#1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica makes his return to the basketball court! There's a reason teammates call him "True." Because for basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks--and with problems. Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy's head grounded--and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court and takes True under his wing. In this age of street agents promising riches to kids barely out of elementary school and college programs being taken down because of recruiting violations, True Legend is a resonant and inspiring novel in the Lupica tradition. ***"The perfect trifecta of deep knowledge and portrayal of the history and culture of basketball, keen insight into the obstacle course of motivations and temptations facing a talented young man, and perfect-pitch sports writing. . . Lupica is the greatest sportswriter for middle-grade readers, and this book, True Legend, is a reminder of his dominance."*** —VOYA, starred review “Lupica scores another winner with this cautionary tale. . . . Loaded with action-packed, suspenseful basketball sequences, crisp dialogue, sharply drawn characters, and keen insight into contemporary basketball culture in America, Drew’s story illuminates the realities and choices facing gifted young athletes.” —School Library Journal "Written in a fluid mix of slightly distant exposition and terse dialogue, the tale features plenty of suspenseful, expertly depicted hoops action along with choices both wrong and, ultimately, right made in the face of glittering temptations." —Booklist
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"True Legend was a great book in my opinion, like all the other Mike Lupica books I've read. I like these kinds of books, so that plays a part, but it also shows how complicated things are when everyone knows you and has high expectations of someone. Drew Robinson, the main character in the book, is the man of high school basketball. He knows he will make it to the NBA, and everyone does. He has a multimillionaire friend, and he gets him whatever he wants. Drew even gets chauffeured to wherever he wants. But when he gets in trouble after crashing a car, Drew's best friend Lee Atkins takes the blame. Drew finally realizes he has to do things on his own now and be a man. With a blend of school, basketball, and playground legends, this book is great for anyone who loves basketball and seeing what it's like being famous."
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7703Emil (5 out of 5 stars)