What do you think?
Rate this book
Shook
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26Shake's dream of making the varsity basketball team is in peril when he gets injured. Can he rebound and make his way back onto the court—and back to feeling like himself? For fans of Kwame Alexander and Jason Reynolds.
Malik Page—though unless you're his mama, call him "Shake"—dreams of making the Marshall Grove varsity basketball squad as an eighth grader. Then he'll be on his way to joining the ranks of Chicago legends like his pops and late Uncle Kenny. But when Shake fractures his ankle in a championship game, he's sidelined for the first time since his first dribble.
As his world is turned upside down, Shake feels like there’s ginger ale bubbling in his chest and sweat slicking on his palms. With a best friend who’s getting more distant by the day, a growing silence between him and his dad, and varsity tryouts fast approaching, Shake will have to cross up every obstacle to find a way back onto the court—and back to being himself. Thankfully in Marshall Grove, the sky is always full of hope.
Malik Page—though unless you're his mama, call him "Shake"—dreams of making the Marshall Grove varsity basketball squad as an eighth grader. Then he'll be on his way to joining the ranks of Chicago legends like his pops and late Uncle Kenny. But when Shake fractures his ankle in a championship game, he's sidelined for the first time since his first dribble.
As his world is turned upside down, Shake feels like there’s ginger ale bubbling in his chest and sweat slicking on his palms. With a best friend who’s getting more distant by the day, a growing silence between him and his dad, and varsity tryouts fast approaching, Shake will have to cross up every obstacle to find a way back onto the court—and back to being himself. Thankfully in Marshall Grove, the sky is always full of hope.
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 4, 2026
About the author
Julian Randall
11 books80 followersJulian Randall is a Living Queer Black author from Chicago. He has received fellowships from Cave Canem, CantoMundo, Callaloo, and the Watering Hole. Julian is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and the winner of the 2019 Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award from the Publishing Triangle.
His writing has been published in New York Times Magazine, Ploughshares, and POETRY, and anthologized in Black Boy Joy (which debuted at #1 on the NYT Best Seller list), Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, and Furious Flower. Julian has essays in The Atlantic, Vibe Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books and other venues. They hold an MFA in poetry from University of Mississippi.
Julian is the author of five books across three genres. For adults Refuse (Pitt, 2018), winner of the 2017 Cave Canem Poetry Prize and a finalist for a 2019 NAACP Image Award and the forthcoming The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi and Black TV Nerd Shit (Bold Type Books, May 2024). For younger readers: the Pilar Ramirez duology and the forthcoming middle grade novel The Chainbreakers (all from Holt Books for Young Readers).
His writing has been published in New York Times Magazine, Ploughshares, and POETRY, and anthologized in Black Boy Joy (which debuted at #1 on the NYT Best Seller list), Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, and Furious Flower. Julian has essays in The Atlantic, Vibe Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books and other venues. They hold an MFA in poetry from University of Mississippi.
Julian is the author of five books across three genres. For adults Refuse (Pitt, 2018), winner of the 2017 Cave Canem Poetry Prize and a finalist for a 2019 NAACP Image Award and the forthcoming The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi and Black TV Nerd Shit (Bold Type Books, May 2024). For younger readers: the Pilar Ramirez duology and the forthcoming middle grade novel The Chainbreakers (all from Holt Books for Young Readers).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wonderful novel-in-verse (NIV) by Julian Randall, author of several teen reads, middle grade Pilar Ramirez series and poems included in Black Boy Joy and YA anthology Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, with several focal points-basketball, anxiety/panic attacks, and recovery from an injury.
Malik/Shake has lived and breathed basketball for as long as he can remember. His father and uncle excelled at the sport which has led to Malik seeking to match their achievements and hopefully surpass them. Next on the lofty list of goals, his youth team must win the league championship, then he must make the varsity basketball team as an 8th grade just as they did. Further down the line, Chicagoan Malik intends to play for the Bulls and buy his mom a house. The pressure is on and despite his parents’ steady support and solid friendships to buoy up his spirits, when his ankle is broken as he lands from making the winning shot for the championship, panic and depression set in, complicating his recovery and making his varsity goal a virtual impossibility.
Randall’s poetry is outstanding and includes print variation, little doodles around, on and beside words and phrases, plus vocabulary that conveys the depth of all Malik’s emotions as well as those of his father, mother and best friend Kyla. Malik’s early anxious feelings begin small as they do for many and his injury becomes a catalyst for onset of full-fledged panic attacks which are creatively and clearly described giving those who are also living with anxiety a clear connection to the main character and maybe providing those who do not struggle with debilitating anxiety a more clear look at how it affects those who do. Strong family groups are represented with adult supporting characters running the gamut of supportive to downright disrespectful. Malik’s therapist is a Black man who truly makes a difference in Malik’s understanding of his disorder and provides valuable tools as he handles the buzzing wasps in his brain. Friendships are an important aspect of Shook and while mistakes are made by Malik’s teammates and between Malik and Kyla, all of them are resolved in reasonable ways, providing advice to readers in a way that is not heavy-handed nor pedantic. Some readers may be a bit put off by the African American Vernacular English spoken by the book’s characters but in the case of a few lesser known words such as “finna,” used like many would use going to/gonna/fixing to, there is explanation and the subject/verb usage that is not classic English grammar should be expected from characters who have lived their lives in inner city areas.
Recommended for libraries serving grades 5-8, especially ones seeking to add to their “sporty” books, those with high circulation numbers in the NIV genre, as well as collections needing more representation of anxiety/panic disorders.
*Target age: grades 5-8
*Violence: none
*Sexual content: none
*Representation: The majority of characters are Black but few outside Malik’s teammates and family are described using skin tone or ethnic/racial backgrounds; Malik, his father and uncle suffer(ed) from anxiety issues; Kyla, Malik’s long time best friend, begins to recognize that she identifies as she/her/they and battles revealing her realization to family and friends
*LBGTQ+: As mentioned, Kyla has begun to identify as she/her/they and has joined a group of queer friends whose acceptance of her is helping her slowly come out to others. Overall, her identity is fairly minor but her reluctance to share with Malik and his self-focus on healing physically and emotionally takes a toil on their friendship which is much more significant.
Thanks for sharing a print arc with me, Henry Holt and Co.
Malik/Shake has lived and breathed basketball for as long as he can remember. His father and uncle excelled at the sport which has led to Malik seeking to match their achievements and hopefully surpass them. Next on the lofty list of goals, his youth team must win the league championship, then he must make the varsity basketball team as an 8th grade just as they did. Further down the line, Chicagoan Malik intends to play for the Bulls and buy his mom a house. The pressure is on and despite his parents’ steady support and solid friendships to buoy up his spirits, when his ankle is broken as he lands from making the winning shot for the championship, panic and depression set in, complicating his recovery and making his varsity goal a virtual impossibility.
Randall’s poetry is outstanding and includes print variation, little doodles around, on and beside words and phrases, plus vocabulary that conveys the depth of all Malik’s emotions as well as those of his father, mother and best friend Kyla. Malik’s early anxious feelings begin small as they do for many and his injury becomes a catalyst for onset of full-fledged panic attacks which are creatively and clearly described giving those who are also living with anxiety a clear connection to the main character and maybe providing those who do not struggle with debilitating anxiety a more clear look at how it affects those who do. Strong family groups are represented with adult supporting characters running the gamut of supportive to downright disrespectful. Malik’s therapist is a Black man who truly makes a difference in Malik’s understanding of his disorder and provides valuable tools as he handles the buzzing wasps in his brain. Friendships are an important aspect of Shook and while mistakes are made by Malik’s teammates and between Malik and Kyla, all of them are resolved in reasonable ways, providing advice to readers in a way that is not heavy-handed nor pedantic. Some readers may be a bit put off by the African American Vernacular English spoken by the book’s characters but in the case of a few lesser known words such as “finna,” used like many would use going to/gonna/fixing to, there is explanation and the subject/verb usage that is not classic English grammar should be expected from characters who have lived their lives in inner city areas.
Recommended for libraries serving grades 5-8, especially ones seeking to add to their “sporty” books, those with high circulation numbers in the NIV genre, as well as collections needing more representation of anxiety/panic disorders.
*Target age: grades 5-8
*Violence: none
*Sexual content: none
*Representation: The majority of characters are Black but few outside Malik’s teammates and family are described using skin tone or ethnic/racial backgrounds; Malik, his father and uncle suffer(ed) from anxiety issues; Kyla, Malik’s long time best friend, begins to recognize that she identifies as she/her/they and battles revealing her realization to family and friends
*LBGTQ+: As mentioned, Kyla has begun to identify as she/her/they and has joined a group of queer friends whose acceptance of her is helping her slowly come out to others. Overall, her identity is fairly minor but her reluctance to share with Malik and his self-focus on healing physically and emotionally takes a toil on their friendship which is much more significant.
Thanks for sharing a print arc with me, Henry Holt and Co.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
In this novel in verse, Malik Page lives on the West Side of Chicago with his mother and father. He loves basketball and hopes to be a first pick for the NBA. His mother is an English teacher who has been tutoring ever since her school shut down, and his father is a coach who didn't quite go pro. He plays for the Home Grove team, and manages to win an important game, but falls and breaks his leg. His parents take him to a hospital on the North Side to get better medical attention, and Malik, whose father gave him the nickname "Shake", worries that the extra expense will be a problem for his family. He can't play for six weeks, and fears that even though he'll be ready for the next season, he won't be able to make varsity. He meets a friend of his uncle's who has gone on to be a physical therapist, and gives him some exercises to do. Shake struggles with his injury; it impacts his relationships with his friends, especially Kyla, and he starts to suffer from panic attacks. He gets angry with his teacher, Mr. Pasquale, who can never call him the correct name, and ends up being suspended after he fights with him. Shake's parents have him see a therapist, Kendrick, who helps him a lot and is generally pretty cool. He still has some panic attacks, but eventually makes up with Kyla, who was struggling with issues of her own. Shake finds out that his uncle and some other relatives also struggled with anxiety
Strengths: Having an injury in middle school and not being able to play the sport of one's choosing can be devastating for tweens, so this is an interesting premise for a book. Many of my own students think that they can have a career playing pro sports, so they will definitely root for Shake. I love that his family is intact (the parents are both alive!) and supportive of him, making sure that he gets needed therapy even though they are struggling financially. There is a decent amount of basketball in the story, and the Chicago Bulls are mentioned frequently. Readers who want to meet characters with anxiety disorders and panic attacks will be intrigued by how these impact Shake and his recuperation. It was nice to see Shake make a responsible decision about his participation in sports at the end of the book.
Weaknesses: It seemed a bit odd that Shake's mother wasn't able to find a job. I would think there is a teacher shortage is Chicago like there is everywhere else. Shake says at one point that "Nobody likes being in middle school, not even the teachers", but I certainly like being in middle school!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Reynold's Stuntboy, In the Meantime or the mix of mental health issues and sports in Stroman's The Grip. Comparisons will be made between this and Alexander's The Crossover, but this doesn't have the strong sense of poetry or the intriguing plot of that book.
In this novel in verse, Malik Page lives on the West Side of Chicago with his mother and father. He loves basketball and hopes to be a first pick for the NBA. His mother is an English teacher who has been tutoring ever since her school shut down, and his father is a coach who didn't quite go pro. He plays for the Home Grove team, and manages to win an important game, but falls and breaks his leg. His parents take him to a hospital on the North Side to get better medical attention, and Malik, whose father gave him the nickname "Shake", worries that the extra expense will be a problem for his family. He can't play for six weeks, and fears that even though he'll be ready for the next season, he won't be able to make varsity. He meets a friend of his uncle's who has gone on to be a physical therapist, and gives him some exercises to do. Shake struggles with his injury; it impacts his relationships with his friends, especially Kyla, and he starts to suffer from panic attacks. He gets angry with his teacher, Mr. Pasquale, who can never call him the correct name, and ends up being suspended after he fights with him. Shake's parents have him see a therapist, Kendrick, who helps him a lot and is generally pretty cool. He still has some panic attacks, but eventually makes up with Kyla, who was struggling with issues of her own. Shake finds out that his uncle and some other relatives also struggled with anxiety
Strengths: Having an injury in middle school and not being able to play the sport of one's choosing can be devastating for tweens, so this is an interesting premise for a book. Many of my own students think that they can have a career playing pro sports, so they will definitely root for Shake. I love that his family is intact (the parents are both alive!) and supportive of him, making sure that he gets needed therapy even though they are struggling financially. There is a decent amount of basketball in the story, and the Chicago Bulls are mentioned frequently. Readers who want to meet characters with anxiety disorders and panic attacks will be intrigued by how these impact Shake and his recuperation. It was nice to see Shake make a responsible decision about his participation in sports at the end of the book.
Weaknesses: It seemed a bit odd that Shake's mother wasn't able to find a job. I would think there is a teacher shortage is Chicago like there is everywhere else. Shake says at one point that "Nobody likes being in middle school, not even the teachers", but I certainly like being in middle school!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Reynold's Stuntboy, In the Meantime or the mix of mental health issues and sports in Stroman's The Grip. Comparisons will be made between this and Alexander's The Crossover, but this doesn't have the strong sense of poetry or the intriguing plot of that book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars
I loved this book, and I will be highly recommending it to my students and generally fans of MG verse novels.
Shake, who is known more formally as Malik, is in eighth grade, but he's very mature for his age in specific ways. Like his dad, he loves basketball. Also like his dad, he has intense aspirations in this area, and of course this comes with pressure, most notably from within. When Shake injures himself and has to sit out for a few weeks, he imagines his varsity dreams floating away. This, along with his parents' secrets, his awareness of financial challenges, and his changing relationships, all culminate in a big challenge for Shake: anxiety. That anxiety manifests in many different ways that are discussed in an age appropriate and realistic manner. So SO many readers will benefit from this aspect alone, though there is much more to love, too.
Shake is a wonderful character who is both flawed and genuine. His relationship with his parents is quite evolved for his age and also for the brevity of this novel. He also has some intriguing friendships and a burgeoning relationship with a mental health professional. I loved the ways in which each relationship was depicted, but that last one is particularly compelling.
This is my first experience with Randall's work, but I am going to be (1) enthusiastically recommending it and (2) looking for much more from this author. What a banger!
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Young Listeners, and Henry Holt and Co. for this alc and arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I loved this book, and I will be highly recommending it to my students and generally fans of MG verse novels.
Shake, who is known more formally as Malik, is in eighth grade, but he's very mature for his age in specific ways. Like his dad, he loves basketball. Also like his dad, he has intense aspirations in this area, and of course this comes with pressure, most notably from within. When Shake injures himself and has to sit out for a few weeks, he imagines his varsity dreams floating away. This, along with his parents' secrets, his awareness of financial challenges, and his changing relationships, all culminate in a big challenge for Shake: anxiety. That anxiety manifests in many different ways that are discussed in an age appropriate and realistic manner. So SO many readers will benefit from this aspect alone, though there is much more to love, too.
Shake is a wonderful character who is both flawed and genuine. His relationship with his parents is quite evolved for his age and also for the brevity of this novel. He also has some intriguing friendships and a burgeoning relationship with a mental health professional. I loved the ways in which each relationship was depicted, but that last one is particularly compelling.
This is my first experience with Randall's work, but I am going to be (1) enthusiastically recommending it and (2) looking for much more from this author. What a banger!
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Young Listeners, and Henry Holt and Co. for this alc and arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Review copy courtesy of Macmillan Young Listeners, Julian Randall, and NetGalley.)
5⭐
When I say the plot is fairly simple and doesn’t break much new ground compared to other books about sports, Blackness, and mental health, I don’t mean that as a slight. In fact, the way Randall takes a familiar story and injects it with so much freshness and authentic feeling is genuinely admirable.
Without the physical book in front of me, I couldn’t tell whether the entire novel was written in verse. Some sections read more like casual storytelling, while others felt more distinctly poetic. Either way, the format only served to strengthen the narrative.
My only quibble (and it’s a very small one!) involves the history the MC’s dad wants to discuss with him but keeps putting off. When the truth is finally revealed, it feels almost too substantial for the setup. This man was such an important and deeply personal part of his father’s basketball history, and the history of the town, that it’s difficult to believe no one would have mentioned him before now.
Now… did I cry? Yes. Yes, I did.
The story builds a lot of tension, and it was difficult to watch the MC remain isolated for as long as he did, but the emotional payoff is worth it. The family dynamics, particularly the scenes surrounding his dad’s eventual revelation, have real punch. They landed with full force, and who doesn’t cry when they’re emotionally punched in the face?
In his afterword, Randall discusses the person who inspired the therapist, and the sheer love and respect he feels for them are deeply present in the story itself. I thought this was beautiful and honestly, I was moved.
Audio-Specific 🎧: 2 hours, 45 minutes. Read by the author, Julian Randall. I know “read by the author” can sometimes be pretty oof, but in this case, Randall’s performance only enhanced the narrative. Not only was it polished, but he brought the poetry’s form and flow to life in a way that might have been lost in someone else’s performance. I listened at 1.5x with no audio issues.
📌 TL;DR: A familiar story told in an unusually powerful way. Highly recommended for young readers and adults alike. But be aware: the forecast is cloudy with a 70% chance of crying.
5⭐
When I say the plot is fairly simple and doesn’t break much new ground compared to other books about sports, Blackness, and mental health, I don’t mean that as a slight. In fact, the way Randall takes a familiar story and injects it with so much freshness and authentic feeling is genuinely admirable.
Without the physical book in front of me, I couldn’t tell whether the entire novel was written in verse. Some sections read more like casual storytelling, while others felt more distinctly poetic. Either way, the format only served to strengthen the narrative.
My only quibble (and it’s a very small one!) involves the history the MC’s dad wants to discuss with him but keeps putting off. When the truth is finally revealed, it feels almost too substantial for the setup. This man was such an important and deeply personal part of his father’s basketball history, and the history of the town, that it’s difficult to believe no one would have mentioned him before now.
Now… did I cry? Yes. Yes, I did.
The story builds a lot of tension, and it was difficult to watch the MC remain isolated for as long as he did, but the emotional payoff is worth it. The family dynamics, particularly the scenes surrounding his dad’s eventual revelation, have real punch. They landed with full force, and who doesn’t cry when they’re emotionally punched in the face?
In his afterword, Randall discusses the person who inspired the therapist, and the sheer love and respect he feels for them are deeply present in the story itself. I thought this was beautiful and honestly, I was moved.
Audio-Specific 🎧: 2 hours, 45 minutes. Read by the author, Julian Randall. I know “read by the author” can sometimes be pretty oof, but in this case, Randall’s performance only enhanced the narrative. Not only was it polished, but he brought the poetry’s form and flow to life in a way that might have been lost in someone else’s performance. I listened at 1.5x with no audio issues.
📌 TL;DR: A familiar story told in an unusually powerful way. Highly recommended for young readers and adults alike. But be aware: the forecast is cloudy with a 70% chance of crying.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Hold and Co. (BYR), and Julian Randall for the opportunity to read Shook in exchange for an honest review.
Shook is a HiLo novel-in-verse, told in a poetic style while the story is easily accessible for readers. The novel follows middle-school basketball player Malik. Told from his perspective, everything he lives and breathes is basketball. When it comes to the playoffs, he wants nothing more than make an impression and prepare himself for the eighth grade varsity tryouts. When an injury occurs, everything he dreams seems to disappear through the cracks.
Malik's injury means he may not be able to try out for varsity, his friends try not to talk to him about the touchy subject, and he gains a new feeling: anxiety. Through family connection, history, and therapy, Malik aims to get back to his playing speed. He just has some unexpected hurdles to work through, offering him a new understanding of his dreams.
This book has eloquent prose with meaningful word choice and structure. The words are like the play on the court, a back and forth with Malik's story and the reader. This is a very fun and relatable sports novel for middle grade readers, offering insight into an experience that the reader may have also experienced. It shows that they are not alone in the fight to obtain one's dreams, and that it takes strength to overcome the challenges life throws at us sometimes.
A truly worthwhile novel with many take-aways for younger readers.
Shook is a HiLo novel-in-verse, told in a poetic style while the story is easily accessible for readers. The novel follows middle-school basketball player Malik. Told from his perspective, everything he lives and breathes is basketball. When it comes to the playoffs, he wants nothing more than make an impression and prepare himself for the eighth grade varsity tryouts. When an injury occurs, everything he dreams seems to disappear through the cracks.
Malik's injury means he may not be able to try out for varsity, his friends try not to talk to him about the touchy subject, and he gains a new feeling: anxiety. Through family connection, history, and therapy, Malik aims to get back to his playing speed. He just has some unexpected hurdles to work through, offering him a new understanding of his dreams.
This book has eloquent prose with meaningful word choice and structure. The words are like the play on the court, a back and forth with Malik's story and the reader. This is a very fun and relatable sports novel for middle grade readers, offering insight into an experience that the reader may have also experienced. It shows that they are not alone in the fight to obtain one's dreams, and that it takes strength to overcome the challenges life throws at us sometimes.
A truly worthwhile novel with many take-aways for younger readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was torn on this rating, but I think that my qualm stems from the fact that I read this digitally as a NetGalley ARC and I truly believe that a physical copy/final ebook copy would have the printing done better when it comes to the free-verse stylistic choices. As the synopsis says, fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander will definitely gravitate toward this book. I could not help but think that my students who love the works of those authors would absolutely love this one while I was reading. This is a story of strength and resilience. As a former athlete who overcame devastating injuries, I could relate to the main character. The family dynamics, friendships, and school aspects felt realistic. Exploring mental health and anxiety through young black male characters is SO important, too. There are some current pop culture references that will “date” this book eventually, but I find that those kinds of things have charm to them even when they are “out of date” later on. (Contemporary haters, beware!) Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can see what it's compared to books by Alexander and Reynolds because the cadence of the book, a book written in verse with concrete style poems sprinkled in to show movement and depth. Shake is the main character, a kid who love basketball and has a great friend, Kyla, by his side until a few things happen at school and an injury sidelines him as well as his father which brings up a bubbling and sometimes crippling anxiety that he must learn to navigate. That means open dialogue including sessions with a therapist to learn language around what his experience is about.
It's about resilience, friendship, and family and is an endearing story that will be gobbled up by fans for sure. I felt like it had been done before, so I don't think it's unique, but it is part of a category of fiction that is necessary to build up.
It's about resilience, friendship, and family and is an endearing story that will be gobbled up by fans for sure. I felt like it had been done before, so I don't think it's unique, but it is part of a category of fiction that is necessary to build up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a great coming-of-age book about family, friends, mental health/anxiety issues, resilience, and believing in yourself. Malik/Shook wants to make the varsity basketball team as an 8th grader but gets injured. Shook blames himself and becomes withdrawn. He ignores his best friend, Kyla and feels as if there are family problems he caused. His mom sends him to a therapist who talks to Shook about anxiety and how he can manage his stress. He’s told to stop blaming himself and that’s he’s not alone. When it’s time for basketball tryouts, Shook thinks if I get hurt I will heal. Does he make the team?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Malik "Shake" Page dreamed of making the varsity basketball team. His dad use to play high school basketball. His dad wanted him to be the best, he wanted to be the best. Shake got injured during a game and everything changed. His dreams shattered. During his healing process he isolated himself from everyone too much palm sweating and gingerale like bubbling in his chest. His parents, his friends, the community where he lived and a therapist helped him come back to being himself. He gained the understanding of the bubbly gingerale feeling was anxiety. Talking it all out and later asking for help helped him get the anxiety under control.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank Macmillan Children's Publishing Group \ Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for a free ALC/eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb of this book says for fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander and when I read that, I whistled low and thought to myself, "High Bar!" and yeah, this book delivered! Absolutely it's following in the steps of greats with amazing rhymes a deep story full of soul and meaning. Targeted at young people but really for everyone. The stories resonate and the poetry speaks to a relatable emotional core. Astounding work.
The blurb of this book says for fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander and when I read that, I whistled low and thought to myself, "High Bar!" and yeah, this book delivered! Absolutely it's following in the steps of greats with amazing rhymes a deep story full of soul and meaning. Targeted at young people but really for everyone. The stories resonate and the poetry speaks to a relatable emotional core. Astounding work.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Shook is a vital read for any young athlete—or anyone, really—who has ever felt the weight of anxiety. It serves as a compassionate reminder that while the game matters, the player behind the jersey matters much more. The recommended ages are 8-12, but I do think it is better fitting for the 10-12 age bracket since it does have some heavier subject matter. Thank you to goodreads and the author for the giveaway.
June 19, 2026
As a basketball verse novel, SHOOK will naturally draw comparisons to THE CROSSOVER, but this does not have as strong a plot or emotional impact. Malik “Shook” Page’s story is much more character-driven than plot-driven. Yes, there is a championship and a redemption game, but much of the story is about Shook’s anxiety and the coming out of his best friend, Kyra, as queer.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow! This novel in verse is for a young adult audience, but readers of all ages will find joy. It covers family, friends, resilience, issues of anxiety, mental health (particularly in young men), and loss. If you love sports - specifically basketball- and the Bull then this book will be a game winner. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy
As an educator with a background in Black Studies I stress the importance of the nuances and creativity that are shown in Randall’s depiction of the lives of young Black people. Highly testimonial, with a poetic edge resonant with the 1970s Black Arts movement, it’s wonderful to see this multi-genre author move into the verse novel.
Highly recommended!!
Highly recommended!!
November 17, 2025
Very good verse novel with lots of layers to keep pages turning. Sports, anxiety, injuries, and home life drama provides engaging and captivating poems with a strong storyline and character development. Give to students who enjoy Kwame Alexander's novels in verse.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A very enjoyable book filled with hope. The novel in verse format will engage students, as well as the relatable themes. I would definitely recommend that school librarians add this book to their collections.
October 28, 2025
A masterpiece yet perfect for reluctant readers. This one should be a hit!
Review of advance copy
A 2026 favorite!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review closer to the publication date.
March 17, 2026
🏀✨ Malik “Shake” Page has one plan: make varsity as an eighth grader and carry on the Marshall Grove legacy—just like his dad and Uncle Kenny. Chicago greatness? That’s the goal.
But one bad landing. One fractured ankle. And suddenly the kid who’s never sat out a game is benched when it matters most.
Now Shake’s battling more than rehab—his best friend is pulling away, things with his dad feel off, and tryouts are creeping closer. The court isn’t just where he plays… it’s who he is.
Can he fight his way back before the buzzer sounds? 💥🔥
I absolutely loved this coming of age Novel in Verse about perseverance, strength, grit and acceptance. If you love Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander, this is the next book to be on your TBR. My favorite thing about this novel in verse is how the author incorporated concrete poetry into the format, emphasizing Shake's feelings even more throughout the story. I also appreciated the way he addressed mental health issues and how Shook navigates his way addressing his anxiety and accepting help when he needed it the most. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing for the ARC!
But one bad landing. One fractured ankle. And suddenly the kid who’s never sat out a game is benched when it matters most.
Now Shake’s battling more than rehab—his best friend is pulling away, things with his dad feel off, and tryouts are creeping closer. The court isn’t just where he plays… it’s who he is.
Can he fight his way back before the buzzer sounds? 💥🔥
I absolutely loved this coming of age Novel in Verse about perseverance, strength, grit and acceptance. If you love Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander, this is the next book to be on your TBR. My favorite thing about this novel in verse is how the author incorporated concrete poetry into the format, emphasizing Shake's feelings even more throughout the story. I also appreciated the way he addressed mental health issues and how Shook navigates his way addressing his anxiety and accepting help when he needed it the most. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews