Wish I Was a Baller

by Amar Shah, Rashad Doucet (illustrator)

BALLER is part NEW KID, part THE TRYOUT, and part DRAGON HOOPS

Amar Shah has some story to tell! In 1995, he was a fourteen-year-old aspiring sports journalist (and basketball superfan) angling to get into an Orlando Magic team practice. He did, and it took him on the ride of his life!



WISH I WAS A BALLER is a graphic memoir chronicling Amar's real-life experiences as a fourteen-year-old sports journalist covering the golden era of the NBA, when he befriended Shaq and hung out with Michael Jordan and the Bulls-all while surviving the high school caste system, dealing with crushes, and friendships being tainted by jealousy.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Sports, Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Comics

304 pages, Hardcover

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Suzy Tkacik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is nearly too good to be true—and yet the entire story is based on the author’s extraordinary experiences meeting, interviewing and getting to know some of the greatest professional basketball icons as a school journalist. Amar Shah writes a thoughtful and gripping memoir full of action and angst and awe, and Rashad Doucet illustrates with heart and personality. I loved every cell and speech bubble of this book and couldn’t wait to get to the conclusion. Middle grade readers are sure to find this story nothing but net!

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story of grit and perseverance that will show kids that their dreams can come true if they work hard and never give up on them. This memoir has so many elements kids will love - sports, journalism, friendship issues, bullying, crushes, some crazy cool opportunities (and some occasional good luck) and persistence in the face of obstacles in order to achieve a dream. Plus, the vivid illustrations are incredible, and truly bring the story to life!

[Katelyn Bocarro]

What a fun story to read! Thank you to Amar for the ARC of his upcoming graphic memoir. Living in Orlando, it was fun to read about the places and people around me in 1995/1996. Amar recounts his early high school experience with journalism, and shows that persistence and hard work can lead to great things… like becoming friends with Shaq!

I look forward to the final version of this book with full color, the art style shown in the ARC is very fun to look at. I know this is going to be a popular graphic novel in my middle school library next year!

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As kids we tend to focus on what we see as the worst aspect of ourselves. Amar Shah is not the typical exception. He had his frustrations with height and fickle friends, yet his love for sports journalism was his driving focus. That love enabled him to meet some of the 1990s NBA all-stars! Imagine being friends with Shaquille O’Neal! Shah interviewed Shaq, Kobe, and many others while enduring bullying and deceit at school. This graphic novel is a perfectly poised memoir to remind teens to stay focused on their goals and the positives in order to survive and thrive!

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, it would never have occurred to me as a kid (or honestly, as an adult) to even try to do the things Amar Shah walked into already confident. I have a lot of respect for anyone who can pull that off. His childhood experiences interacting with the amazing basketball players of the 90s is nostalgic and fun for me!

[Crissi Brandhuber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I met Amar at our state librarian conference last year when he was showing his ARC copy and then again this year when it was published. I bought my personal copy and had him autograph it. A week later, I got a copy in the mail to preview for our nonfiction committee. This book hits all the marks as an autobiographical graphic novel. Some of the content today’s readers may not appreciate like a fax machine and a pager, but those of us that grew up in the 90’s are reminiscent of those days thanks to this walk down memory lane. I love the author’s note at the end and of course, the photos in the back add to its true beauty. I will be adding this one to my library, my book club list and a top contender to my nonfiction selection! BTW, I got to meet Shaq and Penny at a Magic game in the 90’s, too!

[TJ Price-O'Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved buddy reading this with my son, who is a lover of all things basketball!

[Emily Deibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this graphic novel memoir Amar Shah with illustrations by Rashad Doucet — perfect for all the basketball-loving tweens in your life! 🏀 Seriously, this book made me wish I was a baller like teen Amar was when he was in high school. This was a great story about perseverance, chasing your dreams, meeting your heroes, and never giving up! Plus the artwork by Rashad totally captured the energy and vibes of the story.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lower YA graphic memoir perfect for fans of Dragon Hoops!
🏀
It’s 1995 and Amar Shah is an aspiring sports journalist wrapping up his freshman year in high school. As he heads into sophomore year, he has big goals for himself: impress the sports editor with great pitches and articles, ask out fellow journalist, Kasey, and continue to hoop with his boys. What he gets goes beyond his wildest dreams when a press pass to the Orlando Magic gets Amar in the same room as Shaquille O’Neal. From there Amar is shot into journalism fame, which causes issues with his writing team, his friends and his crush.
👨🏽‍💻
This was so nostalgic for me as someone who also grew up in the ‘90s! “I Wish” by Skee-Lo was on repeat so as soon as I saw this ARC I had to read it immediately. I also just visited Orlando for the first time ever and could definitely relate to the setting as well. This graphic novel touched on lots of topics our tweens and teens need to see in books from racism to correcting mistakes to falling down and getting back up again to first crushes and heartbreak. I adored this title and can’t wait for it to release in full color on August 5 from Graphix!

CW: racism, racial slurs, bullying, medical content

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was lucky to be an early reader, and can't wait for this one to hit shelves—kids are going to love it! It's a relatable read for anyone, sports-obsessed or otherwise, and a testament to going after your dreams even when it's hard. A really charming, well-crafted, and FUN story, with art that's absolutely perfect for the setting and subject matter.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action-packed coming-of-age sports story that will prompt young readers to ask themselves, what if I push everyone else's expectations to the side and go after my dream? Amar Shah's incredible memoir with art by Rashad Doucet is such a fun and empowering example of what can happen when you combine your own unique creativity with a tenacious hustle to make your own path. Amar's career in journalism started when the Chicago Bulls were practicing in his Orlando gymnasium and he missed a geometry test to get insulted by Phil Jackson. That may be the most 90s sentence I've ever typed! Now that he has a taste for reporting, Amar goes after press credentials for the Orlando Magic and is denied. And tries again. And again. And again. Until it works. Then Amar is in the press room with the grown-up reporters. And then the locker room with the players. And then he is interviewing Shaquille O'Neal like they've known each other for decades. The hustle jumps off the page as you watch this teen's perseverance, hard work, extreme pluck, and a little luck make you think he can do anything that he puts his mind to. I loved that this memoir felt like a real kid making things happen even when the Nos pile up. And not with any toxic positivity or adults solving all of his problems. Amar is making it happen while dealing with on-the-page racism, serious grades expectations from his parents, major crush drama, a kid editor who wavers between making believe he doesn't exist and making his life miserable, and so many of the petty realities of school. In the author's note, Amar says this isn't Shaq's story, which I get, but it also is - how great for kids to read about a sports super star who is also a good friend, community member, and mentor. Rashad Doucet's art is the perfect medium for this story, with everything from the basketball action, to emotional teen close-ups, to the school scenes feeling immediate and meaningful. The color palette, shapes, and action lines made me feel like I'd stepped into a 90s basketball movie. The writing plus art create such an immersive world for today's young readers to experience. All sports press offices should be on notice August 5 - they're going to be fielding A LOT of kid requests for press credentials. Highly recommend!! This book needs to be in every public, school, and classroom library for upper elementary and middle grade students.


ARC read. Review to follow. Everyone 4-6th grader is going to want this book this summer!!!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this graphic novel memoir, sports journalist Amar Shah details his interesting path into the profession. Early in his 1990s high school career in Orlando Florida, he set out to get a press pass so that he could interview players like Michael Jordan. It took a lot of determination, as well as a good dose of luck. Entering the school gym on a forged pass, he interacts with a coach in a funny way, and is interviewed for a radio program. After months of calling, he finally gets a press pass for the Orlando Magic, and interviews Shaquille O'Neal at length. Shaq is incredibly nice to him, and the two interact on several occasions, with the basketball player even taking Amar home after a Christmas event, buying him a jersey and shoes, and graciously taking pictures with the family! Amar also calls different magazines about writing for them, and gets a gig with SLAM magazine. The other students at his school aren't tremendously helpful, and some are unkind, but he does have two good friends, Kasey and Sophia, who help him out. He continues to work for the school newspaper, and to write for SLAM, and even ends up on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids in a photo with Shaq, and his article is featured. He gets in trouble for bringing friends to his SLAM writing assignments, and is put on probation for unprofessional behavior, but this doesn't stop him from continuing his career. A note at the end of the book details Shah's successful career with ESPN and other news outlets before he ended up working for the Orlando Magic back in his hometown.
Strengths: There are very few graphic novels about basketball, and I could probably check out twenty different titles every single day. If they existed. The publishing world seems to dislike sports books in general and sports graphic novels in particular, which I do not understand. Shah wrote the fun Hoop Con, and its sequel, Take the Shot; it must be noted that Scholastic published these only in paperback. This is a great story about loving basketball and wanting to be involved in it professionally, then actually doing the work and having the persistence to make it happen! There's a lot going on in this book, and it will definitely keep readers flipping the pages. It would be fantastic if more sports journalists would follow in the footsteps of John Feinstein and Fred Bowen and write middle grade sports books. If you are having a Scholastic book fair, you will want to make sure you have an entire box of this title on hand.
Weaknesses: Every single time I put this up on display, I will be irritated by the lack of the subjunctive in the title. Wish I WERE. Even though I'm glad to see a sports graphic novel, I wish that Shah's editor had left this as a memoir. There are a lot of characters and events that are mentioned briefly and never appear again, because the graphic format doesn't leave much room for elaboration. Shah's story is an interesting one, and I would have loved to know more of the details.
What I really think: This is much more accessible than Yang's Dragon Hoops, and will be an absolute hit with my students who love basketball. Add this to the small handful of basketball graphic novels like Tavares' Hoops, Khan and Zerrougui's We Are Big Time, Misako Rock's Bounce Back, and Dawson's Fifth Quarter. I can't wait to see what Shah will write next, but do kind of hope it isn't as concerned with celebrity, even though I sort of want to go back and rewatch Shaq's Big Challenge, which I actually watched with my children back in 2007!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic novels and books with sports at the forefront are hugely popular in middle school libraries so when the two are put together, it’s sure to be a widely circulated title. Real-life journalist Amar Shah gives readers a look at his pivotal sophomore year in high school when a love of sports and his first experience with journalism began to come together and give him a vision for his future.

Amar’s story is filled with many friends, family, and classmates who don’t fit into either of those categories and readers will visit the 1990s when Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal reigned on the basketball court and digital cameras, home computers, video cameras and some of the first graphing calculators were the highest points in technology development. He’s not the tallest of his peers, or the one with the best grades, or the most popular, but he does have drive, determination and passion for what he is interested in and with those character traits, some lucky breaks and a media pass, Amar forms a relationship with Shaq and his career takes off. Unfortunately, along with this fantastic experience come a cruel prank and some disappointments in the dating/girlfriend part of life. Certainly there will be a lot to draw readers’ attention but some will find all the characters difficult to keep straight and may be confused about what some of the Indian celebrations and festivals are all about unless they are a part of their heritage.

All in all, this is a solid choice for libraries with high circulation in graphic novels and/or sports-themed titles and with the absence of profanity, sexual content and violence will fit at upper elementary and middle school libraries in even with the age of the main characters being 10th grade. The dating thread is very low-key and focuses mostly on a homecoming dance and shared interests with no physical expressions of affection, “car dates” or other more high school activities. Representation: Indian, specifically Gujarati, culture is a major part of Amar’s life, Black professional athletes are featured, and there is diversity in the school’s student body in race, interests, body shapes and economic strata.

Thanks for sharing your book with me, Amar Shah.

[Olivia]

See my full review here: https://yabookscentral.com/wish-i-was...

WISH I WAS A BALLER is an engaging middle grade graphic novel that begins with sneaking into an NBA basketball practice and continues into the challenges of social hierarchies, crushes, and finding your path. Amar loves basketball, and finding a way into the NBA practice in the school gym leads him to a journalist pass. When a question and some banter with the coach puts him the limelight, Amar begins to find doors opening up - but his risk-taking won't always pay off.

What I loved: This is actually a memoir, and the end of the book includes some of the actual photos and information about this seemingly wild journey. The story felt very relatable with a middle school boy trying to find his place and share his love of basketball. His sneaking leads to bigger things, which begins to change his life in new ways (like being on the cover of a magazine!), but at the end of the day, he'll have to decide what happens most and deal with the ups and downs of school and his social life.

The book is really well done with the story primarily being told through images. The characters and details are really emotive and give plenty to explore on each page with judicious use of speech and narrative bubbles. The writing was never overwhelming on a page, and this helps the reader to move quickly through the book. Considering the content and some of the struggles faced (eg, bullying and crushes), this would work best for older middle grade and young YA readers.

Final verdict: WISH I WAS A BALLER is an engaging middle grade graphic novel that tells an interesting story of one kid's rise to fame and journalism with a love of basketball.

Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade/YA graphic memoir. Shah has an incredible story: as a teenager, he got incredible access to the Orlando Magic and specificallly Shaq as an ambitious young reporter. I genuinely would call this unbelievable if it were fiction, but it's documented fact. Shah does an excellent job of recounting his fortunes and his downfall. It's amazing how many people were very generous with their time to help this young kid, and although he doesn't say it in so many words, it's clear Shah is giving them most of the credit for his start as a sportswriter. It's also very clear that his persistance was the best thing he brought to the table. His major screw up is completely understandable from a kid his age, but it's also good to see him held accountable for his actions. It's a strong message without being preachy. The writing is often funny and a breeze to get through. I do wish the character art had been a little less juvenile looking. It's a challenge to remember that Amar and his friends are high school sophomores, 15-16, with these character designs. They look like middle schoolers.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a neat graphic memoir about Shah's time alongside NBA superstars as an interviewer/reporter/journalist. And it shows that even with the high impact celebrity side of the sports world he was trying to break in to, it doesn't help the situation of straight-up high school drama like navigating relationships and learning how to grow up.

I had the galley copy so it wasn't full-color from beginning to end but the bright illustrations and expressive characters will make it a draw for kids who love sports or the graphic novel format. Even cooler is the magazine for Sports Illustrated Kids which included him on the cover with Shaq in 1996-- this goofy Indian American kid who got in with the NBA crowd because he was interested in sports journalism.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have discovered that I really love graphic novel memoirs! It is really neat to hear about a person's growing up experiences through this format.

This is the type of story that you would think would be fiction, but actually really happened (and there's photos in the back to prove it!). It was really fun to see a young character being brave and bold and having opportunities to meet and interview famous 90s NBA players. Along with all these big events he was also experiencing a lot of the universal young teen things.

While I didn't think the narrative flowed quite as well in this book as other graphic memoirs I've loved, it was still a fun story! The art style fit the feel of the story really well too.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was invested in the sports and journalism elements. The story is wild and fascinating. I was less engaged in all of the side characters. The bullying and relationships with other kids felt surface and like they had no meat. Which is odd because two of the friends are still close with the author so I would expect more depth there.

That, perhaps, might have also been due to the cartoonish art. The characters looked like they were in elementary school and when the author told another character he was 15 late in the book, I was shocked. The illustrations detracted from the story and since the character faces were flat and generic, devoid of emotion. I did like the bright coloring.

[Dan Ingevaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't stop smiling the entire read! What fun, engaging and sweet story that all elementary or middle school sports-lovers would enjoy. I even bought it for a few kids I know would love it.

What makes the book special is how it mixes these amazing NBA moments with the everyday ups and downs of middle school—dealing with friends, crushes, and figuring out who you are. The colorful artwork brings the story to life, and the real photos at the end make it even cooler to know it all really happened.

A must read and deserving of all the acclaim it's receiving!

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I think this graphic memoir needed a bit more structure. It seemed a bit jumpy and some ideas are briefly mentioned but then dropped from the story. While the illustrations are fun, the characters look like they’re elementary school kids instead of high schoolers. Also the slang didn’t ring 90s for me.

I do, however, appreciate that it celebrates ambition, drive, and grit. Looking forward to see what middle school patrons think about this memoir.

[Eliza · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked this book at the beginning but in the middle, something disgusting happened. They were cutting euthanised cats, are we getting books that teach our kids/younger family members to abuse and butcher cats? And when one of the girls said it was wrong, she was dismissed and the boys laughed at her. This is stupid and inhumane, as an animal advocate, I will not support books that talk about this content lightly.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this memoir about an aspiring sports journalist during his early teenage years, though I grew up with the 90s NBA greats. Kids might not be familiar with some of the legends of their time who all played before Lebron James even set foot on the court. Amar’s passion for covering sports stories shines through the brightest here, while some of the relationship subplots could have been a little better explored.

[Jeff Wait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. Good for kids who aren't the tallest or most athletic, looking for an alternate way to be a part of the action. I wish this existed when I was a kid (and had dreams of working the basketball beat). Parts of it are self aggrandizing, but I think it does a good job promoting hard work, the importance of friends and family, and how sports unite us. I'm glad this book exists.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much 90’s nostalgia in this one. I wonder if teenagers would really get it if they don’t know some of these players. This story is kind of crazy that he was friends with Shaq as a 15 year old who had some gumption to get interview access. Hard work and determination for what he wanted-really cool to see. The flow of the book was a little disjointed at times but I enjoyed this one.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engrossing juvenile graphic non-fiction memoir about Amar Shah's high school experience and his break into sports journalism. The story is driven by Shah's love for sports and journalistic ambition, with interweaving threads about his social life at school--including bullying, crushes, and changing friendships-- and his family life.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amar Shah joins his private high school's journalism class hoping to write stories about sports, especially basketball. A surprising encounter with the coach of the Chicago Bulls opens doors that he jumps through with both feet. Amar's opportunity to report on the Orlando Magic and Shaquille O'Neill thrills him to no end but leads him to do some unwise things. And despite the remarkable things he got to see and experience (picture with Shaq on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids), he still deals with normal high school challenges. Jealousy from friends and colleagues, a crush, and the ups and downs of friendship all cause struggles for Amar. Cultural elements and celebrations give readers a glimpse into the world Amar lived in 1995. The author uses the back matter to explain which parts of the story are accurate and which parts were tweaked to make the story work as a book as well as include some photographs and other documentation of events. This book makes for a delightful read with interesting characters and some fascinating experiences. Many kids who dream of being a professional athlete will relate to Amar and his dreams and perhaps even be inspired to follow their dreams in other ways. The art turned out fantastic with the action moving forward crisply and facial expressions showing feelings in powerful ways. An overall winner of a book for young sports and writing fans.

[Jen Donnalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! It's not just a sports book, it's a book about life. It's about jumping in and going after what you want in life, and the hardships of what high school can be for many. What a wild story! Insane that it's true. Kids are going to LOVE this!!!
Thanks to Scholastic for this ARC.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our library can always use more sports books and this one is sure to be a slam dunk. I enjoyed reading Amar Shah’s graphic memoir. It is an inspiring story of friendship, family, and the hit and misses of being a kid.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5? I just didn't connect with this one. I know some kiddos will eat it, but it just didn't work for me. Parts felt really disconnected. Points for including the "proof" at the end with pictures and what not - sometimes real life IS stranger than fiction.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this graphic novel memoir, sports journalist Shah tells the story of his first big break when he worked for his high school newspaper. He managed to get a press pass to the Orlando Magic and met Shaquille O’Neal and famously is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids with Shaq.