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★"[An] inspiring story. Sticky is a true original, and de la Peña has skillfully brought him to life.
— School Library Journal, Starred
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Riveting...Teens will be strongly affected by the unforgettable, distinctly male voice; the thrilling, unusually detailed basketball action; and the questions about race, love, self-worth, and what it means to build a life without advantages.
— Booklist
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Stunningly realistic, this book will hook older readers, especially urban teen males.
— VOYA
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"The characters live and breath...This is a must-read.
— The Bulletin
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De la Peña does an excellent job of combining the streets with the sport. Gritty and mesmerizing.
— Kirkus Reviews
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I have never before seen blacktop ball depicted so well. In this novel, you will find its flash, its power, and its elegance without chains. This is powerful stuff.
— Antawn Jamison, forward for the Los Angeles Clippers
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From the very first sentence, this book grabbed me and didn't let go. The deeper I got into it, the more I felt like Sticky's story was my story. His heart, his handle, the guys in the gym, his potential pitfalls, his dreams. All of it. In a weird sense, this is my life.
— Grayson Boucher ("The Professor") of tha AND 1 Mix Tape Tour
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Truly authentic in its examination of both the game I love and the invariable missteps toward manhood. You cannot fail to be moved by the eloquence and truth of this story.
— Rick Fox, former forward for the Los Angeles Lakers
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An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
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An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
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“The rhythm of dribble, jump shot and dunk punctuates the narrative, resulting in a staccato effect that mimics a fast-paced hoops game…Basketball has an urban fan base, and de la Peña does an excellent job of combining the streets with the sport. Gritty and mesmerizing.”
— Kirkus Reviews
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“The prose moves with the rhythm of a bouncing basketball and those who don’t mind mixing their sports stories with some true grit may find themselves hypnotized by Sticky’s grim saga.”
— Publishers Weekly
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“This first novel has a unique narrative voice that mixes street lingo, basketball jargon, and trash talk to tell Sticky’s sorry saga from a variety of viewpoints…Sticky is a true original, and de la Peña has skillfully brought him to life.”
— School Library Journal