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eboc2024's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I had no idea I would like this book so much. Like the author Gene Luen Yang, I am not an athlete, nor do I usually watch sports. This shows what a good writer he is. This graphic novel story of the Bishop O’Dowd High School basketball team and their journey to the California state championship in 2015 is stellar. It tells stories of people, history, identities, relationships and community. All this, and it’s super suspenseful - well if you can resist Googling what happens in the end.
egould1's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this! The large size means that there’s tons of room to take interesting sidebars through basketball history, which Yang did. The memoir perspective was a unique twist as well as made thee story more meaningful. The graphics were great.
thenextgenlib's review against another edition
5.0
I am really struggling to write the review for this book because I’m so in awe of it. I loved the style, the illustrations, the purpose, the tone, the characters, the content—to be honest I don’t think I’ve read anything like it before. It’s an autobiographical graphic novel about the author’s experience as a teacher at a Catholic school that went to the state championships but it’s so much more than that. It included information like all good nonfiction books do, but it also had heart and personality. I cheered, I laughed, I cried. Even though I participated in team sports all growing up I loved Gene’s perspective as someone who had not and I think so many people will connect with both sides of the book that way. Amazing! #weneeddiversebooks
noajasmine's review against another edition
No rating because it's non-fiction but I really enjoyed this! I stumbled upon this book at Barnes & Noble and it caught my eye because I've read Yang's other works. My boyfriend is a huge basketball fan and I recently got into it over the fall so I was always kind of star struck every time a big NBA player was mentioned playing at the high school level. The association was definitely very, very cool
dogtrax's review against another edition
5.0
Outstanding storytelling with focus on team, individuals and exploration of place (in this case, the school he taught in)
james_anderson's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't expect to like a graphic novel about high school basketball as much as I did. Loved the player profiles and the sports history that was included. Highly Recommend.
tx2its's review against another edition
4.0
Reading 2020
Book 145: Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
Getting back to my happy place and reviewing an excellent graphic novel . This book fulfills #30booksin30days (book 16) and #youbetya2020 (book 11) challenges.
An autobiographical graphic novel, the book looks into Gene's adult life as a teacher and father. Gene has never been a sports guy, but the basketball team at his school is very good and making a run at the state championship. Gene follows the Dragons as they go through the season and all of the hurdles necessary to get to a championship. He spotlights each of the starters on the team and the coaches.
This is my 5th book by Gene Luen Yang and it was really good. If you have not read this author he has written for the Spiderman series, the Avatar, The Last Airbender series, the Boxers and Saints books, American Born Chinese, and the young kid series Secret Coders. This book is reviewed for ages 10 and older. Heads up for one part of the book where the former coach is accused of sexual misconduct, no proof, no conviction, let go all the same. One of my favorite graphic novels this year, my rating 4.5 ⭐️
Book 145: Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
Getting back to my happy place and reviewing an excellent graphic novel . This book fulfills #30booksin30days (book 16) and #youbetya2020 (book 11) challenges.
An autobiographical graphic novel, the book looks into Gene's adult life as a teacher and father. Gene has never been a sports guy, but the basketball team at his school is very good and making a run at the state championship. Gene follows the Dragons as they go through the season and all of the hurdles necessary to get to a championship. He spotlights each of the starters on the team and the coaches.
This is my 5th book by Gene Luen Yang and it was really good. If you have not read this author he has written for the Spiderman series, the Avatar, The Last Airbender series, the Boxers and Saints books, American Born Chinese, and the young kid series Secret Coders. This book is reviewed for ages 10 and older. Heads up for one part of the book where the former coach is accused of sexual misconduct, no proof, no conviction, let go all the same. One of my favorite graphic novels this year, my rating 4.5 ⭐️
jennifermreads's review against another edition
5.0
Given the title and synopsis, this is a sure-fire hit for any fan of basketball—especially if you live in the Bay Area as there is the local connection. But if you glance at this title from award-winning Gene Luen Yang and think “I don’t like sports. I’m not going to read it.” you are going to seriously miss out on an entertaining and educational read. As GLY was not a fan of sports either, it is refreshing to read a story about sports from the perspective of someone who was far, far, FAR from being a fan. Plus, I loved how Mr. Yang interspersed historical events into the novel, including about the origins of the game and autobiographical interludes about the Bishop O’Dawd players. So this title is a delightful mesh of memoir, history, diary of a championship run, and encouragement to “take that step” to grow and evolve.
Mr. Yang’s artistic storytelling skill appeals to me as much as his prose; there is so much to see and absorb in the graphic frames. I really should read [b:American Born Chinese|118944|American Born Chinese|Gene Luen Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317066615l/118944._SX50_.jpg|114515] and [b:Boxers & Saints|17261194|Boxers & Saints|Gene Luen Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510859489l/17261194._SY75_.jpg|23857290]. Yes, I actually started with his Superman comics. I know, I know, good stuff but not the stuff he is renowned for creating.
** Read to meet the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: Read a nonfiction YA comic.
Mr. Yang’s artistic storytelling skill appeals to me as much as his prose; there is so much to see and absorb in the graphic frames. I really should read [b:American Born Chinese|118944|American Born Chinese|Gene Luen Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317066615l/118944._SX50_.jpg|114515] and [b:Boxers & Saints|17261194|Boxers & Saints|Gene Luen Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510859489l/17261194._SY75_.jpg|23857290]. Yes, I actually started with his Superman comics. I know, I know, good stuff but not the stuff he is renowned for creating.
** Read to meet the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: Read a nonfiction YA comic.