(2) 4-6 Born Lewis Alcindor, "Lew" changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ("noble servant of God") in 1971 at age twenty-four, marking a religious, cultural, and political awakening for the basketball great. In clear and straightforward prose, Abdul-Jabbar writes a rich and nuanced sports story of growing up in the civil rights era. A sixteen-page insert of well-captioned black-and-white photos is a nice bonus.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) 4-6 Streetball Crew series. To eighth grader Chris, his brother Jax is "the Golden Boy, who shined like the sun"; Chris himself is "more the Bronze Boy...not worth much, and...easily forgotten." But Jax is in trouble, and it's Chris's time to shine as he and his friends try to figure out what's behind Jax's mysterious behavior. Basketball provides the mystery's backdrop, but the appealing characters propel the action.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 After a summer growth spurt, Theo finds himself the centerpiece of the basketball team. Unfortunately, his skills must catch up with his body. As Theo tries to juggle hoops with his position on the Brain Train Aca-lympics team, an accusation threatens Theo's status on both squads. The story moves beyond basketball as the convincing middle-school dialogue captures a diverse group of characters.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ben Boos & A. G. Ford. Under the superficial (and slightly lame) guise of entertaining two children, a fictional narrator recounts the often unrecognized contributions of black inventors and scientists. Inventions such as the gamma electric cell, induction telegraph, illusion transmitter, and even the ice-cream scoop are briefly highlighted. Foldouts and double-page spreads give additional information on inventions and their creators. Illustrations enhance the narrative. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg