69 pages • 2 hours read
Walter Dean MyersHoops
Fiction | Book | Middle Grade | Published in 1981A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Hoops is about Lonnie Jackson, a young basketball talent from Harlem who juggles life between his mother’s house and a motel where he works. As he and his team compete in a basketball tournament under the guidance of their coach, Cal Jones, Lonnie navigates personal struggles and societal challenges, ultimately seeking success and happiness despite his turbulent environment. The novel addresses physical assault.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Walter Dean Myers' Hoops receives acclaim for its realistic depiction of inner-city life and the personal growth of its protagonist. Readers appreciate the authentic slang and basketball scenes. Some critics find the plot predictable and secondary characters underdeveloped. Overall, it is praised for its strong message and relatable themes.
Who Should Read Hoops?
A reader who would enjoy Hoops by Walter Dean Myers is typically a young adult with an interest in basketball, underdog stories, and coming-of-age narratives. Fans of The Crossover by Kwame Alexander or Slam! by Nick Hornby will appreciate the similar themes of personal growth, sports, and overcoming adversity.
RecommendedReading Age
12-18yearsLexile Level
740LBook Details
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Realistic Fiction
African American Literature
Sports
Race / Racism
Parenting
Identity: Race
Life/Time: Coming of Age
Relationships: Fathers