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Rebound
It's like I said, it isn't what you do with the shots you make,
but the ones that don't go in. The rebounds.
Sean vows that this year will be different: he'll stay out of trouble and make the basketball team, even if it means ditching his old friends.
David also needs to make a new start. A serious accident has left him confined to a wheelchair and horribly bitter about how his life has changed.
Forced together, the boys learn to like each other, and their friendship may be what they both need to get back in the game.
262 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2000
25 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
156 books909 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 5, 2017
I didn't like too much, but it gave me advices
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2017
This is my all time favourite book about how a friendship can change your point of view on life
July 6, 2025
This was my second book this year about a friendship between two guys, one of them in a wheelchair. It was definitely the better one, and not just for being more family friendly. It really got more into the challenges people confined to wheelchairs face. The friendship between the two boys was heartwarming, especially at the climax.
January 14, 2023
irrelavant school book but still fire
Want to read
February 23, 2017pretty good
June 25, 2014
I read Rebound back when it was up for Red Maple back in 2002 during my basketball phase (holy crap I was 8!)and I re-read it when I was 14. I really liked it back then and it really put things in perspective for me. Sean is a pretty standard YA /Preteen protagonist, a little bit of a trouble-maker, hard headed, stubborn, and not the best student in school. It was David that made the book for me. He was bitter, he was a little angry, and just as stubborn, if not more so than Sean. The way he teaches Sean about what it's like to be in a wheelchair and how people treated him really made me think (especially at 8) about how I perceived and treated people who have physical disabilities. Without ruining too much, this book is great and really honest about how it goes about this fairly touchy subject.
Growing up, Eric Walters was a favourite author of mine, and every time I re-read one of his novels I remember why. This book is wonderful for all ages, but I especially think that those in the age group between 10-14 will get the most from it. This is one of those books that makes you think and re-examine your own ideas and perceptions, and while it's not the first book I remember when I think about books I read as a kid, it certainly did impact the way I viewed other people and taught me to see people for who they are, not through a lens of their disability.
Growing up, Eric Walters was a favourite author of mine, and every time I re-read one of his novels I remember why. This book is wonderful for all ages, but I especially think that those in the age group between 10-14 will get the most from it. This is one of those books that makes you think and re-examine your own ideas and perceptions, and while it's not the first book I remember when I think about books I read as a kid, it certainly did impact the way I viewed other people and taught me to see people for who they are, not through a lens of their disability.
October 14, 2015
My daughter's teacher (grade 7) chose this book for a classroom read. I ordered it to read at home so that I could discuss the book with her. The book opened up discussions and conversations between us that I could not be more grateful for. This book very realistically shows you what it is like for a young boy to live in a wheelchair - his limitations, environmental and personal, his emotions, personality, determination, hopes, dreams.... It shows what it's like to be a friend, a real friend.
The book is completely age appropriate, with a huge dose of maturity and growth. It's clearly written....
and it made me cry...in fact I still have a lump in my throat ! I HIGHLY recommend this book to all children from 9-13 years old, and to all parents....in fact, I think adults without children would still get something out of this story.
I plan to read this again, with my oldest daughter...she is 16....and while it might not be a typical read for a 16 year old, I can hardly wait to have the same discussions with her about the book, that I've had with my youngest daughter....
BEAUTIFUL STORY! BEAUTIFUL WRITING ! I look forward to reading more by this author !
The book is completely age appropriate, with a huge dose of maturity and growth. It's clearly written....
and it made me cry...in fact I still have a lump in my throat ! I HIGHLY recommend this book to all children from 9-13 years old, and to all parents....in fact, I think adults without children would still get something out of this story.
I plan to read this again, with my oldest daughter...she is 16....and while it might not be a typical read for a 16 year old, I can hardly wait to have the same discussions with her about the book, that I've had with my youngest daughter....
BEAUTIFUL STORY! BEAUTIFUL WRITING ! I look forward to reading more by this author !
June 5, 2022
As I said, it's not about what you do with the shots you take, but what you do with the ones that don't go in.
It's not about making the shot, it's about making the shot that didn't go in. Rebounding.
Sean vows that this is the year. He will stay out of trouble and join the basketball team, even if it means ditching his old friends.
David also needs a fresh start. He is in a wheelchair after a serious accident, and he resents it terribly that his life has been changed.
And that friendship may be just what the two of them need to play basketball again.
It's not about making the shot, it's about making the shot that didn't go in. Rebounding.
Sean vows that this is the year. He will stay out of trouble and join the basketball team, even if it means ditching his old friends.
David also needs a fresh start. He is in a wheelchair after a serious accident, and he resents it terribly that his life has been changed.
And that friendship may be just what the two of them need to play basketball again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2014
Rated 5 stars because It helps other people who in wheelchairs to over come life and
I learned a life lesson that just because you are in a wheelchair or you don't limbs(arms and legs) pr even if you're handicapped, doesn't stop you from anything. It gave a really message and I loved it! I could understand what was happening and even felt what the characters felt like... Recommend to read it!
I learned a life lesson that just because you are in a wheelchair or you don't limbs(arms and legs) pr even if you're handicapped, doesn't stop you from anything. It gave a really message and I loved it! I could understand what was happening and even felt what the characters felt like... Recommend to read it!
April 12, 2013
I had to read this book for class and I found that this book was good and took on the life of teens very well. I also felt that this book dropped off at points and became very boring. If I was to look through the library this would not be a book that I would pick up. I reccommend this book to anyone who likes or enjoys playing basketball.
February 1, 2013
This is a pretty good book the author knew how to portray a teens life and a teens life in a wheelchair
January 23, 2015
it is a good book by Eric Walters, the story is basically about basketball and friendship.
January 10, 2023
the representation was prob ableist
November 22, 2016
love it!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews