The Trophy

by Dean Hughes

This powerful middle-grade novel about a young basketball hopeful and his alcoholic father is sports fiction at its unforgettable best. Danny, ten, dreams of being a basketball star. He takes the game seriously, practicing and playing as much as he can. He also dreams of the day when his father, a mechanic with endless stories of his own high school basketball stardom, will acknowledge Danny's hard work with some words of love and praise. But it never happens. Though Danny's efforts finally pay off and he becomes a skilled player, his struggle to win his father's love seems hopeless...Here is a heart-felt book about sports, alcoholism, and hard-won family love that delivers an encouraging message and packs a tremendous emotional punch.    

135 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Dean Hughes is the author of more than eighty books for young readers, including the popular sports series Angel Park All-Stars, the Scrappers series, the Nutty series, the widely acclaimed companion novels Family Pose and Team Picture, and Search and Destroy. Soldier Boys was selected for the 2001 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list. Dean Hughes and his wife, Kathleen, have three children and six grandchildren. They live in Midway, Utah.

Reviews

[Matthew Pirrello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it kind of represents my life. Danny is in 5th grade and he is playing on a 6th grade team. He had to have his friend Alan teach him the basics and thats how I learned, except it was my dad and brother. Danny and Alan go on and win the championship just like his dad.