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We Are Family
Kids have big dreams. And when those dreams are on the line, how far are they willing to go to achieve them?
When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year--and maybe ever again--they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their basketball season, in this inspiring new middle grade novel from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams.
Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group--the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.
And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.
For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible--but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.
It's an inspiring, original middle grade story from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams that channels the many relatable challenges so many young kids face.
The first step to winning is getting out on the court.
10 hours
When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year--and maybe ever again--they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their basketball season, in this inspiring new middle grade novel from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams.
Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group--the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.
And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.
For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible--but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.
It's an inspiring, original middle grade story from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams that channels the many relatable challenges so many young kids face.
The first step to winning is getting out on the court.
10 hours
Audiobook
First published August 31, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 17, 2022
I've got a test in the morning.. Good luck to me.
March 28, 2022
Great book to read during March Madness as it's about a group of kids and their various struggles, but it's based a lot around basketball. This will definitely attract some kids simply because of the author and the fact that it centers basketball, but it's a great story of relationship and coming of age as well.
July 26, 2021
This was a very enjoyable book. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the characters in this children's book. LeBron James is truly a talented man with the way he shines light on the type of challenges these young kids grow up in.
The main characters are a ragtag group of hoopers, each with their own problems. As the book continues, this group bands together to save their dying program. The story switches perspectives throughout the book, making it very fun to see each person's thoughts and how circumstances affect them. Slight criticism would be a bit more basketball commentary, as there was not a whole lot of gameplay. This is not a big thing however as this book had rich character backstories and development.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short children's book. I would recommend it to kids ages 9-14, as it is easy to read, yet shares great morals and is heartwarming to read. I give this book 5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
The main characters are a ragtag group of hoopers, each with their own problems. As the book continues, this group bands together to save their dying program. The story switches perspectives throughout the book, making it very fun to see each person's thoughts and how circumstances affect them. Slight criticism would be a bit more basketball commentary, as there was not a whole lot of gameplay. This is not a big thing however as this book had rich character backstories and development.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short children's book. I would recommend it to kids ages 9-14, as it is easy to read, yet shares great morals and is heartwarming to read. I give this book 5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
October 20, 2021
3.5 stars for this one. I didn't know much about the story, to be honest, the famous author drew my attention. This is a middle grade book about a group of basketball-loving tweens and their afterschool program Hoop Group. Set in Ohio we get to know Dex, Tamika, Jayden, Anthony, Chris, and their families. Every kid in the book has to face some challenging things in their home life and it felt a little heavy-handed to me. But overall it kept me entertained and would be perfect for youngsters who like to hoop.
November 8, 2021
4.5 stars
I don't know why but I cried through several scenes in this book... a good cry. I honestly didn't expect much. I often don't have high hopes for fiction books by celebrity authors but I enjoyed these characters, found the story to be compelling, and connected with it in a way that I didn't anticipate. It wasn't perfect but it was definitely an enjoyable ride.
Bonus: it was full of references to the Lorain/Avon area of northeast Ohio.
I don't know why but I cried through several scenes in this book... a good cry. I honestly didn't expect much. I often don't have high hopes for fiction books by celebrity authors but I enjoyed these characters, found the story to be compelling, and connected with it in a way that I didn't anticipate. It wasn't perfect but it was definitely an enjoyable ride.
Bonus: it was full of references to the Lorain/Avon area of northeast Ohio.
March 5, 2022
This book written by LeBron James, was a interesting book. This being due to the descriptiveness and the overall steady theme. I also enjoyed this book because there were relatable parts. The downside of the book is that it got confusing with the character names and what each character did and didn't do.
Although Lebron James is not a author, he did do a good job with this book. When reading this book, you have to remember the characters and also different things that happened in the beginning. In conclusion, again i would recommend this book. This is because its about a come up story in basketball, and how hard life can be as a child. This book is also VERY mature for its age range.
Although Lebron James is not a author, he did do a good job with this book. When reading this book, you have to remember the characters and also different things that happened in the beginning. In conclusion, again i would recommend this book. This is because its about a come up story in basketball, and how hard life can be as a child. This book is also VERY mature for its age range.
June 2, 2024
I’ve always liked Lebron but he should stick to basketball
May 4, 2023
I bought this for my classroom and really enjoyed reading the story myself!
May 6, 2023
Basketball
January 26, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised with this well written middle school novel about working hard to pursue your dreams. I think that the kids at school will really enjoy this one. Even though the authors made some statements about Christianity, they made it in a very broad sense. Faith and hope and God seemed to be generalized. Reading this book with a child, a parent could use this book to discuss the importance of prayer and true dependence on God, not just ourselves and our friends and family. Very mild language … butt, sucks. A crush, but no real girl/guy relationships going on in this book. Quite a few mentions of name brands throughout the book.
October 1, 2023
I think I would have liked this book more and felt more comfortable recommending it to students if it had slightly fewer religious undertones.
June 1, 2022
“If someone had given him the year’s forecast over the summer, back when he was still sweating on the Blocks and bodying dudes twice his size, Jayden would have never believed that his seventh-grade year would be like this. He’s gone from playing with Coach Beck to not playing basketball at all, to now standing with his fingers crossed behind his back and hoping his name made it onto the Hoop Group roster weeks ago.” (Pg. 197)
Decided to try a physical book and this is one scheduled to be given away as a fun book promotion and I wanted to see if the subject matter was right for 2nd grade–seems mature to me but let’s see what I can learn and recommend about this basketball tale..
This one starts with an introduction to Jayden, a twelve year old just entering seventh grade full of worries about making the Hoop Group and the guilt he feels by watching his mother sleep on a sofa while he gets a bed…
“No matter the strength of the mental fortresses he erects, how high the walls may stand
around the perimeter of his thoughts, the shame of sleeping in a bed when his mother cannot sneaks in like particles of dust….Jayden is only twelve but he is smart enough to know that it really isn’t his fault that his mom has to fold her legs onto Gram’s tiny love seat each night, making herself into a human pretzel just to sleep. The problem is Jayden’s not really sure who is at fault.” (Pg. 3)
“During his waking hours, any shame of darkness has passed, any guilt that Jayden carries about his family’s circumstances is replaced by responsibility-a responsibility that he believes he can best fulfill on the basketball court.” (Pg. 6)
Jayden’s first day of seventh grade also starts a meeting with his locker mate Anthony who is tall and constantly mistaken for loving basketball though nothing could be further from his truth.
Jayden and Anthony enter the gym for Hoop Group only to meet the girl Anthony starts crushing on-the beautiful basketball phenom Tamika and when they learn the news that shifts their life—-the Hoop Group coach has resigned and without a coach there will be no season..
Girls have never been allowed on Hoop Group team but that doesn’t deter Tamika especially when her father is the coach-or was until his Parkinson disease forced him to step down..
“Tamika has so much to prove, but with Hoop Group’s future up in the air, she’s not sure
that she’ll have the chance.” (Pg. 49)
Chris, Dex, Anthony, Jayden and Tamika–this book gives a glimpse into each of their lives and why they feel that Hoop Group is important to them, even though there is no longer a real team..
“When the clouds finally break and the sun peeks out, Tamika slumps to the ground in a
heap of frustration…and resolve. She’s determined to show the world that nothing can stop her. She belongs in Hoop Group, and she’s going to take Dex up on his challenge. Tamika is going to turn Hoop Group, or what’s left of it, into a real team. And they are going to win the Fall Invitational Tournament.” (Pg. 77)
Just as things start to look impossible Tamika is able to secure a chaperone to continue practice–after she finds out that Chris and his father have started another team called the Ballers and are recruiting all the best players …
“I hate to break it to you,” Chris continues, “ but Hoop Group is washed. Anybody who’s worth anything is down with the Ballers.” (Pg. 86)
There is a lot more to this book than basketball and I appreciated it..you get glimpses of gentrification, parental expectations and strained relationships, sickness, struggles and so much more—
“No matter what may have happened to Lorain when all the jobs left, basketball was still
a way out. And for kids like Jayden, it all starts with Hoop Group.” (Pg. 14)
To read about these kids living their dreams and the way that basketball shaped their lives and ultimately made them better people is inspiring and great for kids to read though because of the themes I see this for my 5th graders and up…this was definitely better than I thought it would be..
Decided to try a physical book and this is one scheduled to be given away as a fun book promotion and I wanted to see if the subject matter was right for 2nd grade–seems mature to me but let’s see what I can learn and recommend about this basketball tale..
This one starts with an introduction to Jayden, a twelve year old just entering seventh grade full of worries about making the Hoop Group and the guilt he feels by watching his mother sleep on a sofa while he gets a bed…
“No matter the strength of the mental fortresses he erects, how high the walls may stand
around the perimeter of his thoughts, the shame of sleeping in a bed when his mother cannot sneaks in like particles of dust….Jayden is only twelve but he is smart enough to know that it really isn’t his fault that his mom has to fold her legs onto Gram’s tiny love seat each night, making herself into a human pretzel just to sleep. The problem is Jayden’s not really sure who is at fault.” (Pg. 3)
“During his waking hours, any shame of darkness has passed, any guilt that Jayden carries about his family’s circumstances is replaced by responsibility-a responsibility that he believes he can best fulfill on the basketball court.” (Pg. 6)
Jayden’s first day of seventh grade also starts a meeting with his locker mate Anthony who is tall and constantly mistaken for loving basketball though nothing could be further from his truth.
Jayden and Anthony enter the gym for Hoop Group only to meet the girl Anthony starts crushing on-the beautiful basketball phenom Tamika and when they learn the news that shifts their life—-the Hoop Group coach has resigned and without a coach there will be no season..
Girls have never been allowed on Hoop Group team but that doesn’t deter Tamika especially when her father is the coach-or was until his Parkinson disease forced him to step down..
“Tamika has so much to prove, but with Hoop Group’s future up in the air, she’s not sure
that she’ll have the chance.” (Pg. 49)
Chris, Dex, Anthony, Jayden and Tamika–this book gives a glimpse into each of their lives and why they feel that Hoop Group is important to them, even though there is no longer a real team..
“When the clouds finally break and the sun peeks out, Tamika slumps to the ground in a
heap of frustration…and resolve. She’s determined to show the world that nothing can stop her. She belongs in Hoop Group, and she’s going to take Dex up on his challenge. Tamika is going to turn Hoop Group, or what’s left of it, into a real team. And they are going to win the Fall Invitational Tournament.” (Pg. 77)
Just as things start to look impossible Tamika is able to secure a chaperone to continue practice–after she finds out that Chris and his father have started another team called the Ballers and are recruiting all the best players …
“I hate to break it to you,” Chris continues, “ but Hoop Group is washed. Anybody who’s worth anything is down with the Ballers.” (Pg. 86)
There is a lot more to this book than basketball and I appreciated it..you get glimpses of gentrification, parental expectations and strained relationships, sickness, struggles and so much more—
“No matter what may have happened to Lorain when all the jobs left, basketball was still
a way out. And for kids like Jayden, it all starts with Hoop Group.” (Pg. 14)
To read about these kids living their dreams and the way that basketball shaped their lives and ultimately made them better people is inspiring and great for kids to read though because of the themes I see this for my 5th graders and up…this was definitely better than I thought it would be..
September 2, 2021
We Are Family by LeBron James
Published August 31st 2021
<3 Although this is listed under JF genre, I found it uplifting and left me warm and fuzzy. I think some of it may be based on King James experiences. Its a story with a lot heart and life lessons. <3
Kids have big dreams. And when those dreams are on the line, how far are they willing to go to achieve them?
When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year—and maybe ever again—they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their basketball season, in this inspiring new middle grade novel from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams.
Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group—the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.
And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.
For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible—but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.
It's an inspiring, original middle grade story from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams that channels the many relatable challenges so many young kids face.
The first step to winning is getting out on the court.
Published August 31st 2021
<3 Although this is listed under JF genre, I found it uplifting and left me warm and fuzzy. I think some of it may be based on King James experiences. Its a story with a lot heart and life lessons. <3
Kids have big dreams. And when those dreams are on the line, how far are they willing to go to achieve them?
When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year—and maybe ever again—they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their basketball season, in this inspiring new middle grade novel from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams.
Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group—the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.
And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.
For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible—but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.
It's an inspiring, original middle grade story from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams that channels the many relatable challenges so many young kids face.
The first step to winning is getting out on the court.
January 16, 2025
Jayden Carr has big dreams and has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group—the free, after-school basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when the coach announces that he's stepping down and that Hoop Group will no longer happen, it's up to the kids to save the team. Jayden is heartbroken, and so is Tamika, Coach Beck’s daughter, who was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris, Kendrick’s nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for 4’6” Dexter, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team.
For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible – but Jayden et al are determined to have their shot, so they scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes. Along the way, they show integrity, perseverance, and gratitude.
Each team member gets time in the spotlight. The group is diverse in personality, background, and what drives each member. While Jayden is smart, confident, and puts his family above himself, Tamika is by far the most interesting character. The middle grade story is inspiring and positive, while channeling many relatable challenges that many young kids face: absent father figures, alcoholism, domestic violence, fights at school, life-changing illness, etc. 3.5
For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible – but Jayden et al are determined to have their shot, so they scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes. Along the way, they show integrity, perseverance, and gratitude.
Each team member gets time in the spotlight. The group is diverse in personality, background, and what drives each member. While Jayden is smart, confident, and puts his family above himself, Tamika is by far the most interesting character. The middle grade story is inspiring and positive, while channeling many relatable challenges that many young kids face: absent father figures, alcoholism, domestic violence, fights at school, life-changing illness, etc. 3.5
August 7, 2021
This book is about a group of 5 kids who all join Hoop Group for different reasons. Hoop Group has been around for years and even helped start the career of NBA star Kendrick King. Each child (middle school age) has their own story and reasons for being part of Hoop Group. When Coach Beck has to step away from Hoop Group, the group is in trouble. They need him to keep Hoop Group! Tamika gets the idea to become team captain and keep the group together, including making it to the big Fall Invitational Tournament. Each character comes from a different family situation dealing with issues such as father left, father and uncle had a falling out, abuse and alcoholism, father has Parkinson's disease, and another character is being raised by a single mom who is working at a fast food chain and trying to get her nursing degree (also, she had her son when she was just 16 years old.) As inspiring as this story is for the kids trying to keep Hoop Group together, I felt there was just too much going on. There are situations where many kids are from families who aren't in the best situations, but it seemed to be at every turn. Then when you thought things couldn't get worse, Jayden's mom loses her job and Jayden who is only 12 has to try to look for work (his idea, not his Mom's or Gram's) to try to help out. I do like how all the kids all come together and show empathy for their different situations. The ending also felt a bit rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2024
The setup for this story is interesting - you have five kids joining a well-known basketball program at their school. When the coach quits due to health issues, they are left scrambling as the team dissolves.
The story focuses on the trouble the kids go through to keep the program afloat. There's almost no gameplay, which I disappointed me a lot. When the kids do play, the story glosses over it. Most of the games are one to two paragraphs that mostly say whether or not they were playing well. The climax game is maybe two pages.
On the positive, I like how all five kids have very different motivations throughout the story and that not all of them are immediately on the save-hoop-group train.
The problem with this story is the writing. Every character's motivations and backstory are laid out the second they enter and often we get more information than is needed. It's a lot of telling, not showing. The worst case is late in the story when the narrative says 'yeah, this kid was self-centered on the court but now he's a team player.' We never see that development happen.
The multiple point of view is pretty clunky, too. The narrative head hops a ton which can get distracting and the story isn't consistent about switching POV. Because I was jumping around so much from character to character, I never felt that any one of the plot lines got fully explored, and everything wrapped up in a pretty clunky manner.
The story focuses on the trouble the kids go through to keep the program afloat. There's almost no gameplay, which I disappointed me a lot. When the kids do play, the story glosses over it. Most of the games are one to two paragraphs that mostly say whether or not they were playing well. The climax game is maybe two pages.
On the positive, I like how all five kids have very different motivations throughout the story and that not all of them are immediately on the save-hoop-group train.
The problem with this story is the writing. Every character's motivations and backstory are laid out the second they enter and often we get more information than is needed. It's a lot of telling, not showing. The worst case is late in the story when the narrative says 'yeah, this kid was self-centered on the court but now he's a team player.' We never see that development happen.
The multiple point of view is pretty clunky, too. The narrative head hops a ton which can get distracting and the story isn't consistent about switching POV. Because I was jumping around so much from character to character, I never felt that any one of the plot lines got fully explored, and everything wrapped up in a pretty clunky manner.
June 8, 2023
I just want to note that I know nothing about basketball. Honestly, I don't like sports pretty much at all. I read this because I won it in a giveaway. My lack of knowledge of basketball will not be informing this review.
The back of this book says it's for ages 8-12. Personally, I think at ages 11 and 12, I would have found this book a bit on the childish side for me. It has a lot of telling you what's going on and what people are thinking and feeling and not a lot of showing. Everything is very plainly laid out and you don't have to put in very much thought. In that way, I think it's great for young readers just getting into novels, but I don't know if that lack of depth would appeal to the older side of the age range.
The characters all kind of blend together personality wise. They all have very different stuff going on in their lives but the characters themselves didn't feel very distinct from one another aside from backstory and home life stuff.
I did like that the salary difference between male and female pro athletes was brought up. Women athletes make so much less money than their male counterparts and it really sucks.
I would definitely recommend this for young kids who like sports. Or if you just like sports. Honestly, I'm 24 and don't like sports, but I still found it pretty enjoyable to read.
The back of this book says it's for ages 8-12. Personally, I think at ages 11 and 12, I would have found this book a bit on the childish side for me. It has a lot of telling you what's going on and what people are thinking and feeling and not a lot of showing. Everything is very plainly laid out and you don't have to put in very much thought. In that way, I think it's great for young readers just getting into novels, but I don't know if that lack of depth would appeal to the older side of the age range.
The characters all kind of blend together personality wise. They all have very different stuff going on in their lives but the characters themselves didn't feel very distinct from one another aside from backstory and home life stuff.
I did like that the salary difference between male and female pro athletes was brought up. Women athletes make so much less money than their male counterparts and it really sucks.
I would definitely recommend this for young kids who like sports. Or if you just like sports. Honestly, I'm 24 and don't like sports, but I still found it pretty enjoyable to read.
November 21, 2023
I read the book We Are Family by Lebron james and Andrea Williams
The book is about a girl named Tamika and how her ups and downs in the journey of hoop group. Here are some things I particularly enjoyed about the book. My favorite character was Tammika because of how she never gives up, and how she is a hard worker throughout the story. A moment where I noticed I gathered a great amount of emotion was when the coach left them for a rivalry team and Tammika starts undergoing a lot of stress because a lot of the players decide to quit on the team during the same time causing her to not have a team or a coach. Some things I disliked about the book were how the Author portrayed some of the characters taking too long to introduce themselves or never introducing them at all. One final thing I didn’t like about the book is the constant theme of working hard or never giving up. I feel like it caused a sense of repetition, making the book less interesting. To summarize my thoughts I would suggest this book to a reader that is interested in basketball because there is a lot I could relate to this book just because I play basketball, And I feel like this could be a shared feeling amongst readers. I couldn’t compare this book to any other books to be completely honest because of how creative it is.
I give this book a 4 star rating.
The book is about a girl named Tamika and how her ups and downs in the journey of hoop group. Here are some things I particularly enjoyed about the book. My favorite character was Tammika because of how she never gives up, and how she is a hard worker throughout the story. A moment where I noticed I gathered a great amount of emotion was when the coach left them for a rivalry team and Tammika starts undergoing a lot of stress because a lot of the players decide to quit on the team during the same time causing her to not have a team or a coach. Some things I disliked about the book were how the Author portrayed some of the characters taking too long to introduce themselves or never introducing them at all. One final thing I didn’t like about the book is the constant theme of working hard or never giving up. I feel like it caused a sense of repetition, making the book less interesting. To summarize my thoughts I would suggest this book to a reader that is interested in basketball because there is a lot I could relate to this book just because I play basketball, And I feel like this could be a shared feeling amongst readers. I couldn’t compare this book to any other books to be completely honest because of how creative it is.
I give this book a 4 star rating.
June 4, 2023
I read this aloud to my class. I probably wouldn't have picked it (even if I had read it ahead of time) but when the student who rarely listens to the read alouds comes to you and says, "Could we PLEASE read this one next?"! the answer will always be YES!
As I got reading, I realized there were some things that were just a little too much for the age of students I teach. There's domestic violence, teen pregnancy, bullying, financial stress, alcoholism and more. The authors are also very elaborate with their description. While it's really well explained and would be great to help you get into the mind of the character, it just didn't move fast enough as a read aloud. I started to read ahead and find parts I could skip and that worked just fine.
All that being said, there are some great lessons taught in this book. Lessons about never giving up on your dreams, pushing through trials, supporting your friends and possibility thinking. LeBron James apparently co-wrote the book, and that's always going to be a hit with the kids who love basketball. That man does a lot of good in the world and I'm happy to support his efforts by buying and reading this one.
As I got reading, I realized there were some things that were just a little too much for the age of students I teach. There's domestic violence, teen pregnancy, bullying, financial stress, alcoholism and more. The authors are also very elaborate with their description. While it's really well explained and would be great to help you get into the mind of the character, it just didn't move fast enough as a read aloud. I started to read ahead and find parts I could skip and that worked just fine.
All that being said, there are some great lessons taught in this book. Lessons about never giving up on your dreams, pushing through trials, supporting your friends and possibility thinking. LeBron James apparently co-wrote the book, and that's always going to be a hit with the kids who love basketball. That man does a lot of good in the world and I'm happy to support his efforts by buying and reading this one.
September 16, 2021
We Are Family by LeBron James and Andrea Williams is the sort of sports novel that I loved as a child from authors like Duane Decker and Howard Brier. A group of middle school kids sign up to participate in an after school basketball program named "Hoop Group" only to find out that the coach/sponsor, Coach Beck, won't be able to run the program. A group of 3 decide that they will carry on the program on their lead by a girl named Tamika Beck, the coach's daughter.
First one boy and finally another join to make a team. We learn the back story of all the players and their families. They live in a town suffering from plant closing and high unemployment. Some of the students' families are affected by this along with other challenges such as Tamika's father opposition to her being a basketball player despite her obvious talents.
The kids benefit from some mentors who help guide them through the ups and downs of the season. I enjoyed reading this book. I plan to donate it to a neighborhood middle school.
First one boy and finally another join to make a team. We learn the back story of all the players and their families. They live in a town suffering from plant closing and high unemployment. Some of the students' families are affected by this along with other challenges such as Tamika's father opposition to her being a basketball player despite her obvious talents.
The kids benefit from some mentors who help guide them through the ups and downs of the season. I enjoyed reading this book. I plan to donate it to a neighborhood middle school.
July 29, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley.
Readers see life from five different seventh graders perspectives (Jaylen, Tamika, Anthony, Dex, Chris). They're linked through their love of basketball. Each brings their own baggage and skills to the after school program that has been around for decades. Unfortunately, this is a year of changes as the coach has to quit for health reasons and each of their families has a crisis - job loss, abuse, estrangement. James and Williams bring these young people to life and readers will jump in with them as they learn about each other, about the game, and about having hope and belief in themselves and others. Middle graders will find themselves somewhere in these characters and connect to their life paths. A must have for school libraries.
Readers see life from five different seventh graders perspectives (Jaylen, Tamika, Anthony, Dex, Chris). They're linked through their love of basketball. Each brings their own baggage and skills to the after school program that has been around for decades. Unfortunately, this is a year of changes as the coach has to quit for health reasons and each of their families has a crisis - job loss, abuse, estrangement. James and Williams bring these young people to life and readers will jump in with them as they learn about each other, about the game, and about having hope and belief in themselves and others. Middle graders will find themselves somewhere in these characters and connect to their life paths. A must have for school libraries.
June 5, 2022
This book was super good! One of my favorite sports is basketball so it's fun to read books about it. This book is about boy named Jayden who lives in Lorain, Ohio in a small, cramped home with his mother who is always working and has to sleep on the couch, and his grandmother who's always making sure Jayden is safe and doing the right things. Jayden has been practicing and practicing his skills for his big tryout for the Hoop Group. That is a league of amazing players that get to play on an elite team. When the time comes for the tryout, the players are sadly informed that the group will not be happening this year because the coach is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. But Jayden and the other players work to save the program. This book really shows kids coming from very diverse backgrounds but come together to save the thing they love! You should definitely read this book.
April 28, 2023
Not a bad story at all -- 5 kids with varying challenges (poverty, anger, abuse, famous relatives, degenerative disease) but who love to hoop are devastated when their after school opportunity to shine is canceled, and find ways to continue to pursue their dreams. There are some great messages in here -- don't let things stand in your way, but it is ok to make choices to prioritize your family, your ambitions, whatever makes the most sense to you. There's a lot of wish fulfillment. There are a lot of characters and that can be hard to keep track of. There's some great highlighting of the fact that none of the kids is only a basketball character -- they all have more to them, other passions and interests and commitments. Pretty cool. The title is a slogan that is more related to James' charitable efforts than this book, which kind of bugs me, but it's still a good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2022
Yes! I don't have notes on this book so I'll do my best to remember, it's been a while.
I REALLY liked this book. I hardly ever read sport fiction (sorry, it's just not my thing). So when a book centering sports holds my attention you know it's good.
The characters are terrific. The audio was fantastic. So much heart in this little book.
From what I can remember I think this book will appeal to a very wide audience in many ways. I think strong 3rd graders will like it but also up to 5th grade. I liked it and I'm an adult, so there.
Students who like sports, those that like realistic fiction will all like this book.
Great story about family, commitments, and lots of life lessons. Perseverance. There is a lot going on that you can grab on to with this one.
I REALLY liked this book. I hardly ever read sport fiction (sorry, it's just not my thing). So when a book centering sports holds my attention you know it's good.
The characters are terrific. The audio was fantastic. So much heart in this little book.
From what I can remember I think this book will appeal to a very wide audience in many ways. I think strong 3rd graders will like it but also up to 5th grade. I liked it and I'm an adult, so there.
Students who like sports, those that like realistic fiction will all like this book.
Great story about family, commitments, and lots of life lessons. Perseverance. There is a lot going on that you can grab on to with this one.
December 6, 2021
Overall good story. Would have given it 4 stars but it seems, at times, to follow a counter-intuitive message. The book includes tackling sexism in women's sport, and yet the female character is the one in tears most often. I can't recall if any other character cried, and many had ample reason to. I won't denie that Tamika had reason to cry, nor can I argue that crying is bad, but when you are trying to highlight the sexism of a father and yet still have the only main female character in tears at the slightest inconvenience... seems like to you missed the mark in messaging. Rest of the story was good. Classic work hard, don't give up, and good things will come your way trope.
February 16, 2022
This middle grade book co-written by NBA legend James, tells the story of Jayden who dreams of playing basketball so he can help his Mom pay the bills, Anthony who has to quell his anger living with an abusive father, Chris who lives in the shadow of his NBA legend uncle who is on the outs with Chris’ father, Dex who loves the game and hopes to make enough money to help his Mom, and Tamika who’s father is the legendary coach/founder of the after school Hoop Group but doesn’t support his daughter playing basketball. Can this ragtag team come together and win the tournament? Can they save Hoop Group?
April 10, 2024
This was an uplifting book about middle grade basketball players playing the sport they love and trying to keep the after school “hoop group” alive. It is about doing things that you have to to survive but not letting go of your dreams. Now, this was a middle grade book so it wasn’t too deep, it was easy to read and follow along. Most of the characters were lovable, some not so much. But the lessons and friendships in this one are great for the targeted audience.
Just get ready to read “hoop group” over and over and over again. If I never hear/read those two words again, that is ok with me.
Just get ready to read “hoop group” over and over and over again. If I never hear/read those two words again, that is ok with me.
April 1, 2022
As some who does not like or connect with sports at all, I really really enjoyed this. It was VERY quick to read and a light enough story. I reallllly liked the found family trope of the characters and how you learn so much about their very different lives. There’s a decent amount of basketball, but more about the competition and the internal demands of playing a competitive sport. This was pretty classic happy ending, but it’s kind of expected. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes sports or have read the Ghost Track series or Crossover Series.
June 12, 2023
This book, that centers on basketball-mad kids (mostly boys) who have to deal with tough situations at home (abuse, or unemployed parents, or unsupportive parents, etc) and an economically depressed community, fills a void. These kinds of stories need to be told, both so some kids can finally see themselves in a book, and so others can have a window into what such lives are like. The writing is serviceable, but the care for these kids (and what they face) is palpable, and the insights into what it is like to play basketball are spot on.
July 11, 2023
An ongoing challenge to myself (and hopefully others) is to "de-colonise" my library, meaning to read more from creators other than the usual white folk (although mine is still like 90% manga... different colonisers, I guess), so I picked this up ESPECIALLY since I don't know a sportsball from a nutsack. D:
Very cute and well-written! Although, it feels uncomfortably autobiographical in the way these kids are struggling with their family lives... :( Definitely recommend a read even though I still don't know what a D-I is?
Very cute and well-written! Although, it feels uncomfortably autobiographical in the way these kids are struggling with their family lives... :( Definitely recommend a read even though I still don't know what a D-I is?
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