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1. Bibliographic Information:
Myers, W. D. (2008). Game. New York: HarperTeen.
ISBN: 978-0-006-058295
218 pages
2. Plot Summary:
Drew Lawson is a Senior at James Baldwin Academy in Harlem. As the star basketball player, Drew hopes to get a scholarship to a Division I college. Basketball is an escape for Drew, a way out of his violent and poverty-stricken neighborhood. Already Drew has seen some of his friends turn to a life of gangs, drugs and violence. Halfway through the season, two boys join the basketball team. Tomas is an immigrant from the Czech Republic, and shows promise. However, when Drew’s coach begins to change the team’s entire game to focus around Tomas, Drew begins to feel like everyone is against him. Not only is the coach benching Drew, but also giving Tomas personal training sessions to help build his game. Drew’s chances of being looked at by college scouts seems to be dwindling as Drew tries to adapt to the new coaching style and style of play. Can Drew learn to overcome these obstacles and still get the scholarship, or are Tomas and his coach just trying to ruin his game?
3. Critical Evaluation:
I think that this book succeeds because of Walter Dean Myers writing style and use of colloquialism. The reader responds to Drew’s obstacles because he reads like a real person. Myers not only has the ability to create tension with his descriptions of the basketball games, but also in the way the teens talk and interact with each other. The kids sound like high school students, bragging about their successes and worried about playing time. His descriptions of the basketball games also add to the validity. The reader can easily understand what is going on in the games, as well as understand Myer’s own expertise and passion for Basketball. Interestingly, Myers use of street vernacular does not detract from the story, nor does it belittle or stereotype any of the characters. The words that Drew uses compared to Tomas show the background of each character as well as what is important to their identity.
4. Reader’s Annotation:
Drew Lawson has dreams of winning the championships in Basketball at James Baldwin Academy so that he can receive a scholarship to a Division I college. When Tomas, an immigrant from the Czech Republic begins to threaten Drew’s playing time and team dynamics can Drew still step up and play his game?
5. Information about the Author
Walter Dean Myers was born in 1937, and was given to a Herbert Dean and his wife, shortly after Walter was born. He grew up with his adopted parents in Harlem. While in High School Myers started to write, however, it was not until later in life he began to write seriously.
6. Genre
Sports Fiction
7. Curriculum Ties
This novel could be used for an outside reading book in an English class.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-Have you ever felt that someone was trying to take away something that you have worked hard to accomplish?
-How has Tomas’ and Drew’s background affected their college dreams?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I think that high school students age 15-18 would enjoy this novel.
10. Challenge Issues
There is some discussion about the poverty, violence, and gang activity in Harlem. While these issues act as characterization rather than intent to offend, if any parent did wish to challenge this book I would refer them to the American Library Association’s website:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
Myers, W. D. (2008). Game. New York: HarperTeen.
ISBN: 978-0-006-058295
218 pages
2. Plot Summary:
Drew Lawson is a Senior at James Baldwin Academy in Harlem. As the star basketball player, Drew hopes to get a scholarship to a Division I college. Basketball is an escape for Drew, a way out of his violent and poverty-stricken neighborhood. Already Drew has seen some of his friends turn to a life of gangs, drugs and violence. Halfway through the season, two boys join the basketball team. Tomas is an immigrant from the Czech Republic, and shows promise. However, when Drew’s coach begins to change the team’s entire game to focus around Tomas, Drew begins to feel like everyone is against him. Not only is the coach benching Drew, but also giving Tomas personal training sessions to help build his game. Drew’s chances of being looked at by college scouts seems to be dwindling as Drew tries to adapt to the new coaching style and style of play. Can Drew learn to overcome these obstacles and still get the scholarship, or are Tomas and his coach just trying to ruin his game?
3. Critical Evaluation:
I think that this book succeeds because of Walter Dean Myers writing style and use of colloquialism. The reader responds to Drew’s obstacles because he reads like a real person. Myers not only has the ability to create tension with his descriptions of the basketball games, but also in the way the teens talk and interact with each other. The kids sound like high school students, bragging about their successes and worried about playing time. His descriptions of the basketball games also add to the validity. The reader can easily understand what is going on in the games, as well as understand Myer’s own expertise and passion for Basketball. Interestingly, Myers use of street vernacular does not detract from the story, nor does it belittle or stereotype any of the characters. The words that Drew uses compared to Tomas show the background of each character as well as what is important to their identity.
4. Reader’s Annotation:
Drew Lawson has dreams of winning the championships in Basketball at James Baldwin Academy so that he can receive a scholarship to a Division I college. When Tomas, an immigrant from the Czech Republic begins to threaten Drew’s playing time and team dynamics can Drew still step up and play his game?
5. Information about the Author
Walter Dean Myers was born in 1937, and was given to a Herbert Dean and his wife, shortly after Walter was born. He grew up with his adopted parents in Harlem. While in High School Myers started to write, however, it was not until later in life he began to write seriously.
6. Genre
Sports Fiction
7. Curriculum Ties
This novel could be used for an outside reading book in an English class.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-Have you ever felt that someone was trying to take away something that you have worked hard to accomplish?
-How has Tomas’ and Drew’s background affected their college dreams?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I think that high school students age 15-18 would enjoy this novel.
10. Challenge Issues
There is some discussion about the poverty, violence, and gang activity in Harlem. While these issues act as characterization rather than intent to offend, if any parent did wish to challenge this book I would refer them to the American Library Association’s website:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
11. Why was it selected?
Cole’s (2009) book, Youth Literature in the 21st Century, listed Walter Dean Myers as a good sports fiction writer for teens.
12. Citation
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Cole, P. B. (2009). Young adult literature in the 21st century. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Myers, W. D. (2010). Walter Dean Myers: Biography. Retrieved from http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/bio.html
Picture From:
Myers, W. D. (2010). Walter Dean Myers: Bibliography. Retrieved from http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/biblio_full.html
13. Awards
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice
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