Description
'Hoop wizard' Harry is relegated to his school's worst basketball team when he misses tryouts, but his new team has some surprises for him in this triumph-over-adversity story. Perfect for sports-mad kids and readers of series such as Patty Mills' Game Day.
After missing his eagerly awaited trial to play for the Under Sixteens Firsts, fourteen-year-old Harry Portelli has no choice but to play with the worst training team in the school.
The Redbacks are a mess. They can't pass. They can't shoot. They can't win.
This is not the future either Harry or his dad imagined. Harry has to dig deep to work out what basketball means to him and, with the help of surprising new friendships, he rediscovers his love for the sport as the Redbacks start to play like a team.
And then the school arranges a derby, the Redbacks against the Firsts, and Harry's heart sinks - the Redbacks are bound to be destroyed. But is winning all that matters? Harry learns that sometimes the sweetest shot is the one you get on the rebound.
Review
Fourteen-year-old Harry lives for basketball. He plays all the time and trains with his best friend Jamal after school. He loves watching as many games as he can with his dad, it’s their thing to do together.
But when his dad dies unexpectedly, Harry misses the tryouts for the Firsts team and the Head Coach, Butler, won't make any exceptions. Harry can either not play basketball for the school or he can join the Redbacks - the worst team in the school who can barely even play. Harry is torn because everything to do with basketball reminds him of his dad and the dream they shared of him making it to the NBA, but Harry really misses playing.
Harry decides that he needs to play to keep his skills up, but he becomes a total ball hog - trying to show up his teammates on court and doing everything himself, rather than playing as a team. Harry soon finds himself isolated from everybody except Finn, a girl whose mum died and who can relate to what Harry is feeling and going through.
After much soul-searching Harry learns that winning isn’t everything, and sometimes you have to let people back into your life no matter how hard it is.
This is a wonderful story about friendship, family, grief and resilience. Harry is a wonderful character, and Fiona Harris has written a beautiful story about the joy and life lessons playing team sport can bring you. This is a story that will stay with you long after you put the book down, and is sure to be well loved by those aged 12 and up, especially sports fans.
