Game. by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean. Game.
Harper Teen, 2008, $17.89, 218p, 978-0-06-058295-1
Realistic fiction

The Game by Walter Dean Myers is another hit for the award winning author. In this tile, Harlem High School senior Drew Lawson, a young black man, dreams of making it big in The National Basketball Association (NBA). Drew’s dreams of making it into the NBA, include him being scouted by a Division I university to play. Even though the odds of making it big in the NBA are slim, Drew’s determination and strong character keep him going. Since this is a big dream for him, Drew stays away from street gangs and the brutal streets of Harlem. Drew comes from a strong family and this stability helps him focus on what is important and that is him playing the game his way. Drew knows that since he is not the best student academically, he needs to focus on his athleticism to get him through to success. After seeing life on the streets in Harlem, Drew realizes that he must stay focused on his game in order to overcome what life would be like as a Harlem teenager on the streets.

Even though Drew is the star of his basketball team, his coach brings in a new white player for offense and he’s afraid that this new player will interfere with his chances of making it big and being seen by college scouts. Needing to overcome his fear and thoughts of his coach sabotaging his chances of making it big, Drew’s dedication paid off when DePaul University, a Division I school, offered him a full-scholarship to play basketball for them.

The author provides readers with basketball insight and game highlights and this makes one feel as if you are on the court. Since the author provides substantial game details, basketball and sports enthusiasts will appreciate this title and it will make them feel like they are a part of the game. Readers will cheer for Drew throughout the title. CFM