The 23rd Street Crusaders

by John F. Carson

They're tough kids - trouble kids. Now, they're on probation, and nobody cares except one man, the mysterious stranger Sorrell. He teaches them now to play winning basketball, turns them into champions. He gets them involved in a church basketball team to save them from a life of crime.

Genres: Young Adult, Basketball

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. it takes place around the time of the great depression and shows how a lot of people lived. when they get placed under probation, they thought that their lives were done for. however there was one thing that they still really liked to do. they played basketball every free time they had. one day a man just sat down and watched the kids play. i predicted at this point that the guy would give them tips and later become their coach. at first one the kids, Hank, had a grudge on this guy. he told the guy to leave. however later my prediction was correct. the team learned about friendship and life in a new way.

[Ric Glowienka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back in public school, and I still remember it!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story. While so many books for teens are full of modern culture, this older book is full of all the best things. Good competion, healthy morals, real characters, character development and a great happy ending for the mysterious stranger.

[Wesley Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite novels growing up. I didn't realize as a kid how old the story was written, but that just tells you that an inspiring story simply transcends time.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in my early teens, I devoured adolescent sports fiction, reading every book in the area that was in the Harding Junior High library. One of my favorites was this book, and it is one of the few that I read several times. A gang of boys about to be placed in juvenile jail often get together to play basketball. While they are talented, they understand very little about the game. One day, a man (Ed Sorrell) that they do not know starts observing their play and one day he offers to coach them. At first they reject his offer, but after they have no other way to play, they let him teach them. After one lesson, they realize that he really knows basketball.
However, they have no gym to practice or play in, so Sorrell is able to make a deal with a church on 23rd street where the boys work at the church in exchange for the opportunity to play there. They continue to practice and begin impressing everyone with their improved attitude. A church league is formed and the church sewing guild makes uniforms for the boys.
They begin their games and demonstrate that they are very good, largely due to the coaching abilities of Ed Sorrell. They win, which brings publicity and it turns out that Sorrell had a boy that recently died and that he is one of the best college coaches in the country. He disappeared after his son died and his wife comes to visit him. He is given his old job back, which disappoints the church team. In a happy ending, Sorrell realizes that his work with the boys has saved them from a life of crime and restored his ability to face the world. Therefore, he gives up the college job and comes back to teach the local high school team.
This is one of the most upbeat sports books I have ever read. Yes, it has the obligatory ending where the big game is played and won. However, it goes beyond that, expressing sports as a way to make bad boys into citizens and showing that sometimes the best way to help yourself is to help others.

This review appears on Amazon

[Barbara Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came off my grandmother's bookcase, and I have to believe it belonged to one of my uncles growing up. I enjoyed it, as I enjoyed seeing the boys built into a team by their coach.