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They Better Call Me Sugar: My Journey from the Hood to the Hardwood
In unflinchingly honest prose, Sugar Rodgers shares her inspiring story of overcoming tremendous odds to become an all-star in the WNBA.
“An inherently compelling memoir . . . A simply fascinating and ultimately inspiring story.” —Midwest Book Review
“Rodgers pulls no punches in this raw, emotional rags-to-riches memoir.” —Publishers Weekly
Growing up in dire poverty in Suffolk, Virginia, Sugar (born Ta’Shauna) Rodgers never imagined that she would become an all-star player in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association). Both of her siblings were in and out of prison throughout much of her childhood and shootings in her neighborhood were commonplace. For Sugar this was just a fact of life.
While academics wasn’t a high priority for Sugar and many of her friends, athletics always played a prominent role. She mastered her three-point shot on a net her brother put up just outside their home, eventually becoming so good that she could hustle local drug dealers out of money in one-on-one contests.
With the love and support of her family and friends, Sugar’s performance on her high school basketball team led to her recruitment by the Georgetown Hoyas, and her eventual draft into the WNBA in 2013 by the Minnesota Lynx (who won the WNBA Finals in Sugar’s first year). The first of her family to attend college, Sugar speaks of her struggles both academically and as an athlete with raw honesty.
Sugar’s road to a successful career as a professional basketball player is fraught with sadness and death—including her mother’s death when she’s fourteen, which leaves Sugar essentially homeless. Throughout it all, Sugar clings to basketball as a way to keep herself focused and sane.
And now Sugar shares her story as a message of hope and inspiration for young girls and boys everywhere, but especially those growing up in economically challenging conditions. Never sugarcoating her life experiences, she delivers a powerful message of discipline, perseverance, and always believing in oneself.
“An inherently compelling memoir . . . A simply fascinating and ultimately inspiring story.” —Midwest Book Review
“Rodgers pulls no punches in this raw, emotional rags-to-riches memoir.” —Publishers Weekly
Growing up in dire poverty in Suffolk, Virginia, Sugar (born Ta’Shauna) Rodgers never imagined that she would become an all-star player in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association). Both of her siblings were in and out of prison throughout much of her childhood and shootings in her neighborhood were commonplace. For Sugar this was just a fact of life.
While academics wasn’t a high priority for Sugar and many of her friends, athletics always played a prominent role. She mastered her three-point shot on a net her brother put up just outside their home, eventually becoming so good that she could hustle local drug dealers out of money in one-on-one contests.
With the love and support of her family and friends, Sugar’s performance on her high school basketball team led to her recruitment by the Georgetown Hoyas, and her eventual draft into the WNBA in 2013 by the Minnesota Lynx (who won the WNBA Finals in Sugar’s first year). The first of her family to attend college, Sugar speaks of her struggles both academically and as an athlete with raw honesty.
Sugar’s road to a successful career as a professional basketball player is fraught with sadness and death—including her mother’s death when she’s fourteen, which leaves Sugar essentially homeless. Throughout it all, Sugar clings to basketball as a way to keep herself focused and sane.
And now Sugar shares her story as a message of hope and inspiration for young girls and boys everywhere, but especially those growing up in economically challenging conditions. Never sugarcoating her life experiences, she delivers a powerful message of discipline, perseverance, and always believing in oneself.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2021
9 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 1, 2021
This book right here, is something so delicate that I think only people who has grew up in situations like, “Sugar” or just even relate to her, will understand and interpret it like she has. When reading this book it felt like she sitting right in front of me and telling me all these important things that’s happened in her life, while I sit back and listen. It’s a very engaging story and honestly I wish I had the type of dedication that she has, because maybe if I did, I would’ve probably been really good at soccer or some other sports and craft that I was always hesitant to try. It’s really inspiring to read about all the hardship she’s been through and see her now, prospering. Really good book and I recommend it for everyone.
May 7, 2021
Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
I must begin by saying that I had no idea who Sugar Rodgers is, nor could I have named the sport she plays when this book came from the publisher. But I quickly found out as I began the book that Sugar Rodgers is a WNBA basketball star, who has been a star athlete from a very early age.
TaShauna Rodgers was born in 1989 into a large family in Virginia, headed by a strong-willed, purposeful mother. The neighborhood was rough but the family was resilient and bonded. TaShauna has always gone by the name, Sugar, hence the title of the book. At a very early age, Sugar showed great promise as an athlete, whether it was golf, football, or basketball—at which she excelled. She was the first of her family to attend college, where she was a basketball star, and now she plays basketball for the Las Vegas Aces.
The memoir is filled with anecdotes and memories from her childhood on, written in short, easy to read chapters. Although the writing a bit disjointed, the reader is left with insight and inspiration, particularly regarding the influence of her mother as well as the mentors who understood her potential and her strength of will. She says in closing, “My personal education has been one of knowledge gained from a never-ending list of people and life experiences. I cannot dismiss any of the impact that those interactions have had on me. They have all participated equally in creating my success. The positive people in my life and the negative ones—any way you look at it, they were all good for me. My haters are my motivators and my supporters are my lifeline.”
The most poignant story in the book is about the time as a young girl when her sister was in jail, and she went to visit her. The reader could feel the emotion radiating from the pages as she described putting her hand on the glass in an attempt to reach her sister, while speaking to her on the phone. Yet they were all smiling. A pivotal moment in her life.
I would recommend They Better Call Me Sugar to young teenage girls who are seeking a role model or girls who are interested in sports careers. It will resonate and inspire them.
I must begin by saying that I had no idea who Sugar Rodgers is, nor could I have named the sport she plays when this book came from the publisher. But I quickly found out as I began the book that Sugar Rodgers is a WNBA basketball star, who has been a star athlete from a very early age.
TaShauna Rodgers was born in 1989 into a large family in Virginia, headed by a strong-willed, purposeful mother. The neighborhood was rough but the family was resilient and bonded. TaShauna has always gone by the name, Sugar, hence the title of the book. At a very early age, Sugar showed great promise as an athlete, whether it was golf, football, or basketball—at which she excelled. She was the first of her family to attend college, where she was a basketball star, and now she plays basketball for the Las Vegas Aces.
The memoir is filled with anecdotes and memories from her childhood on, written in short, easy to read chapters. Although the writing a bit disjointed, the reader is left with insight and inspiration, particularly regarding the influence of her mother as well as the mentors who understood her potential and her strength of will. She says in closing, “My personal education has been one of knowledge gained from a never-ending list of people and life experiences. I cannot dismiss any of the impact that those interactions have had on me. They have all participated equally in creating my success. The positive people in my life and the negative ones—any way you look at it, they were all good for me. My haters are my motivators and my supporters are my lifeline.”
The most poignant story in the book is about the time as a young girl when her sister was in jail, and she went to visit her. The reader could feel the emotion radiating from the pages as she described putting her hand on the glass in an attempt to reach her sister, while speaking to her on the phone. Yet they were all smiling. A pivotal moment in her life.
I would recommend They Better Call Me Sugar to young teenage girls who are seeking a role model or girls who are interested in sports careers. It will resonate and inspire them.
April 28, 2021
THEY BETTER CALL ME SUGAR: MY JOURNEY FROM THE HOOD TO THE HARDWOOD is written by Sugar Rodgers.
Thank you to Akashic Books for this Advance Reading Copy (ARC) to read, enjoy and review.
In the Introduction, Ms. Rodgers writes: “I’m writing this book to share my story, to tell about the challenges I’ve had to face so far in my life - the various experiences I’ve been through, and the roadblocks that I’ve stumbled on during my journey towards a successful life.”
The book promotes self-reflection, planning, perseverance, hard work, discipline and inspiration.
Sugar Rodgers is a professional basketball player, currently playing in the WNBA for the Las Vegas Aces.
This book, THEY BETTER CALL ME SUGAR is a very heart-felt, enthusiastic memoir. Her goal in writing this book is to share her story with others. She says that “most people give back by donating money. I give back by talking to teenagers and adults in schools and communities - giving them guidance on how to stay on the right track. Through sharing my stories of struggle, I hope others can relate to me and learn something. I want to open their eyes to a bigger picture so they can stop settling for less.” (p.188)
I liked the writing style - short, snappy, to the point, honest sentences - a writing ‘slam dunk’.
I especially liked the line on p.141 with her family and friends before Senior Prom. “I took so many pictures with friends and family and, oh yeah, I can’t forget about my boyfriend Spaulding, the Basketball.”
The last chapter, Self-Talk and Positivity, was a perfect end to the memoir. Inspirational, powerful - good advice for anyone and everyone. ****
Thank you to Akashic Books for this Advance Reading Copy (ARC) to read, enjoy and review.
In the Introduction, Ms. Rodgers writes: “I’m writing this book to share my story, to tell about the challenges I’ve had to face so far in my life - the various experiences I’ve been through, and the roadblocks that I’ve stumbled on during my journey towards a successful life.”
The book promotes self-reflection, planning, perseverance, hard work, discipline and inspiration.
Sugar Rodgers is a professional basketball player, currently playing in the WNBA for the Las Vegas Aces.
This book, THEY BETTER CALL ME SUGAR is a very heart-felt, enthusiastic memoir. Her goal in writing this book is to share her story with others. She says that “most people give back by donating money. I give back by talking to teenagers and adults in schools and communities - giving them guidance on how to stay on the right track. Through sharing my stories of struggle, I hope others can relate to me and learn something. I want to open their eyes to a bigger picture so they can stop settling for less.” (p.188)
I liked the writing style - short, snappy, to the point, honest sentences - a writing ‘slam dunk’.
I especially liked the line on p.141 with her family and friends before Senior Prom. “I took so many pictures with friends and family and, oh yeah, I can’t forget about my boyfriend Spaulding, the Basketball.”
The last chapter, Self-Talk and Positivity, was a perfect end to the memoir. Inspirational, powerful - good advice for anyone and everyone. ****
March 26, 2022
They Better Call Me Sugar reads like an urban fairy tale. This book speaks to the built-in talents and resilience of the human heart, mind, and spirit. The book introduced me to a remarkable woman, genuine spirit, and professional athlete, Sugar Rodgers.
This is exceptionally well written, well organized, with solid storylines, loving characters, and an even stronger account of her fight against loss, grief, and the ultimate desire for excellence and opportunity. This book gives deep insight into the plight of many young talented children of complex inner cities.
Sugar's mother has high hopes and dreams for her baby. She works two low-wage jobs and still struggles to care for her family. Her father is often absent from her life but stays connected and available as he can. Her siblings lovingly support Sugar, yet everything falls apart.
The saving forces for Sugar are the extended family she built from her school and sports connection. I believe this book will motivate many young hearts and inspire more children to persevere and pursue their dreams. I loved everything about the book. Even the sad moments had redemptive endings. I highly recommend this wonderful book built on truth, hope, and love.
This is exceptionally well written, well organized, with solid storylines, loving characters, and an even stronger account of her fight against loss, grief, and the ultimate desire for excellence and opportunity. This book gives deep insight into the plight of many young talented children of complex inner cities.
Sugar's mother has high hopes and dreams for her baby. She works two low-wage jobs and still struggles to care for her family. Her father is often absent from her life but stays connected and available as he can. Her siblings lovingly support Sugar, yet everything falls apart.
The saving forces for Sugar are the extended family she built from her school and sports connection. I believe this book will motivate many young hearts and inspire more children to persevere and pursue their dreams. I loved everything about the book. Even the sad moments had redemptive endings. I highly recommend this wonderful book built on truth, hope, and love.
June 21, 2022
Thank you to Akashic Books for this Advance Reading Copy (ARC) to review with my honest thoughts and opinions.
Sugar Rodgers shares her inspiring story of overcoming tremendous odds to become an all-star in the WNBA. She honed her skills as a young girl growing up in Suffolk, VA, by shooting hoops with neighborhood drug dealers before eventually being recruited by the Georgetown Hoyas, making her the first person in her family to attend college. She graduated Georgetown as a three-time AP Honorable Mention All-American, an English major as well the leading scorer of all time.
As a prolific three-point shooter, she was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2013. She also played several seasons with the New York Liberty before being traded to Las Vegas in 2019. She was named to the WNBA All-Star team for her 2017 season with the New York Liberty. Rodgers is now an assistant coach for Georgetown Hoyas women's basketball team program in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference.
The story of Ta'Shauna “Sugar” Rodgers is inspiring and motivating. The book grips you from the beginning and all the way to the end. The telling of her life challenges, heartbreaks, and struggles to overcome her environment yet still stay positive and connected to her family is a great story of triumph and resilience. Sugar's mother, who had played basketball herself in high school, died in 2005 from lupus, and her father died in July 2012.
This memoir will make a great gift for a young daughter or teen who is aspiring to play basketball for the WNBA.
Sugar Rodgers shares her inspiring story of overcoming tremendous odds to become an all-star in the WNBA. She honed her skills as a young girl growing up in Suffolk, VA, by shooting hoops with neighborhood drug dealers before eventually being recruited by the Georgetown Hoyas, making her the first person in her family to attend college. She graduated Georgetown as a three-time AP Honorable Mention All-American, an English major as well the leading scorer of all time.
As a prolific three-point shooter, she was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2013. She also played several seasons with the New York Liberty before being traded to Las Vegas in 2019. She was named to the WNBA All-Star team for her 2017 season with the New York Liberty. Rodgers is now an assistant coach for Georgetown Hoyas women's basketball team program in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference.
The story of Ta'Shauna “Sugar” Rodgers is inspiring and motivating. The book grips you from the beginning and all the way to the end. The telling of her life challenges, heartbreaks, and struggles to overcome her environment yet still stay positive and connected to her family is a great story of triumph and resilience. Sugar's mother, who had played basketball herself in high school, died in 2005 from lupus, and her father died in July 2012.
This memoir will make a great gift for a young daughter or teen who is aspiring to play basketball for the WNBA.
November 30, 2021
3.5 stars
Sugar grew up in a tough neighborhood of Virginia; it was full of poverty, drugs, and gangs. She played a lot of sports, getting involved in golf and basketball plus her dad made sure that she did her schoolwork every day. However, she had family members who got involved with the drug trade in order to make the money needed to keep their family afloat financially. Her older sister went to prison for drugs and Sugar made her first visit to jail at the age of 10 in order to visit Sharon there. Sugar's mom really wanted her to become a golf pro and play in the LPGA however, as Sugar got older, she became more and more interested in playing basketball. She worked hard at improving her game and learning the rules as she was used to playing street ball. She ended up losing her mom to illness and her home was condemned and torn down, so she moved around to live with a variety of coaches and relatives. Basketball was what held everything together for her. She is now a WNBA star!
CW: swearing, drugs, gangs, death/loss. This is an intense memoir but engaging and fast paced. Students will relate to her quick wit and plain spoken writing style.
Sugar grew up in a tough neighborhood of Virginia; it was full of poverty, drugs, and gangs. She played a lot of sports, getting involved in golf and basketball plus her dad made sure that she did her schoolwork every day. However, she had family members who got involved with the drug trade in order to make the money needed to keep their family afloat financially. Her older sister went to prison for drugs and Sugar made her first visit to jail at the age of 10 in order to visit Sharon there. Sugar's mom really wanted her to become a golf pro and play in the LPGA however, as Sugar got older, she became more and more interested in playing basketball. She worked hard at improving her game and learning the rules as she was used to playing street ball. She ended up losing her mom to illness and her home was condemned and torn down, so she moved around to live with a variety of coaches and relatives. Basketball was what held everything together for her. She is now a WNBA star!
CW: swearing, drugs, gangs, death/loss. This is an intense memoir but engaging and fast paced. Students will relate to her quick wit and plain spoken writing style.
May 3, 2021
They Better Call Me Sugar: My Journey from the Hood to the Hardwood
By Sugar Rogers
2021
A LibraryThing Early Reviewers book.
This memoir follows WNBA star, Sugar Rogers, from her childhood in Suffolk, VA, to Georgetown University, and eventually to joining the Minnesota Lynx and becoming a WNBA Star. Throughout the book, she mentions the hardships she went through, but focuses more on the high points of a loving, if dysfunctional, family, friends, and most of all sports. Did you know that at as a child, Sugar's mom wanted her to be a pro-golfer? And Sugar was good at it. Even more interesting, Sugar's mom didn't want Sugar, at first, to play basketball.
Sugar shows that hard work, on the court and in school, can pay off in the long run.
This was a refreshing, optimistic read, that I would recommend to middle and high school students who are interested in basketball or who want to play professionally.
4 stars.
By Sugar Rogers
2021
A LibraryThing Early Reviewers book.
This memoir follows WNBA star, Sugar Rogers, from her childhood in Suffolk, VA, to Georgetown University, and eventually to joining the Minnesota Lynx and becoming a WNBA Star. Throughout the book, she mentions the hardships she went through, but focuses more on the high points of a loving, if dysfunctional, family, friends, and most of all sports. Did you know that at as a child, Sugar's mom wanted her to be a pro-golfer? And Sugar was good at it. Even more interesting, Sugar's mom didn't want Sugar, at first, to play basketball.
Sugar shows that hard work, on the court and in school, can pay off in the long run.
This was a refreshing, optimistic read, that I would recommend to middle and high school students who are interested in basketball or who want to play professionally.
4 stars.
August 15, 2021
An inspiring, encouraging, and heart-wrenching story. Before Sugar Rogers became an all-star WNBA playeaher, Sugar lived in poverty, played basketball and golf, and earned average grades in school. What her family lacked in finances, they made up with love and support. Sugar's mom attended many of Sugar's golf tournaments, and supported her playing basketball. With much determination, discipline, practice, practice, practice, Sugar became an excellent basketball player, earning a basketball scholarship, playing on the Georgetown's women's basketball team, and eventually drafted into the Minnesota Lynx women's basketball team. Her path to success was a difficult one, but that did not deter her from fulfilling her dreams.
August 2, 2022
Sugar overcame so much to stand where she is standing today. But I feel like she didn't go into details about her suffering in the book. She kept it pretty light and positive.
All in all, it was a good book. It promotes
1. Self-motivation: Sugar talked to herself a lot to cheer herself up. She gave herself compliments and treated herself kindly. "I'm my biggest fan," she joked
2. Practice makes perfection: Sugar played baseball as a hobby, and she kept coming back to it. She spent so many hours with the ball until it became natural. She was good at it to begin with, but it took time to master it.
3. Determination: There were times that Sugar doubted she could continue playing/ training. But she didn't quit. She kept pushing and pushing until she made it to the top.
All in all, it was a good book. It promotes
1. Self-motivation: Sugar talked to herself a lot to cheer herself up. She gave herself compliments and treated herself kindly. "I'm my biggest fan," she joked
2. Practice makes perfection: Sugar played baseball as a hobby, and she kept coming back to it. She spent so many hours with the ball until it became natural. She was good at it to begin with, but it took time to master it.
3. Determination: There were times that Sugar doubted she could continue playing/ training. But she didn't quit. She kept pushing and pushing until she made it to the top.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 31, 2025Sugar has written an inspirational memoir about getting through a lot of loss and challenges, to make it to the pro athlete she is today. There are gritty and honest details about a community hit hard by drugs and violence, that strikes a balance to give us her reality while still bring for a YA audience. Sugar wasn't always motivated in school, but she was directly competitive, and sports gave her a lot of motivation to keep going. There were a lot of rough spots in her adolescence, but there were also a lot of people who stepped in to try to lift her up and keep her afloat.
As of 2025, Sugar is an assistant coach for one of the newest WNBA teams, the Golden State Valkyries.
I generally don't give star ratings to memoirs.
As of 2025, Sugar is an assistant coach for one of the newest WNBA teams, the Golden State Valkyries.
I generally don't give star ratings to memoirs.
October 24, 2021
I really liked parts of this and felt lost for other parts. It's an honest memoir of growing up in poverty, with family structures very different to mine but similar in the deep bonds between siblings and family. But it was careless in dropping a lot of sports terminology that I just don't know, and also had a patchy way of describing characters -- about half the time the relationship was told from the beginning, and the other times a fairly new mention would show up and the author would tell us that it was a really important person throughout her life, but then how did they not appear earlier?
March 23, 2022
I listened to the audiobook, which has the author, Sugar Rodgers, narrating. Boy, does she do a great job! Rodgers' voice and words transported me to her childhood in Virginia, where she battles poverty, roaches, gang shootings, dangerous policemen, racism, and her mother's untimely death and manages to overcome it all. She even keeps her sense of humor! This is an inspiring story of a young girl making her way in this world by following her passion - playing basketball - with the help of her damaged but loving family. I'm sure I would have enjoyed reading this novel, but hearing the author do the narration made it special. She could be an actor too!
February 11, 2021
This book is definitely written from her point of view. It is evident that she is promoting the fact that it is possible for anyone to rise above their current situation if they have the desire and willingness to put in the work, and for this I respect her and her efforts to help others to overcome obstacles. I sometimes struggled with the use of foul language to make a point most notably the use of the F*** word.
April 28, 2021
Sugar has a great story to tell. I was frequently surprised after I thought things were getting predictable and then something unusual happened. Sometimes I felt like I was having a conversation with the author and I liked the book best at those times. Sometimes it felt preachy and it dragged at the end. I am thrilled Sugar has a successful life. You can't come away from the book not rooting for her.
March 20, 2023
Really great for my English language learners. This book tells an incredible story of Sugar Rodgers growing up in a tough neighborhood dealing with death, incarcerated family members and so much trauma. Her athleticism gives her amazing opportunities and caring adults help her survive. Simply written (no figurative language here), this is a good short memoir for high school students and especially reluctant readers.
September 18, 2022
This is a quick read by WNBA player Sugar Rodgers about her childhood and college experiences. No co- or ghostwriter is acknowledge, and the book could have benefited from one. It could go deeper and flow better and include more of Rodgers' professional career. She is such an inspiration, it would have been nice to understand her better.
February 15, 2023
Sugar Rogers' story is inspiring, and, as others have mentioned, this reads like a fairy tale. This is a short memoir, and feels more appropriate to middle-grade and YA readers, since it doesn't have many details, but helps to accomplish Sugar's aim to let other kids know that some dreams are possible.
July 21, 2022
An excellent book for reluctant readers. A great book to use to introduce a growth mindset. A real person whom Middle schoolers will easily identify with. Suga is a true warrior with a fighter's spirit to persevere.
March 2, 2021
wow! I knew this would be an honest story of her life but I did not think she would be this raw with it.
April 30, 2021
A great story for young and old; your dreams are attainable no matter how your life starts! The language style is easily readable for preteens and still concise for adults.
May 21, 2021
Touching
Being from the same city and knowing many of the people mentioned and Sugar herself, this is as authentic as it gets!
Being from the same city and knowing many of the people mentioned and Sugar herself, this is as authentic as it gets!
January 7, 2022
It's not the best book but it's not the worst. Sugar makes it very easy to follow her journey and it's an enjoyable book to read because each chapter has something that hooks you in.
Read
August 18, 2022I give memoirs a star rating ore really review them just because I feel like I would be judging someones life and experiences
September 1, 2024
Another book to screen for JH. Quite a bit of profanity, as well as drug use/ references and some violence, but overall a positive message on overcoming obstacles in life.
October 12, 2024
Short, sweet and full of powerful anecdotes. Sugar’s voice made this an enjoyable read throughout. Great for women’s basketball fans.
January 7, 2022
I am not a sports fan. Oh, I have some idea how the Dolphins are doing in football because my husband is a loyal, if frustrated and heartbroken, fan, but I only know the biggest of the big names in sports. Unfortunately, those names are always male.
Needless to say, I had never heard of Sugar Rodgers but she's certainly a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the basketball court. Her sports career began in golf at age ten. She played well enough to be ranked among the top young players in Virginia. But her heart was in basketball so she made that transition.
Sugar's home life was not easy. Drugs and crime were an everyday part of the hood where she grew up. Her mother passed away when she was only fifteen years old. She bounced around from friend to friend and relative to relative until she went to college.
"Where I'm from, college was frowned upon--you either dropped out of high school and hit the streets; got pregnant and then dropped out; went to jail; enlisted in the army; or you got killed. Graduating high school had always been my only academic goal."
But Sugar is quick to acknowledge all those who pushed her, believed in her, and encouraged her. She describes herself as a lackluster student but mentors pushed her to do more so she could get into college and have a chance at a better life. Now she spends time encouraging others to change their circumstances.
"Instead of gangbanging and repping your hood, represent a college. Instead of selling drugs, start your own business, even if it's just mowing people's lawns. Instead of sinking into despair about all the violence you see, look beyond that and give somebody a helping hand."
She may not have been the strongest student in the classroom, but she's driven in other parts of her life. Competitive and confident, she always pushes herself to be better at sports and anything else she sets her mind to. She encourages her readers to chase their own dreams.
"Obstacles can be extremely daunting, but they can also be overcome. Some will be tougher than others, but I honestly believe that almost nothing is impossible. Even if you think something is impossible, at least try before quitting. You might fail, but at least you committed yourself to it."
Sugar's story is inspiring, but I do wish she'd taken on a co-author. Don't get me wrong--this is written well enough and I highly recommend it. But there's a lot of telling instead of showing and some events could have been explained more clearly. I think that if she had worked with a more experienced author, she could have polished this book into something truly stellar.
Even with that quibble, I do hope that Sugar's story finds its way into the hands of young readers who are in situations similar to hers. We can't all be WNBA superstars, but we can all try to improve our own situations.
Needless to say, I had never heard of Sugar Rodgers but she's certainly a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the basketball court. Her sports career began in golf at age ten. She played well enough to be ranked among the top young players in Virginia. But her heart was in basketball so she made that transition.
Sugar's home life was not easy. Drugs and crime were an everyday part of the hood where she grew up. Her mother passed away when she was only fifteen years old. She bounced around from friend to friend and relative to relative until she went to college.
"Where I'm from, college was frowned upon--you either dropped out of high school and hit the streets; got pregnant and then dropped out; went to jail; enlisted in the army; or you got killed. Graduating high school had always been my only academic goal."
But Sugar is quick to acknowledge all those who pushed her, believed in her, and encouraged her. She describes herself as a lackluster student but mentors pushed her to do more so she could get into college and have a chance at a better life. Now she spends time encouraging others to change their circumstances.
"Instead of gangbanging and repping your hood, represent a college. Instead of selling drugs, start your own business, even if it's just mowing people's lawns. Instead of sinking into despair about all the violence you see, look beyond that and give somebody a helping hand."
She may not have been the strongest student in the classroom, but she's driven in other parts of her life. Competitive and confident, she always pushes herself to be better at sports and anything else she sets her mind to. She encourages her readers to chase their own dreams.
"Obstacles can be extremely daunting, but they can also be overcome. Some will be tougher than others, but I honestly believe that almost nothing is impossible. Even if you think something is impossible, at least try before quitting. You might fail, but at least you committed yourself to it."
Sugar's story is inspiring, but I do wish she'd taken on a co-author. Don't get me wrong--this is written well enough and I highly recommend it. But there's a lot of telling instead of showing and some events could have been explained more clearly. I think that if she had worked with a more experienced author, she could have polished this book into something truly stellar.
Even with that quibble, I do hope that Sugar's story finds its way into the hands of young readers who are in situations similar to hers. We can't all be WNBA superstars, but we can all try to improve our own situations.
May 17, 2022
If you are looking for a book for reluctant readers – this is it. If they won’t read this book, they won’t read anything. It is a fascinating story very well told. Here are a few random snapshots.
Sugar Rogers spent part of her childhood homeless. Her house was condemned by police, as her mother lay bedridden and dying inside it.
Ms. Rogers said she didn’t like going to parties growing up, because someone always ended up getting shot. Her friends convinced her to go to one and sure enough shooting started. As she lay in the backyard, pinned down by gunfire, she thought to herself, “Who brings a machine gun to a party?”
Much later, once she was playing basketball professionally, a coach suggested she should go to therapy. She said, “Therapy is for white people!” Nevertheless, eventually she went and conceded it was helpful. She cried a lot. She looked up at one point and her therapist was crying too! She thought, “Are they supposed to do that?”
Ms. Rogers succeeds despite terrible personal losses. Before she’s finished school her nephew (more like a brother) is shot and killed, her aunt and brother go to jail and both her parents die. And yet she finds humour and positive lessons everywhere. Ms. Rogers has a warm and charismatic voice and a lot of wisdom to share. Her ultimate success is one of the most emotional reading experiences I’ve ever had.
Beyond these endorsements let me say there are a few good tests of a book. One is the number of times you want to share parts of it. While reading this book, I mentioned something from it so often, that at one point my husband suggested that I should just read the book out loud to him. (Sadly, he was joking.) This book feels like Ms. Rogers is talking to you. Please read it, to hear what she has to say.
Sugar Rogers spent part of her childhood homeless. Her house was condemned by police, as her mother lay bedridden and dying inside it.
Ms. Rogers said she didn’t like going to parties growing up, because someone always ended up getting shot. Her friends convinced her to go to one and sure enough shooting started. As she lay in the backyard, pinned down by gunfire, she thought to herself, “Who brings a machine gun to a party?”
Much later, once she was playing basketball professionally, a coach suggested she should go to therapy. She said, “Therapy is for white people!” Nevertheless, eventually she went and conceded it was helpful. She cried a lot. She looked up at one point and her therapist was crying too! She thought, “Are they supposed to do that?”
Ms. Rogers succeeds despite terrible personal losses. Before she’s finished school her nephew (more like a brother) is shot and killed, her aunt and brother go to jail and both her parents die. And yet she finds humour and positive lessons everywhere. Ms. Rogers has a warm and charismatic voice and a lot of wisdom to share. Her ultimate success is one of the most emotional reading experiences I’ve ever had.
Beyond these endorsements let me say there are a few good tests of a book. One is the number of times you want to share parts of it. While reading this book, I mentioned something from it so often, that at one point my husband suggested that I should just read the book out loud to him. (Sadly, he was joking.) This book feels like Ms. Rogers is talking to you. Please read it, to hear what she has to say.
November 6, 2024
My brother and I used to watch the women's college tournament when they were in Hartford and while we there there for the Huskies, we were both really there to watch Sugar Rodgers!!!!! Sugar Rodgers is mesmerizing on the court and her life story is jaw-dropping. I felt like this was a young-readers version of a memoir that she really ought to write, maybe in the future when she's ready to lessen the distance between her coming-of-age years and where she is today.
What I most liked about this book was that she didn't apologize or show any shame about her life. It was her reality. People she loved went to jail, people who were looking out for her stole so she could have great clothes and shoes. Her parent situation was complicated but she didn't even get into the details, everything is taken in stride, very matter-of-fact.
And it's that slight detachment/acceptance that leaves me wanting so much more! Chapters end abruptly without a callback to a theme/topic, chapters which could be books just because she's experienced so much change and challenge at every age. I'll respect the hell out of her if she never writes any more of her story bc she wants to keep working through things but I do hope she takes another crack at an adult memoir at some point because her life was always rich with experiences and Sugar just tells it like it is.
What I most liked about this book was that she didn't apologize or show any shame about her life. It was her reality. People she loved went to jail, people who were looking out for her stole so she could have great clothes and shoes. Her parent situation was complicated but she didn't even get into the details, everything is taken in stride, very matter-of-fact.
And it's that slight detachment/acceptance that leaves me wanting so much more! Chapters end abruptly without a callback to a theme/topic, chapters which could be books just because she's experienced so much change and challenge at every age. I'll respect the hell out of her if she never writes any more of her story bc she wants to keep working through things but I do hope she takes another crack at an adult memoir at some point because her life was always rich with experiences and Sugar just tells it like it is.
February 23, 2024
I absolutely love that this was in her voice, which helped to feel her emotions. It was such a great read!
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