against their arch rival, Park Prep.
What I disliked:
Only once did I get confused when reading this book. Early in the book, True discussed some basketball players that had fallen off the map and gone to being forgotten souls. One of these guys got into drugs and fell down stairs, hurting his knee, and ending his career. Well later, True sees a guy at the park doing crazy moves, and True notices the guy is walking with a limp on the same leg that the previously mentioned guy had injured. I thought the author was foreshadowing that this was the same guy. I thought this up until the identity of the crippled hoop star had been revealed. He was a different guy who had a similar incident over in Europe when he play professional basketball.
My favorite part of the book occurred in the end when True attended Lee's and "Legend's" (the crippled playground basketball player) high school graduation. Lee had always been True's wingman and he had developed a deep friendship with Legend. Legend was in his forties at the time of this event and said that he wanted to graduate, because he now saw the importance of an education. True talked to his teachers about letting Legend get his remaining credits so he could finally graduate. And he did!
Who I can connect to:
I feel like I can connect mostly to True. Like myself, True loves basketball and has a lot of the team's weight on his shoulders. At the beginning of the season he is solely focused on earning stats for himself, not about how the team does. Sometimes, I do the same when I'm on the court. I feel like it's all about how I play, win or lose. Also, True has a competitiveness much like man. Whether it be a championship against a team hosted on national television, or just a game of H-O-R-S-E, he wants to win.
Favorite Quote:
"You're always calling me the man. Maybe I finally figured out how to act like one."
I really enjoyed how I could relate to the main character, "True" Robinson" in the book. Also, I liked how the book was true to reality and how that even being a great athlete comes with a few bumps in the road in order to get to stardom. For instance, True was looking to lead his team to a championship but got in a car accident when trying to evade police. His best friend, Lee said it was all his own fault and received a suspension of four games while True got off the hook. True later told coach that it was him and received a suspension that cost his team a win against their arch rival, Park Prep.
What I disliked:
Only once did I get confused when reading this book. Early in the book, True discussed some basketball players that had fallen off the map and gone to being forgotten souls. One of these guys got into drugs and fell down stairs, hurting his knee, and ending his career. Well later, True sees a guy at the park doing crazy moves, and True notices the guy is walking with a limp on the same leg that the previously mentioned guy had injured. I thought the author was foreshadowing that this was the same guy. I thought this up until the identity of the crippled hoop star had been revealed. He was a different guy who had a similar incident over in Europe when he play professional basketball.
My favorite part of the book occurred in the end when True attended Lee's and "Legend's" (the crippled playground basketball player) high school graduation. Lee had always been True's wingman and he had developed a deep friendship with Legend. Legend was in his forties at the time of this event and said that he wanted to graduate, because he now saw the importance of an education. True talked to his teachers about letting Legend get his remaining credits so he could finally graduate. And he did!
Who I can connect to:
I feel like I can connect mostly to True. Like myself, True loves basketball and has a lot of the team's weight on his shoulders. At the beginning of the season he is solely focused on earning stats for himself, not about how the team does. Sometimes, I do the same when I'm on the court. I feel like it's all about how I play, win or lose. Also, True has a competitiveness much like man. Whether it be a championship against a team hosted on national television, or just a game of H-O-R-S-E, he wants to win.
Favorite Quote:
"You're always calling me the man. Maybe I finally figured out how to act like one."
October 1, 2017
If you like basketball this book is perfect for you. Drue Robinson is a junior is his high school, and the best player in his district. his best friend Lee is also a baller. One day while drue was working on his game he saw someone who seemed as a ghost. He played so well it inspired Drue to play even harder and also find out who the "ghost" was. [SPOILER ALERT] Found the ghost to be Urban Sellers (Legend), a former basketball player who had been consumed by drugs and not doing schoolwork was dropped from the NBA, he had changed, but he didn't want anyone to know because they thought he was dead and wanted to keep himself anonymous.[No more spoiler] Drue's high school had been overpowered for years by park high before Drue came in. Drue must change and he goes through a series of trials. Including king gadsen, who was competing with Drue for that number 1 spot, he plays for park high. [SPOILER ALERT] Drue does go to lead his team to a title. I rate this book a thumbs up to anyone basketball player or anyone who plays sports.
I rate it like that because it inspires everyone to work on their game even if you're dealing with other things, and shows that talent isn't everything, you need determination, passion and patience. Because you can't be perfect . I don't think a non-athlete would like this cause they might lose interest or be confusing. Five stars.
I rate it like that because it inspires everyone to work on their game even if you're dealing with other things, and shows that talent isn't everything, you need determination, passion and patience. Because you can't be perfect . I don't think a non-athlete would like this cause they might lose interest or be confusing. Five stars.
October 8, 2014
I never would have read this by choice, but when I accepted my current teaching position, I agreed to teach sports literature. This was the book. So… I was pretty unhappy with it. I read the first few chapters, and it was not my cup of tea. Not because it is based on basketball. I like basketball, and other sports as well. And basketball is the one sport I actually have some experience playing. Let's just say it's simple, and I didn't particularly like the casual syntax.
On the other hand, it is accessible and clean. And for teaching purposes, it was better than what I first expected. There were lots of good themes about the meaning of trust, friendship, team work, and loyalty. Some of the scenes were cheesy, of course, but I felt good about teaching it to kids.
I doubt I'll be searching out another book by Mr. Lupica, and I hope he doesn't take that personally. I am not, after all, in his target demographic. However, I would say that if you have boys who love sports, this is pretty decent. You don't have to worry about the content, and the lesson, in the end, is a good one.
On the other hand, it is accessible and clean. And for teaching purposes, it was better than what I first expected. There were lots of good themes about the meaning of trust, friendship, team work, and loyalty. Some of the scenes were cheesy, of course, but I felt good about teaching it to kids.
I doubt I'll be searching out another book by Mr. Lupica, and I hope he doesn't take that personally. I am not, after all, in his target demographic. However, I would say that if you have boys who love sports, this is pretty decent. You don't have to worry about the content, and the lesson, in the end, is a good one.
June 25, 2018
One thing I really liked was that the book taught about basketball terms without flat out saying them. The words used would imply what it meant very easily, which is good for someone who is not familiar with all the terms. I also liked that the book is more than just basketball. True Legend teaches about how to handle jealousy and being a team player and the consequences of not being one. Drew was a very interesting character. He got easily distracted from real life and often lost himself. Drew did not know who he was, and he let everyone take care of him, so he didn't really take care of himself. Donald helped him come out of his shell, and I really liked to watch how Drew changed and progressed, good and bad, throughout the story.
October 24, 2016
True Legend by Mike Lupica is about a high school kid named Drew Robinson and how talented he is on the court, that is why everybody calls him "True Robinson". True is the best player in Southern California, but in the championship against Drew's school rivals, True doesn't shine like he normally does. He does good but not great, and turns out to be selfish at the end of the game. Then to make matters worse, True has to worry about a "somehow-washed-up" playground legend. Will Drew be able to keep up with all his responsibilities or will he stay selfish and ruin his whole career as a basketball player? I will recommend this book to people who like basketball and mystery.
December 10, 2015
Personal Response
I thought that this book was just shy of getting five stars. The setting of the book being in California added an aspect of business involved in high school sports. I also thought that the way the author described what went on with the interaction between high school athletes and agents was based very accurately to what you hear on the news sometimes. I thought that the way the author described each character was very good because there was many traits in each one that the reader could identify with. The book showed that some very talented athletes in high school can go down the wrong path and end their promising future on their own doing.
Plot
Drew "True" Robinson is a national basketball star. His playing ability is comparable to nobody he has every faced or played with. Drew is heavily recruited by colleges all over the country and Drew loves all of the attention he is getting. Drew lives in California with his mother after being persuaded to move there by a man who is pretty much Drew's agent already. Drew's team is poised to be league champs this year and everyone thinks that Drew will be the one to take them there. Drew is very solitary outside of basketball except when he hangs out with his best friend Lee. Lee is a senior on the team with Drew and the two are very opposite in personality. Lee is very sociable with everyone at school and he is a very studious person. Drew likes to keep to himself most of the time and doesn't try very hard at school because a journey to the pros is guaranteed with his skill. Drew likes to go to the park at night and shoot hoops by himself. When Drew goes to the park one night he notices an older man shooting on the court that Drew usually goes to. The man is probably the best basketball player Drew has ever seen. When Drew tries to talk to the man he leaves. The next day in school Drew is pressured by his English teacher on a paper Drew has to write. Drew says he is writing it about the man in the park and other "playground legends" like the man. Drew's teacher is excited to hear that Drew is going to put so much time and thought into Drew's paper because Drew doesn't do try very often. The man at the park distracts Drew a lot the next couple weeks and so does Drew's "agent". With all of the pressure on Drew to be amazing, he makes mistakes in his next two games and they lose both of them. Drew decides he is going to listen to himself instead of his agent and play the way Drew wants to. He also decides that he is going to try very hard to figure out who the man in the park was and Drew lets his friend Lee help. Together they discover that the man's name is Donald "Urban Legend" Sellers but they come across something unexpected. Donald is thought to have been dead for the past ten years after a fire burned down a homeless shelter Donald was staying at. Drew chooses to keep investigating and finds out that Donald is the man from the park and Donald is alive. Donald tells Drew his whole life story about his transition from high school phenom to homeless man. Drew is shocked to hear his story but he sees a lot of similarities between Donald and himself. He chooses to help Donald get his high school degree if Donald helps Drew with his paper. Donald agrees to Drew's offer and they become friends. Everything is going good for Drew until the next weekend. Drew and Lee are hanging out at Drew's agent's house and Drew wants to blow off some steam. Drew decides to go for a drive with Lee in Drew's agent's Maserati. Drew starts to speed and they are busted by the cops. Drew panics and tries to outrun the cops but he ends up side swiping a tree. Before the police get to the car, Lee switches seats with Drew and Lee takes the fall for the crash. Lee is suspended by the coach for the rest of the regular season. The guilt destroys Drew until after their next game when Drew decides to confess to the coach it was him driving. Drew is suspended from play until the playoffs. Drew's team ends up making it to the championship. Drew plays his heart out and his team wins the championship in the final seconds of the game.
Characterization
Drew's character is pulled into question a lot throughout this book. He is very selfish at the beginning of the book and he often loses sight of what is important. He is easily caught up in the glamour of his position and forgets about things like teamwork and effort in school. When he meets Donald all of that changes. Drew realizes that unless he changes, he will end up just like Donald. Drew starts to work hard in school and be a better teammate. When Drew gets in the crash, it makes the reader hope that Drew will do the right thing and take the blame he deserves. At first Drew doesn't but he soon realizes his mistake and later takes all of the blame.
Setting
The setting in sunny California introduces an aspect of business in sports as early as high school. If you are a star athlete in California, everything is about you and you get everything you want most in life. This aspect tends to lead even the best people stray from what is important. This aspect also can teach lessons to the people it involves about what they should care about more. The amount of press and stardom in California can easily get to people's heads and influence people to make wrong decisions.
Rating/Recommendation
This book was just shy of five stars in my opinion. The author wrote this book very similar to other sports books when it comes to plot. I also thought the plot wasn't very original. I don't play basketball so I don't think I enjoyed this book as much as I could have if I would be in basketball. This book is good for people who play basketball in high school. I think it would also be good for people who contemplate the choices the make between school and the sport they play. I don't think this book would be very good for girls because the main characters are mostly guys.
I thought that this book was just shy of getting five stars. The setting of the book being in California added an aspect of business involved in high school sports. I also thought that the way the author described what went on with the interaction between high school athletes and agents was based very accurately to what you hear on the news sometimes. I thought that the way the author described each character was very good because there was many traits in each one that the reader could identify with. The book showed that some very talented athletes in high school can go down the wrong path and end their promising future on their own doing.
Plot
Drew "True" Robinson is a national basketball star. His playing ability is comparable to nobody he has every faced or played with. Drew is heavily recruited by colleges all over the country and Drew loves all of the attention he is getting. Drew lives in California with his mother after being persuaded to move there by a man who is pretty much Drew's agent already. Drew's team is poised to be league champs this year and everyone thinks that Drew will be the one to take them there. Drew is very solitary outside of basketball except when he hangs out with his best friend Lee. Lee is a senior on the team with Drew and the two are very opposite in personality. Lee is very sociable with everyone at school and he is a very studious person. Drew likes to keep to himself most of the time and doesn't try very hard at school because a journey to the pros is guaranteed with his skill. Drew likes to go to the park at night and shoot hoops by himself. When Drew goes to the park one night he notices an older man shooting on the court that Drew usually goes to. The man is probably the best basketball player Drew has ever seen. When Drew tries to talk to the man he leaves. The next day in school Drew is pressured by his English teacher on a paper Drew has to write. Drew says he is writing it about the man in the park and other "playground legends" like the man. Drew's teacher is excited to hear that Drew is going to put so much time and thought into Drew's paper because Drew doesn't do try very often. The man at the park distracts Drew a lot the next couple weeks and so does Drew's "agent". With all of the pressure on Drew to be amazing, he makes mistakes in his next two games and they lose both of them. Drew decides he is going to listen to himself instead of his agent and play the way Drew wants to. He also decides that he is going to try very hard to figure out who the man in the park was and Drew lets his friend Lee help. Together they discover that the man's name is Donald "Urban Legend" Sellers but they come across something unexpected. Donald is thought to have been dead for the past ten years after a fire burned down a homeless shelter Donald was staying at. Drew chooses to keep investigating and finds out that Donald is the man from the park and Donald is alive. Donald tells Drew his whole life story about his transition from high school phenom to homeless man. Drew is shocked to hear his story but he sees a lot of similarities between Donald and himself. He chooses to help Donald get his high school degree if Donald helps Drew with his paper. Donald agrees to Drew's offer and they become friends. Everything is going good for Drew until the next weekend. Drew and Lee are hanging out at Drew's agent's house and Drew wants to blow off some steam. Drew decides to go for a drive with Lee in Drew's agent's Maserati. Drew starts to speed and they are busted by the cops. Drew panics and tries to outrun the cops but he ends up side swiping a tree. Before the police get to the car, Lee switches seats with Drew and Lee takes the fall for the crash. Lee is suspended by the coach for the rest of the regular season. The guilt destroys Drew until after their next game when Drew decides to confess to the coach it was him driving. Drew is suspended from play until the playoffs. Drew's team ends up making it to the championship. Drew plays his heart out and his team wins the championship in the final seconds of the game.
Characterization
Drew's character is pulled into question a lot throughout this book. He is very selfish at the beginning of the book and he often loses sight of what is important. He is easily caught up in the glamour of his position and forgets about things like teamwork and effort in school. When he meets Donald all of that changes. Drew realizes that unless he changes, he will end up just like Donald. Drew starts to work hard in school and be a better teammate. When Drew gets in the crash, it makes the reader hope that Drew will do the right thing and take the blame he deserves. At first Drew doesn't but he soon realizes his mistake and later takes all of the blame.
Setting
The setting in sunny California introduces an aspect of business in sports as early as high school. If you are a star athlete in California, everything is about you and you get everything you want most in life. This aspect tends to lead even the best people stray from what is important. This aspect also can teach lessons to the people it involves about what they should care about more. The amount of press and stardom in California can easily get to people's heads and influence people to make wrong decisions.
Rating/Recommendation
This book was just shy of five stars in my opinion. The author wrote this book very similar to other sports books when it comes to plot. I also thought the plot wasn't very original. I don't play basketball so I don't think I enjoyed this book as much as I could have if I would be in basketball. This book is good for people who play basketball in high school. I think it would also be good for people who contemplate the choices the make between school and the sport they play. I don't think this book would be very good for girls because the main characters are mostly guys.
Read
April 20, 2016Personal Response: I thought True Legend was a spectacular read. I liked hearing Drew’s story about his childhood in New York and his super-stardom in California. Drew was easy to connect with, because he was a young athlete. I was able to sympathize with him when he was sore from a hard practice or when he did not have his best game. I started worrying about Drew when I realized the type of person Seth Gilbert was (the man who moved Drew to California). It was hard to like Seth throughout the book. He looked out for Drew and always made sure he was doing alright. However, Mr. Gilbert was just trying to protect his right to be Drew’s manager when Drew went to the NBA. I did not like the way Drew was treated by Seth. I believe effort and teamwork are needed in order for programs to be successful. Seth tried making Drew a selfish player, so Drew would look good in front of scouts. Drew was starting to play this way until he met Legend. I think meeting Legend was the biggest moment of Drew’s life. He was turning a selfish and arrogant person. Legend showed him that being that way would lead you down a long, hard road. Had Drew not met Legend in the park, I think he would have gone down the road Mr. Gilbert wanted him to and not become a better person.
Plot: Drew “True” Robinson was a high school basketball star from California. He was one of, if not the best prospect in the country. He played point guard for Oakley Academy, a team which had not had much success in the past. Drew changed that in just one season but not without a few bumps in the road. He was constantly being watched and looked out for by his friends, teachers, and Mr. Gilbert. Seth Gilbert was an extremely wealthy man whom took a liking to Drew and his basketball talent. He gave Drew anything he wanted, and he treated Drew like a son. This did not stop Drew from going to the old run down basketball court near his house very late at night. On one of his trips to the court, he saw an old man playing and could not believe his eyes. The old man could do things on a basketball court that only professional players were able to do. Drew knew he had to meet him. He got the chance after one of his games. The old man had been sitting high in the stands watching and Drew caught him shaking his head after Drew had not passed the ball, costing his team the game. Drew went to the park and found the man playing ball. The old man ripped Drew apart. He called Drew out for what he really was: selfish, a show boat, greedy. This infuriated Drew, mostly because he understood the man was speaking the truth. Drew wanted to catch up with the man again and talk to him more. While sitting in English class, Drew’s teacher assigned a research paper. He thought the perfect topic for him would be streetball legends. He did some research on old ballers, trying to find out who the man was. He came across a man, Urban “Legend” Sellers. Sellers used to play for a high school team in Sacramento, but he let his life get away from him. He turned to drugs and alcohol, eventually dying in a fire at a homeless shelter. Drew thought for sure that this was the man he had talked to. Drew continued going to the park, but the man was no longer showing up. Drew finally saw him one day and followed him home. He knocked on the door and refused to leave without the man telling him his real name.The old man said his name was Urban Donald Sellers. Drew could not believe it because the man was supposed to have died. As it turned out, a different man had been staying in Sellers’ room at the homeless shelter when it burned to the ground. Urban had been living near Drew now for quite a while, and he had a job working for the city. Drew asked if he could use Urban’s story for the paper Drew was just assigned. Urban agreed to let him use the story of his life. The two began developing a relationship through the paper and basketball. Urban taught Drew the importance of the word team. This changed Drew’s life dramatically as he became a better person and basketball player.
Characterization: Drew Robinson was a tremendous athlete. He had an amazing gift for the game of basketball. He put in countless hours of work in the gym to perfect his talents. Because he was so much better than everyone else, he began to become arrogant and selfish. Drew started looking towards his future career instead of at his team and their goals. This continued in games when Drew did not pass at the last second or dive for a loose ball. He went through a change when he met Urban Sellers. Drew began to realize the importance of his teammates and friends. He lost his cocky attitude and selfishness. He became a respectable young man, better student, and honest individual.
Setting: Drew lived in a modern time period filled with NBA superstars: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade. He was living in California with his mother. Being in California, Drew experienced tons of publicity. He was constantly on camera or being interviewed. Being around the constant media frenzy California had to offer greatly effected Drew’s personality. It caused him to get a big head. Also, seeing the way his NBA idols acted sometimes made him make decisions he would not usually make.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to young, male athletes. They would be able to connect with Drew’s personal life and some of his struggles. I think they would also enjoy and envy the talent he had on the court.
Plot: Drew “True” Robinson was a high school basketball star from California. He was one of, if not the best prospect in the country. He played point guard for Oakley Academy, a team which had not had much success in the past. Drew changed that in just one season but not without a few bumps in the road. He was constantly being watched and looked out for by his friends, teachers, and Mr. Gilbert. Seth Gilbert was an extremely wealthy man whom took a liking to Drew and his basketball talent. He gave Drew anything he wanted, and he treated Drew like a son. This did not stop Drew from going to the old run down basketball court near his house very late at night. On one of his trips to the court, he saw an old man playing and could not believe his eyes. The old man could do things on a basketball court that only professional players were able to do. Drew knew he had to meet him. He got the chance after one of his games. The old man had been sitting high in the stands watching and Drew caught him shaking his head after Drew had not passed the ball, costing his team the game. Drew went to the park and found the man playing ball. The old man ripped Drew apart. He called Drew out for what he really was: selfish, a show boat, greedy. This infuriated Drew, mostly because he understood the man was speaking the truth. Drew wanted to catch up with the man again and talk to him more. While sitting in English class, Drew’s teacher assigned a research paper. He thought the perfect topic for him would be streetball legends. He did some research on old ballers, trying to find out who the man was. He came across a man, Urban “Legend” Sellers. Sellers used to play for a high school team in Sacramento, but he let his life get away from him. He turned to drugs and alcohol, eventually dying in a fire at a homeless shelter. Drew thought for sure that this was the man he had talked to. Drew continued going to the park, but the man was no longer showing up. Drew finally saw him one day and followed him home. He knocked on the door and refused to leave without the man telling him his real name.The old man said his name was Urban Donald Sellers. Drew could not believe it because the man was supposed to have died. As it turned out, a different man had been staying in Sellers’ room at the homeless shelter when it burned to the ground. Urban had been living near Drew now for quite a while, and he had a job working for the city. Drew asked if he could use Urban’s story for the paper Drew was just assigned. Urban agreed to let him use the story of his life. The two began developing a relationship through the paper and basketball. Urban taught Drew the importance of the word team. This changed Drew’s life dramatically as he became a better person and basketball player.
Characterization: Drew Robinson was a tremendous athlete. He had an amazing gift for the game of basketball. He put in countless hours of work in the gym to perfect his talents. Because he was so much better than everyone else, he began to become arrogant and selfish. Drew started looking towards his future career instead of at his team and their goals. This continued in games when Drew did not pass at the last second or dive for a loose ball. He went through a change when he met Urban Sellers. Drew began to realize the importance of his teammates and friends. He lost his cocky attitude and selfishness. He became a respectable young man, better student, and honest individual.
Setting: Drew lived in a modern time period filled with NBA superstars: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade. He was living in California with his mother. Being in California, Drew experienced tons of publicity. He was constantly on camera or being interviewed. Being around the constant media frenzy California had to offer greatly effected Drew’s personality. It caused him to get a big head. Also, seeing the way his NBA idols acted sometimes made him make decisions he would not usually make.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to young, male athletes. They would be able to connect with Drew’s personal life and some of his struggles. I think they would also enjoy and envy the talent he had on the court.
May 22, 2014
Summary- This book is a great novel about a boy with “hoop” dreams. Everything in Drew Robinson’s life has been handed to him because of his skill on the court. Even his mom’s job was given to her because of the amazing way he played. Drew, also known as True because his game was too true, was given everything. He did not even do his own homework. His best buddy, Lee, would do it. Lee was always there for Drew even when they got in trouble… but I am not spoiling that part. Drew’s life starts to go downhill. He starts making the wrong decisions on and off the court. He can not even talk to Callie, the girl of his dreams. Talking to girls has never really been a problem for me so I don’t know where he’s coming from. Drew never really realizes what is happening until he meets a washed up, “dead”, old playground legend known as Urban Sellers who shows Drew his future because it was Urban's past.
Opinion- I loved this book because it describes the basketball skill that I want to have and what a good player goes through. But good ole Drew Robinson needs to work on his skill with the ladies because HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS WHAT SO EVER!!!!!!
“ So what he said to Callie, in a voice he didn’t even recognize, was this: ‘ Whooo, me, you are lookin’ fine today, girl’.”
I thought the character of Lee was a “true” friend to Drew. The things he did for Drew, I could honestly never do for my friends. His actions took a lot of courage and will. This book reminded me of The Hunger Games because of Lee taking the blame for speeding and causing himself to be punished. This is the same as when Katniss volunteers as tribute to take Primrose, her little sister’s spot in the contest. Both of the characters knew the consequences but still had the strength to deal with them.
“ Lee was already unbuckling his seat belt, doing the same to Drew’s, not even asking if Drew was all right, just grabbing him by the shoulders, shoving him toward the passenger seat, sliding underneath and grabbing the wheel… ‘ If one of us is going to get in trouble for this,’ his friend said, ‘it’s gonna be me’.”
The rich controlling boss of Drew and his mom, known as Mr. Gilbert, reminds me of the controlling agent of Joe Kingman in The Game Plan who tries to get rid of Joe's daughter. Mr. Gilbert acts like Drew’s agent and starts to pull him away from Lee. Every Time Mr.Gilbert makes a decision for Drew and Drew just goes along with it, I got so mad as a reader and felt the need to tell Drew. I know it’s weird, right?
“ ‘ You can catch up with them later,’ Mr. Gilbert said. ‘ i’ll get Eddie to drive you over there.’
It was his normal way when he wanted something, Drew knew, telling him what he was going to do, not asking.”
The only reason I would think people may not want to read this book (which would be crazy) is if they have no interest in sports and do not like to see selfishness inside of people. My book does contain a lot of basketball that some people may not be interested in at all. They may find it boring and pointless. These people would be the people that are mainly interested in sad stories that make you feel bad and all lovey lovey inside and gross. Those books are all gross, except for The Last Song. That book was good. All in all, the main reason why people wouldn't read this book is because they do not like selfishness or basketball.
On the other side, this book targets boys that are mainly athletes and love basketball… like me, the “cool” kids, the “populars”. Just kidding, that’s not me :(. Seriously though, those are the types of audiences that would love the book. If you were a fan of Mike Lupica’s Travel Team books, you will definitely be a fan of True Legend. This book is also a lesson to anybody that wants to learn and improve on how they can control their selfishness and the consequences of being selfish.
On a 1-5 scale, I would rate this book a flat out 5. 1 being airball!! 2 being barely tipped backboard!! 3 being plain layup!! 4 being icy 3-pointer!!! 5 being a crowd hyping slam dunk!!!!
By Zach Berard
Opinion- I loved this book because it describes the basketball skill that I want to have and what a good player goes through. But good ole Drew Robinson needs to work on his skill with the ladies because HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS WHAT SO EVER!!!!!!
“ So what he said to Callie, in a voice he didn’t even recognize, was this: ‘ Whooo, me, you are lookin’ fine today, girl’.”
I thought the character of Lee was a “true” friend to Drew. The things he did for Drew, I could honestly never do for my friends. His actions took a lot of courage and will. This book reminded me of The Hunger Games because of Lee taking the blame for speeding and causing himself to be punished. This is the same as when Katniss volunteers as tribute to take Primrose, her little sister’s spot in the contest. Both of the characters knew the consequences but still had the strength to deal with them.
“ Lee was already unbuckling his seat belt, doing the same to Drew’s, not even asking if Drew was all right, just grabbing him by the shoulders, shoving him toward the passenger seat, sliding underneath and grabbing the wheel… ‘ If one of us is going to get in trouble for this,’ his friend said, ‘it’s gonna be me’.”
The rich controlling boss of Drew and his mom, known as Mr. Gilbert, reminds me of the controlling agent of Joe Kingman in The Game Plan who tries to get rid of Joe's daughter. Mr. Gilbert acts like Drew’s agent and starts to pull him away from Lee. Every Time Mr.Gilbert makes a decision for Drew and Drew just goes along with it, I got so mad as a reader and felt the need to tell Drew. I know it’s weird, right?
“ ‘ You can catch up with them later,’ Mr. Gilbert said. ‘ i’ll get Eddie to drive you over there.’
It was his normal way when he wanted something, Drew knew, telling him what he was going to do, not asking.”
The only reason I would think people may not want to read this book (which would be crazy) is if they have no interest in sports and do not like to see selfishness inside of people. My book does contain a lot of basketball that some people may not be interested in at all. They may find it boring and pointless. These people would be the people that are mainly interested in sad stories that make you feel bad and all lovey lovey inside and gross. Those books are all gross, except for The Last Song. That book was good. All in all, the main reason why people wouldn't read this book is because they do not like selfishness or basketball.
On the other side, this book targets boys that are mainly athletes and love basketball… like me, the “cool” kids, the “populars”. Just kidding, that’s not me :(. Seriously though, those are the types of audiences that would love the book. If you were a fan of Mike Lupica’s Travel Team books, you will definitely be a fan of True Legend. This book is also a lesson to anybody that wants to learn and improve on how they can control their selfishness and the consequences of being selfish.
On a 1-5 scale, I would rate this book a flat out 5. 1 being airball!! 2 being barely tipped backboard!! 3 being plain layup!! 4 being icy 3-pointer!!! 5 being a crowd hyping slam dunk!!!!
By Zach Berard
October 22, 2018
Personal Response
I enjoyed True Legend by Mike Lupica because of the great plot. I enjoyed how the main character developed throughout the story. I also loved how well the author used imagery in every chapter. I liked that the author kept the story moving forward and always had something new happening in the character’s lives. I liked how the author finished the story the best.
Plot
The book started off with Drew Robinson practicing his moves in Morrison Park. He practiced late into the night, and one night, a mysterious man showed up to play some ball. The old man had moves that Drew had never seen before, and Drew was amazed by the old man’s talent. Drew tried to talk to him but the old man ran away. Drew went to Oakley Academy, a private school owned by Mr. Seth Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert brought drew from Brooklyn, New York to southern California just so he could have Drew on his team. Oakley’s rival was Park Prep and they had a great player named King Gardsen. King was a better shooter than Drew, but Drew was an all-around better player. Oakley lost their first game to Park Prep because Drew treated the game as a one on one against King. Drew met the mysterious man in Morrison park and his name was Donald. Donald could have been a great NBA player, but he hurt his knee at a party when he was younger. Donald saw Drew as a younger version of himself, and he didn’t want Drew to go down the same path. Oakley had a tough loss so Drew and his buddy Lee went on a car ride in a Maserati. Drew didn’t have his license and crashed the car, hurting his knee in the process. The police came and Lee said he was driving to save Drew’s chances of playing. Drew played with the hurt knee, and he turned into more of a passer instead of a scorer. Drew had to tell his coach the truth about the car incident. Drew was suspended for the last regular season game against Park Prep and Oakley lost. The two teams would meet up again in the playoffs, and this time Drew played with the team instead of having another one on one against King.
Characterization
Drew Robinson started off as a person that only focused on the basketball portion of his life. Drew met Donald and he had a reality check. Drew realized that he needed to focus on school a little more and go for A’s. He also made more friends because he stopped worrying so much about basketball. He also met a girl and became friends with a girl for the first time. Drew turned his life around when he started learning what could happen if he kept going down the same path. Donald was a very shy person at the start of the book. Donald kept seeing Drew more he opened up. Donald wanted to keep his life hidden, but Drew convinced him to open up. Donald started going to school again to achieve his dream of going to college. Donald had no friends and was shy in the beginning, but at the end of the book he had three good friends and talked about his life.
Setting
True Legend takes place in southern California. Drew is originally from New York City so the move across the country took him some time to get used to. The move meant he had to make new friends and he didn’t know anyone from his new school. Southern California pumps out a lot of good college basketball players. This will help Drew get exposure to go to the school of his choice and play basketball there.
Thematic Connection
The theme is to never forget what is actually important in life. This is the theme because Drew skipped class a lot and never did his school work. When it came to tests and homework Lee did most of the work for Drew. Drew wrote his first paper at the end of the book, and Drew learned that basketball isn’t everything in life. Drew made friends too, which made him believe that he spent too much time on basketball and not enough time on his personal life.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves basketball. There is a lot of imagery when it comes to Drew playing in his games. I think this book is appropriate for anyone in sixth grade or above. This book would also be great for people who like books with drama.
I enjoyed True Legend by Mike Lupica because of the great plot. I enjoyed how the main character developed throughout the story. I also loved how well the author used imagery in every chapter. I liked that the author kept the story moving forward and always had something new happening in the character’s lives. I liked how the author finished the story the best.
Plot
The book started off with Drew Robinson practicing his moves in Morrison Park. He practiced late into the night, and one night, a mysterious man showed up to play some ball. The old man had moves that Drew had never seen before, and Drew was amazed by the old man’s talent. Drew tried to talk to him but the old man ran away. Drew went to Oakley Academy, a private school owned by Mr. Seth Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert brought drew from Brooklyn, New York to southern California just so he could have Drew on his team. Oakley’s rival was Park Prep and they had a great player named King Gardsen. King was a better shooter than Drew, but Drew was an all-around better player. Oakley lost their first game to Park Prep because Drew treated the game as a one on one against King. Drew met the mysterious man in Morrison park and his name was Donald. Donald could have been a great NBA player, but he hurt his knee at a party when he was younger. Donald saw Drew as a younger version of himself, and he didn’t want Drew to go down the same path. Oakley had a tough loss so Drew and his buddy Lee went on a car ride in a Maserati. Drew didn’t have his license and crashed the car, hurting his knee in the process. The police came and Lee said he was driving to save Drew’s chances of playing. Drew played with the hurt knee, and he turned into more of a passer instead of a scorer. Drew had to tell his coach the truth about the car incident. Drew was suspended for the last regular season game against Park Prep and Oakley lost. The two teams would meet up again in the playoffs, and this time Drew played with the team instead of having another one on one against King.
Characterization
Drew Robinson started off as a person that only focused on the basketball portion of his life. Drew met Donald and he had a reality check. Drew realized that he needed to focus on school a little more and go for A’s. He also made more friends because he stopped worrying so much about basketball. He also met a girl and became friends with a girl for the first time. Drew turned his life around when he started learning what could happen if he kept going down the same path. Donald was a very shy person at the start of the book. Donald kept seeing Drew more he opened up. Donald wanted to keep his life hidden, but Drew convinced him to open up. Donald started going to school again to achieve his dream of going to college. Donald had no friends and was shy in the beginning, but at the end of the book he had three good friends and talked about his life.
Setting
True Legend takes place in southern California. Drew is originally from New York City so the move across the country took him some time to get used to. The move meant he had to make new friends and he didn’t know anyone from his new school. Southern California pumps out a lot of good college basketball players. This will help Drew get exposure to go to the school of his choice and play basketball there.
Thematic Connection
The theme is to never forget what is actually important in life. This is the theme because Drew skipped class a lot and never did his school work. When it came to tests and homework Lee did most of the work for Drew. Drew wrote his first paper at the end of the book, and Drew learned that basketball isn’t everything in life. Drew made friends too, which made him believe that he spent too much time on basketball and not enough time on his personal life.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves basketball. There is a lot of imagery when it comes to Drew playing in his games. I think this book is appropriate for anyone in sixth grade or above. This book would also be great for people who like books with drama.
January 16, 2015
**spoiler alert** **spoiler alert** True Legend, by Mike Lupica, is a sports/young adult novel about a boy named Drew Robinson who is a basketball prodigy for his high school, Oakley Academy in California. He is being compare to all-time greats LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. His games are even being televised on ESPN because people want to see his caliber. Because of his outstanding play, he becomes a bit arrogant, but learns from the best about why not to fall down that road.
Every night, Drew, who was also known as ‘True’, would go down to the local park court to play at night, by himself, under the lights. One night, he arrives, and someone has beaten him to it. The man looks old school, but his moves are unlike anything Drew had seen before. This guy was throwing down only the most ridiculous dunks and using the nicest, cleanest moves otherwise. Drew is convinced he has seen a ghost by the next morning, so he goes on with other concerns - basketball and a girl. Drew had a developed crush on Callie, a girl in his grade, also very good at basketball. Other than that, Drew was focused on the upcoming square-off with King Prep - the other good school. However, when Drew come down to that court at night, the ‘ghost’ is still there. However, this time, he met the man. He introduced himself as Donald, and they began talking. Donald was not an easy-going guy. In fact, he was being very critical of Drew. He told him so much about not investing in all of the hype, that Drew begins to think that this man once made that mistake himself. He researches all about playground legends and fallen-out prodigies and arrogant busts, but only one fit the perfect description - a man named Urban Sellers.
Drew begins to think deeply about his actions. He was only 15, and already heading down that road. Throughout the book, 3 main people take Drew under his wing. He goes through many huge life-changing event with his best friend, Lee. He also seeks guidance from Seth Gilbert, someone who saw his potential early on and got them a life in Santa Barbara. Callie, his almost-girlfriend, also helps him through tough times, along with his coach and school teachers. Drew Robinson seeks life-changing advice, things that really would change him forever.
This book is not short but not too long lengthwise - its is 292 pages. This was a short read for me though, because I really could not put it down every night. I recommend this book to anyone, really. Many may think that this only a book for basketball players or “jocks”, but anybody looking for a good, young-adult novel can seek what they are looking for in this book.
Every night, Drew, who was also known as ‘True’, would go down to the local park court to play at night, by himself, under the lights. One night, he arrives, and someone has beaten him to it. The man looks old school, but his moves are unlike anything Drew had seen before. This guy was throwing down only the most ridiculous dunks and using the nicest, cleanest moves otherwise. Drew is convinced he has seen a ghost by the next morning, so he goes on with other concerns - basketball and a girl. Drew had a developed crush on Callie, a girl in his grade, also very good at basketball. Other than that, Drew was focused on the upcoming square-off with King Prep - the other good school. However, when Drew come down to that court at night, the ‘ghost’ is still there. However, this time, he met the man. He introduced himself as Donald, and they began talking. Donald was not an easy-going guy. In fact, he was being very critical of Drew. He told him so much about not investing in all of the hype, that Drew begins to think that this man once made that mistake himself. He researches all about playground legends and fallen-out prodigies and arrogant busts, but only one fit the perfect description - a man named Urban Sellers.
Drew begins to think deeply about his actions. He was only 15, and already heading down that road. Throughout the book, 3 main people take Drew under his wing. He goes through many huge life-changing event with his best friend, Lee. He also seeks guidance from Seth Gilbert, someone who saw his potential early on and got them a life in Santa Barbara. Callie, his almost-girlfriend, also helps him through tough times, along with his coach and school teachers. Drew Robinson seeks life-changing advice, things that really would change him forever.
This book is not short but not too long lengthwise - its is 292 pages. This was a short read for me though, because I really could not put it down every night. I recommend this book to anyone, really. Many may think that this only a book for basketball players or “jocks”, but anybody looking for a good, young-adult novel can seek what they are looking for in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2019
Personal response:
I liked True Legend by Mike Lupica, because the book was about basketball. I liked how Drew was a star basketball player. I liked how this book took place in California. The author made me excited with the basketball scenes. I liked how the author introduced Drew in the beginning of the book. It was a good book I rate it 4 out 5 stars.
Plot:
The book is about a high school basketball player. The main character’s name is Drew. Drew is a normal high school student with basketball talent. Drew had gotten a lot of interest playing basketball, that Mr. Gilbert paid for Drew and his mom to move to California. Mr. Gilbert has a lot of money and is going to be Drew’s future agent. Drew dealt with injuries and off court drama as the basketball season went on. In this book Drew learned to become a team player.
Characterization:
Drew grew up in New York, but moved to California after his basketball talent was discovered. Drew is a junior in high school. Drew’s basketball talent is compared to Lebron James. Drew met a basketball legend, Urban Sellers when he was playing basketball. Urban Sellers was also a great basketball player, but he dropped out of high school when he was younger. Urban Sellers gave Drew advice how to become a better person and basketball player. Drew helped Urban Sellers get back in to high school to get his diploma.
Setting:
The book took place in modern time. Drew attended Oakley Academy in California. Oakley Academy was a big high school that had a good basketball program. The setting is important to the character, because that’s where he moved to play basketball. The time period is relevant to the book because basketball is still a popular sport.
Thematic Connection:
The theme of this book is empowerment. In the beginning of the book Drew was selfish when he played basketball. I choose the theme empowerment because Drew learned from his mistakes and became a team player. Drew helped Urban Sellers graduate high school. Drew moved to California to become a better basketball player.
Recommend:
I recommend this book to men, between the ages 15 and 25. I recommend this book to basketball players because the book is about basketball. I recommend this book to people that enjoy sport books. I recommend this book for people that want an easy read, because the book wasn’t hard to read.
I liked True Legend by Mike Lupica, because the book was about basketball. I liked how Drew was a star basketball player. I liked how this book took place in California. The author made me excited with the basketball scenes. I liked how the author introduced Drew in the beginning of the book. It was a good book I rate it 4 out 5 stars.
Plot:
The book is about a high school basketball player. The main character’s name is Drew. Drew is a normal high school student with basketball talent. Drew had gotten a lot of interest playing basketball, that Mr. Gilbert paid for Drew and his mom to move to California. Mr. Gilbert has a lot of money and is going to be Drew’s future agent. Drew dealt with injuries and off court drama as the basketball season went on. In this book Drew learned to become a team player.
Characterization:
Drew grew up in New York, but moved to California after his basketball talent was discovered. Drew is a junior in high school. Drew’s basketball talent is compared to Lebron James. Drew met a basketball legend, Urban Sellers when he was playing basketball. Urban Sellers was also a great basketball player, but he dropped out of high school when he was younger. Urban Sellers gave Drew advice how to become a better person and basketball player. Drew helped Urban Sellers get back in to high school to get his diploma.
Setting:
The book took place in modern time. Drew attended Oakley Academy in California. Oakley Academy was a big high school that had a good basketball program. The setting is important to the character, because that’s where he moved to play basketball. The time period is relevant to the book because basketball is still a popular sport.
Thematic Connection:
The theme of this book is empowerment. In the beginning of the book Drew was selfish when he played basketball. I choose the theme empowerment because Drew learned from his mistakes and became a team player. Drew helped Urban Sellers graduate high school. Drew moved to California to become a better basketball player.
Recommend:
I recommend this book to men, between the ages 15 and 25. I recommend this book to basketball players because the book is about basketball. I recommend this book to people that enjoy sport books. I recommend this book for people that want an easy read, because the book wasn’t hard to read.
May 21, 2015
I would recommend the book True Legend to any of my friends. It is exciting, but everything in it could really happen. Drew is tall and skinny. Lee is tall and not as skinny with blond hair. Legend is really tall, looks old, and has black/gray hair.
It all started when Drew was playing basketball by himself in Morrison Park and saw this guy playing that was really good. He was going to go watch, but then the person ran away when he came to see him play. Then he came back the next day and he did the same thing.
Then he was playing against the school rivals Park Prep. There were two great players there, so it was such a big game that it was on ESPN 2. When the game was done he saw the guy. But when the guy realized that he turned and ran.
After the game he went to the park again. There he was, but he did not run this time. He just acknowledged him with a head shake. Then they started talking about how Drew had kept the ball on the last play instead of passing it to Lee who was wide open, which caused them to lose.
After another game when he saw the man that was called Urban to his hotel room. After he followed him to his room he knocked on the door. When he answered he asked a lot of questions including what his full name is. It turned out that he was a old basketball legend in high school named Urban Donald Sellers. But he was called Urban Legend. He also went the next day to go get him enrolled into school.
Then one day he got into a Maserati and got in a wreck without a license. So he got suspended the rest of the regular season. When the playoffs came they easily got to the championship with Park Prep. When they got there Drew was determined to not have the same mistake again. That night he passed and shot. In the last moments, 5 seconds left, he made a bounce pass to wide open Lee for the win.
Later that day his new friend, Urban Legend Sellers finally got his high school diploma.
It all started when Drew was playing basketball by himself in Morrison Park and saw this guy playing that was really good. He was going to go watch, but then the person ran away when he came to see him play. Then he came back the next day and he did the same thing.
Then he was playing against the school rivals Park Prep. There were two great players there, so it was such a big game that it was on ESPN 2. When the game was done he saw the guy. But when the guy realized that he turned and ran.
After the game he went to the park again. There he was, but he did not run this time. He just acknowledged him with a head shake. Then they started talking about how Drew had kept the ball on the last play instead of passing it to Lee who was wide open, which caused them to lose.
After another game when he saw the man that was called Urban to his hotel room. After he followed him to his room he knocked on the door. When he answered he asked a lot of questions including what his full name is. It turned out that he was a old basketball legend in high school named Urban Donald Sellers. But he was called Urban Legend. He also went the next day to go get him enrolled into school.
Then one day he got into a Maserati and got in a wreck without a license. So he got suspended the rest of the regular season. When the playoffs came they easily got to the championship with Park Prep. When they got there Drew was determined to not have the same mistake again. That night he passed and shot. In the last moments, 5 seconds left, he made a bounce pass to wide open Lee for the win.
Later that day his new friend, Urban Legend Sellers finally got his high school diploma.
Read
March 16, 2018 The book I chose to read is called “True Legend” by Mike Lupica. In the story, the main character is Drew Robinson he is a junior in high school and is the best high school player in the country. Drew spends many late nights playing basketball on the old court at Morrison Park. One night he finds this man who looked homeless putting on a show on the court. He is very interested in who he was but when Drew tried to talk to him he ran away. Drew and his best friend Lee Atkins did research on old park legends to try and find out who the man was in the park. Drew discovered that the man’s name was Urban Sellers. Urban back in his day was supposed to be one of the best players ever but his head got too big and thought nothing could stop him so he wasn’t going to school and let his life get away from him. So when his apartment building burned down they found Urban's friend in it and they thought it was him .and he let them think that. Drew and Urban become friends and Urban teaches him a lesson about basketball and about life.
In my opinion, the book was well written and I enjoyed the story. I learned that things can be going so well and all change so quickly and your life can turn around. I think that if you like basketball this is a great book to read. This quote from the book is Urban talking to drew in his hotel room “ “Trust me,” Urban Sellers said. “That legend had been dead a long time before that shelter went up in flames.” This shows that once Urban was a legend and everything changed when he let that go to his head.
I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it was a good book and I like basketball. Also because the book told a good story that people can learn from.
In my opinion, the book was well written and I enjoyed the story. I learned that things can be going so well and all change so quickly and your life can turn around. I think that if you like basketball this is a great book to read. This quote from the book is Urban talking to drew in his hotel room “ “Trust me,” Urban Sellers said. “That legend had been dead a long time before that shelter went up in flames.” This shows that once Urban was a legend and everything changed when he let that go to his head.
I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it was a good book and I like basketball. Also because the book told a good story that people can learn from.
Read
September 27, 2016he title of my book it “True Legend”, and it’s wrote by Mike Lupica. The book has 292 pages and it was published by philomel books. I choose to read this book because the book is about basketball. I also choosed the book because its about an African American teen who has it all. This book was also an New York Times Bestsellers.
The Main Characters are Drew Robinson and the Legend. Drew is a African American male that plays basketball for Oakley high school. He is one of the best players in the country, but he doesnt act like he is. He started to fall off, meaning his grades got bad and he started not to care about school. The Legend is an old school basketball player that goes and plays at the old court. The first time drew saw him he was amazed by the moves and the dunks he was doing.
This book is an urban type book. The book was set in California. This book was set in the 19’th centuries. The book always has the reader thinking, meaning you dont know whats going to happen next. Drew Robinson is trying to be the best and get a championship. Drew was getting in trouble and falling off until the legend comes and take drew under his wing.
My final thoughts on true legend is Its a really good book. The book really reminded me of my life because i play football and I always have to remember that it’s school first then football. A good point of the book is that wrote with a lot of detail. A weak point is that it takes a while to actually get to the point of the book. I learned that you should always stay humble and work hard in school. I would reccomend this book to anyone that likes sports.
The Main Characters are Drew Robinson and the Legend. Drew is a African American male that plays basketball for Oakley high school. He is one of the best players in the country, but he doesnt act like he is. He started to fall off, meaning his grades got bad and he started not to care about school. The Legend is an old school basketball player that goes and plays at the old court. The first time drew saw him he was amazed by the moves and the dunks he was doing.
This book is an urban type book. The book was set in California. This book was set in the 19’th centuries. The book always has the reader thinking, meaning you dont know whats going to happen next. Drew Robinson is trying to be the best and get a championship. Drew was getting in trouble and falling off until the legend comes and take drew under his wing.
My final thoughts on true legend is Its a really good book. The book really reminded me of my life because i play football and I always have to remember that it’s school first then football. A good point of the book is that wrote with a lot of detail. A weak point is that it takes a while to actually get to the point of the book. I learned that you should always stay humble and work hard in school. I would reccomend this book to anyone that likes sports.
January 18, 2018
The book I will be reviewing is titled True Legend by Mike Lupica. True Legend was published in 2012. Personally, I really enjoy reading books that are written by Mike Lupica. Lupica is a very good author who can be understood well and is very talented at injecting details into his stories. The characters in this book are easily relatable due to their adversity they have to overcome to grow as an individual. Main character, Drew Robinson is well known for his amazingly skilled talent on the basketball court. Everyone recognizes that he is gifted with the talent he has. That talent proves to be a gift and at times also a problem. With all of this attention, Drew becomes engulfed in his own self-confidence. In an attempt to bring Drew back to reality, his mother is grateful when a ex basketball player shows up and mentors Drew based on his own life failures and victories. Plot in this book could be relatable to other stories in the sense of adversity and fame that makes a person act differently than their true self would if they didn’t have that talent or fame. This book is good for teens because the words are not too challenging and the plot is not hard to understand. Advanced students would most likely think that this story is too easy, but it is up to them to decide. In the book, there isn’t any controversial topics that arise for the reader to know about in advance. The theme for this book would be to never allow yourself to grow too far away from your original character because it could hurt you and the people around you. This book is perfect for someone who enjoys reading about a character who changes because of the people around him influencing his character.
Read
September 30, 2012Drew "True" Robinson has a plan. He and his mother moved to California from New York to advance his basketball career. Only a junior in high school, he is one of the best. If things work out, he will be scouted by the best colleges and after the minimum one year of college play, he'll head to the pros.
Lately Drew hasn't exactly been focused much on his grades, and he is getting some grief about it from his mother and his counselor. He tries to remind them that college isn't really his goal; it's just a stepping stone to his pro career. The temptation of endorsements and perks from his mother's rich boss and scouts is beginning to take Drew's attention away from his game.
Late one night when he heads to a local court to practice, he comes across a street player shooting hoops. The guy is older but he has great skills. Drew watches him unnoticed, and after seeing him a second time, he attempts to find out who the mystery player is.
It turns out he was a legend years ago, but poor decisions ruined his chances to turn pro. When Drew finally does meet him, he realizes they have a lot in common. This realization might be just what Drew needs to get back on track. Hopefully, it's not too late.
Author Mike Lupica focuses on not only the game of basketball, but also on the mind of the athlete in TRUE LEGEND. Many young athletes dream of a professional career, but all the attention and fame that come from being a legend can quickly derail many of those dreams.
Lately Drew hasn't exactly been focused much on his grades, and he is getting some grief about it from his mother and his counselor. He tries to remind them that college isn't really his goal; it's just a stepping stone to his pro career. The temptation of endorsements and perks from his mother's rich boss and scouts is beginning to take Drew's attention away from his game.
Late one night when he heads to a local court to practice, he comes across a street player shooting hoops. The guy is older but he has great skills. Drew watches him unnoticed, and after seeing him a second time, he attempts to find out who the mystery player is.
It turns out he was a legend years ago, but poor decisions ruined his chances to turn pro. When Drew finally does meet him, he realizes they have a lot in common. This realization might be just what Drew needs to get back on track. Hopefully, it's not too late.
Author Mike Lupica focuses on not only the game of basketball, but also on the mind of the athlete in TRUE LEGEND. Many young athletes dream of a professional career, but all the attention and fame that come from being a legend can quickly derail many of those dreams.
Read
January 7, 2015Title : True Legend
Author : Mike Lupica
Main Character : Drew Robinson
Drew Robinson is a normal young man chasing his dream to be a star when he's older. It's about a high school basketball prospect and the fame he faces at a young age. Drew "True" Robinson is a boy in high school who everyone believes can be the greatest basketball player ever. With all of the commotion surrounding his basketball skills, Drew begins to lose control of his life outside of basketball. It wasn't until Drew met a "Playground Legend" that inspired him to to work harder and make better decisions. After Drew realizes that the "Playground Legend" was just like him as a kid and fears that what may happen to him. The "Playground Legend" had great talent but let it all go to waste with bad choices. This man is a symbol and represents what Drew's life mighe end up like if he doesn't pursue his dreams and continues his path. Drew is slacking off of all his papers and reports and uses one of his teammates to do it all for him. The "Playground Legend" tells Drew to strive and achieve greatness. He told Drew that if he continued going through this direction, he will end up like him and wont succeed. This book inspires me to keep moving forward and not to let anything get in my way. Drew is a perfect example of a dreamchaser. He follows up on all of his homework that he left behind, while he still had time to play his basketball and develope his skills.
Author : Mike Lupica
Main Character : Drew Robinson
Drew Robinson is a normal young man chasing his dream to be a star when he's older. It's about a high school basketball prospect and the fame he faces at a young age. Drew "True" Robinson is a boy in high school who everyone believes can be the greatest basketball player ever. With all of the commotion surrounding his basketball skills, Drew begins to lose control of his life outside of basketball. It wasn't until Drew met a "Playground Legend" that inspired him to to work harder and make better decisions. After Drew realizes that the "Playground Legend" was just like him as a kid and fears that what may happen to him. The "Playground Legend" had great talent but let it all go to waste with bad choices. This man is a symbol and represents what Drew's life mighe end up like if he doesn't pursue his dreams and continues his path. Drew is slacking off of all his papers and reports and uses one of his teammates to do it all for him. The "Playground Legend" tells Drew to strive and achieve greatness. He told Drew that if he continued going through this direction, he will end up like him and wont succeed. This book inspires me to keep moving forward and not to let anything get in my way. Drew is a perfect example of a dreamchaser. He follows up on all of his homework that he left behind, while he still had time to play his basketball and develope his skills.
June 3, 2016
True Legend by Mike Lupica is a page turning sports novel about a standout high school basketball player named Drew Robinson. Drew moved from the Bronx to Los Angeles and immediately became the star basketball player at his new high school, Oakley Academy. Drew always hits up a park where he always sees a man there that becomes his role model, named “Urban Sellers.” Drew overcomes adversity and everyday challenges in this high suspense novel written by a staff member at ESPN with lots of sports knowledge in Mike Lupica. Lupica does a great job writing this book in third person by showing Drew’s emotion and providing great commentary while Drew and his team are competing in games. This book relates a lot to Glenbrook North because about 10 years ago, we had a basketball player named Jon Scheyer who is basically a legend now. Jon and Drew both show similar characteristics on the court and watching Jon in the past helped understand how Drew played. Even though I am very high on this book, I feel that there are some points where lines by Drew can be very “cheesy” and unrealistic. Some lines that Lupica made Drew said gave the sense that Drew was 10 years old when he’s actually 16. However, the suspense and drama of the story really made this book worth reading. This book is a good fit for people who love to read about good athletes and sports and for people who have watched stars shine on the court or field.
March 9, 2015
True Legend is one of the greatest books that I have read where the author ties in a good theme within the main plot which was basketball. This of course could have only been done by one great author: Mike Lupica.
The main character in this book is star basketball player, Drew Robinson. He is given the nickname "True" by his teammates because of his unbelievable basketball talent. He is one of those typical basketball players though. He gets a big head and starts to think he is invincible. He starts down the wrong path that leads him to trouble. His mom is upset and tries to lead him back down the right path but Drew won't listen to her. A common place where Drew likes to practice and get his mind off of things is Morrison Park. One night Drew had just gotten to the courts when he saw someone he had never seen before. He wasn't up to talk to the person so he sat and watched for a while and then went home. He tries to find out who the person is and is unsuccessful at first until they finally have a face to face conversation. To find out what happens after this confrontation, read the book because I know you will enjoy it. Overall it was one of my favorite basketball books I have read because it was more than just about basketball. It was about doing the right thing and being a good person.
The main character in this book is star basketball player, Drew Robinson. He is given the nickname "True" by his teammates because of his unbelievable basketball talent. He is one of those typical basketball players though. He gets a big head and starts to think he is invincible. He starts down the wrong path that leads him to trouble. His mom is upset and tries to lead him back down the right path but Drew won't listen to her. A common place where Drew likes to practice and get his mind off of things is Morrison Park. One night Drew had just gotten to the courts when he saw someone he had never seen before. He wasn't up to talk to the person so he sat and watched for a while and then went home. He tries to find out who the person is and is unsuccessful at first until they finally have a face to face conversation. To find out what happens after this confrontation, read the book because I know you will enjoy it. Overall it was one of my favorite basketball books I have read because it was more than just about basketball. It was about doing the right thing and being a good person.
January 13, 2016
True Legend was a great read that I definitely enjoyed. Drew, the main character really made the book very interesting along with Legend. I'm positive that this was one of the better books that I've read as I really blasted through it and understood it at the same time.
"In that moment, Drew imagined that Legend really could fly" (Lupica, 292).
This quote is really the culmination of Drew realizing what it means to be true to not only others but himself. This quote applies to both Drew and Urban, the washed up basketball player who let the fame get to him. They both are very similar people who had to deal with the same situations. Drew was being tempted into partying and made a mistake of driving without his license. Both legend and Drew had the same issues to deal with and because of this, their points of view were able to notice each other's issues and that helped both of them to become better people.
This book was as I said earlier, very good and was written very well. I'd tell anyone to read this book because of how good it was. Of course with all sports books, they appeal to anyone who likes them. Especially anybody who likes basketball. Overall, I loved this book and I'm sure many others have and will too.
"In that moment, Drew imagined that Legend really could fly" (Lupica, 292).
This quote is really the culmination of Drew realizing what it means to be true to not only others but himself. This quote applies to both Drew and Urban, the washed up basketball player who let the fame get to him. They both are very similar people who had to deal with the same situations. Drew was being tempted into partying and made a mistake of driving without his license. Both legend and Drew had the same issues to deal with and because of this, their points of view were able to notice each other's issues and that helped both of them to become better people.
This book was as I said earlier, very good and was written very well. I'd tell anyone to read this book because of how good it was. Of course with all sports books, they appeal to anyone who likes them. Especially anybody who likes basketball. Overall, I loved this book and I'm sure many others have and will too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2017
This book is perfect for all readers who are into sports or are looking for a good book about hard work, determination, and practice. It was a very good book to read as coming from someone who loves basketball. This book is written by Mike Lupica, a famous American newspaper columnist who has written multiple stories about sports alike. If you like this book, make sure you check out his others. The only cons I had with this book was it was surprisingly long and sometimes boring, but not often. Other than that, I give it a 4 out of 5 stars!
Drew "True" Robinson was at the top of his game in his high school basketball team, and wishes to join the NBA in the near future. He thought he had a solid chance at going to the NBA that he thinks it'll be a piece of cake. However, when a mysterious man, face covered by a hood, appears out of nowhere and shows his skills against Drew in a one-on-one match-which he believed it was a homeless guy-and wins the match, he realizes as he progresses through his high school life that getting to the NBA isn't going to be a stroll in the park
This book was filled with a good story line and favorite characters. This book is definitely not one you should miss
Drew "True" Robinson was at the top of his game in his high school basketball team, and wishes to join the NBA in the near future. He thought he had a solid chance at going to the NBA that he thinks it'll be a piece of cake. However, when a mysterious man, face covered by a hood, appears out of nowhere and shows his skills against Drew in a one-on-one match-which he believed it was a homeless guy-and wins the match, he realizes as he progresses through his high school life that getting to the NBA isn't going to be a stroll in the park
This book was filled with a good story line and favorite characters. This book is definitely not one you should miss
November 27, 2017
Personal Response
I thought True Legend was a very good book. I liked how the characters were described and how they developed throughout the book. Mike Lupica is a very good author which made me want to keep reading on.
Plot Summary
Drew ¨True¨ Robinson is the best high school basketball player in the United States. He gets anything he wants, but he does not like that all the time. He wants to be an independent, regular high school student. He meets an old man at Morrison Park one night playing basketball known as Urban Donald Sellers, which he used to be a pretty good basketball player in his time. Urban Sellers mentors Drew into becoming a better human being and a better ball player. Drew meets a girl named Callie Mason, who he really likes. They do not hit it off to well at first, but then after a while they start dating. Drew gets suspended for three games and figures out what the team means to him and does not want to sit out anymore games. Drew figured out the meaning of his life by the end of the story.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to ages 12-16. If you like sports and character development, you would like this book a lot. I would recommend the author Mike Lupica. He makes very good books about sports that are very fun and interesting to read.
I thought True Legend was a very good book. I liked how the characters were described and how they developed throughout the book. Mike Lupica is a very good author which made me want to keep reading on.
Plot Summary
Drew ¨True¨ Robinson is the best high school basketball player in the United States. He gets anything he wants, but he does not like that all the time. He wants to be an independent, regular high school student. He meets an old man at Morrison Park one night playing basketball known as Urban Donald Sellers, which he used to be a pretty good basketball player in his time. Urban Sellers mentors Drew into becoming a better human being and a better ball player. Drew meets a girl named Callie Mason, who he really likes. They do not hit it off to well at first, but then after a while they start dating. Drew gets suspended for three games and figures out what the team means to him and does not want to sit out anymore games. Drew figured out the meaning of his life by the end of the story.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to ages 12-16. If you like sports and character development, you would like this book a lot. I would recommend the author Mike Lupica. He makes very good books about sports that are very fun and interesting to read.
April 1, 2015
A superstar basketball player in high school, Drew was crowned to be the next greatest thing since basketball genius Stephen Curry. Drew was cruising right along, taking all of the glamour and the benefits of the life he was living, even though he wasn't supposed to receive any. This all changed when he met Urban “Legend” Sellers, who like Robinson was on his way to becoming the next greatest thing when he was in high school. However, he slacked off in high school, didn’t work and didn’t even pass high school. Everybody forgot of him, and he eventually “died” according to reports from multiple newspapers. Sellers didn’t even bother telling the world he was still alive; he thought himself as dead as well. However, he started to eventually play ball, work and start school again. Sellers was able to recognize that Drew was going to go on the same path the same way he was performing in school, and was able to mentor him not only to become a better basketball player, but also a great person and role model in life as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2017
I gave this book a five out of five stars. This book takes the view point of a junior in high school basketball star. He is on his way to college basketball. Even the NBA. But all he cares about is basketball. He does not put his full potential into school like he does in basketball. Throughout this book, he gets a reality check that life is bigger than basketball. He meets a "playground legend". This legend used to be like him. An amazing high school basketball player that has a future in the professionals. However, an injury and life gets in the way, and now of his goals come true. True Robinson learns that life is bigger than basketball. Life is made for giving back to people, and not being selfish.
I recommend this book to basketball players and fans. I recommend this book to high school athletes who are good enough to play at the college or professional level. This book provides an eye-opener that life is bigger than a game or sport. However, sports is a great platform to do some great things for other people and communities.
I recommend this book to basketball players and fans. I recommend this book to high school athletes who are good enough to play at the college or professional level. This book provides an eye-opener that life is bigger than a game or sport. However, sports is a great platform to do some great things for other people and communities.
October 14, 2019
The number one player in the U.S.A got benched! There are two major settings in “True legend” by Mike Lupica, is Morrison park without lights that not many people go there but drew, and the second major setting is the Oakley gym. The main character is Drew Robinson, Drew is the number one player in the country and the main character of the story. The Conflict is that he got benched even though he is good but he just didn’t do one thing not pass often. One signpost the author uses is words of the wiser because when Drew gets benched and is struggling and a man named urban aka ghost man because no one knows who he is. The Quote where the author uses words of wiser “ Instead he looked at Drew and said, You should've passed. He telling him that he should have passed because they would have won. I like this book because I’m a basketball player so it interests me. I think it is a great book for an eighth-grader to read if they like sports or just basketball. I would recommend this book to my friends because they like sports so they will enjoy this.
December 15, 2017
The book "True Legend" by Mike Lupica was probably the best book I've read this year. It was about a high school kid that plays basketball and that's kind of where I'm at right now. Basketball is my passion and it was fun reading a story about it. My favorite character in the book was Legend. He's an older guy that ends up becoming friends with the main character, Drew. He's just strait up bad a**. "He bounced the ball to himself, high as he could, elevated, caught the ball as he started to come down. Only he didn't throw it down right away. Instead he tucked it into his belly like he was a running back in football, somehow stayed in the air as he went underneath the iron, THEN reverse-slammed it home.
TEN, Drew thought.
Perfect dag-gone ten."
This was also my favorite quote from the book. This is how good I want to be someday. Double clutch reverse slamming the dang ball like Kobe. Type this into the search bar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P-Sw...
Perfect dag-gone ten.
TEN, Drew thought.
Perfect dag-gone ten."
This was also my favorite quote from the book. This is how good I want to be someday. Double clutch reverse slamming the dang ball like Kobe. Type this into the search bar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P-Sw...
Perfect dag-gone ten.
March 3, 2017
True Legend is about a Highschool basketball player who is really good at the game, in fact, he is one of the best in the country if not the world. But there is one problem, "True" Robinson (the bball player) grades are slipping which could hinder his chances of going to college, or even make it to the NBA. Until, he meets an old basketball player that faked his own death to go undercover and live his own life, his name is Urban Sellers, he is very wise and doesn't like True Robinson, and tells him to shape up. Does he bring his grades up and possibly one of the best college players, or NBA player? Or does he fail out and not go to college. See now if you read True Legend. (Had to end there for spoilers)
I recommend this book to people who like sports and suspense.
I recommend this book to people who like sports and suspense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews