joseebutler's review
4.0
Did I think I would cry while reading a graphic novel about basketball? No, but here we are. This was so good!
crystal_reading's review
5.0
I read this as a digital book and loved it. Basketball isn't necessarily my favorite thing to read about, but I will read anything by Gene Luen Yang. I loved that memoir aspect and there was certainly a lot of emotional investment. I also appreciated the background he provided on the Sikh beliefs and practices. I think it is awesome that for once someone mentioned the bigger picture about Gandhi. Like MLK Jr. many people choose to only speak about some of the aspects of their teachings and lives, and are unaware of some of the other things going on in their lives.
Edited to add: the book jacket is tactile and has the feeling of a basketball. Bonus!
Edited to add: the book jacket is tactile and has the feeling of a basketball. Bonus!
kylas_library's review
4.0
I’m not a basketball person… at all LOL so I wasn’t very excited to read this book. And now that I’ve finished it, I’m not anymore into basketball than I was. This graphic novel was fine; I did enjoy the writing style. But I didn’t really get that invested in any of the characters. Some of the tournaments/championships had me on the edge of my seat, but that was really the only time I felt really invested. I did also really like the mini history lessons on basketball in this book. They were interesting and something I had no idea about
internationalkris's review
5.0
Another excellent book from Gene Luen Yang. I appreciated how much of himself that he put in the pages as he searched out an inspiring story that was so different from his home base. A big theme of this book was about taking that first step into an unknown situation and following through with courage on that path. This went for the individually told stories of the players on the basketball team, for their coaches and for Yang himself. It's a wonderful book about looking beyond the walls that we sometimes set up for ourselves and seeing the important stories that are all around us. Cool that it came out around the same as the Michael Jordan documentary "The Last Dance" - these two works of art pair very well together.
hannahmcclee's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
I had the opportunity to meet Gene Luen Yang at a book festival in 2023 and he talked about his career and the process of writing this book. Of course, he left it on a cliff hanger and I had to get a copy and find out what happened for myself. This book was such a fun read. It gave so many facts about the game of basketball (I'm not a sports person but I love history so it kept me interested). The book also told an amazing story full of heart, humor, and competition. One of my favorite reads of the year!
deservingporcupine's review
5.0
We miss basketball and teaching and going to school and I’ve been having unprecedented trouble concentrating on reading during quarantine. This book was a joyful antidote. I learned a lot of things, and absolutely loved the author’s approach in telling us this story by telling us the process of telling this story. It addresses some truly complex issues without being heavy handed or offering all the answers. The notes at the back could be a valuable story process teaching tool, and there was some simple symbolism that could be really accessible for kids. And there’s a Ben Simmons cameo!
dlsmall's review
5.0
Brilliant graphic novel! My best analogy here is that the way Friday Night Lights is one of the greatest TV shows ever, and it is only using Texas high school football as a vehicle, a high school basketball season here is only the gateway...
annebennett1957's review
5.0
I am a huge fan of this book. I like so many aspects of it...The Step...the history lessons...the up-close-and-personal look at the players...the way Yang explains what he is doing along the way.
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2021/03/review-and-quotes-dragon-hoops-by-gene.html
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2021/03/review-and-quotes-dragon-hoops-by-gene.html