Dragon Hoops
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The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Dragon Hoops is a nonfiction graphic novel that chronicles a California high school basketball team's championship season. Written and illustrated by former U.S. Ambassador for Young People's Literature Gene Luen Yang (Secret Coders, American Born Chinese), it won a 2021 Michael J. Printz Honor for young adult literature. The comic spotlights a racially diverse team of players at the school where Yang used to be a teacher. Violence includes some on-court aggression and a fistfight in the stands. Strong language is rare: one or two uses of "f--k" (with letters blacked out) and a "hell" or "damn." It also has some infrequent references to sex.
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What's the story?
At the start of DRAGON HOOPS, computer science teacher Gene Yang realizes he knows very little about the people in the physical education department. Because his students are excited about the upcoming basketball season, Yang commits to following the Dragons all the way to the state championships and chronicling their efforts in comics. Along the way, Yang learns about the history of the game, the diverse lives of the players, and the meaning of teamwork.
Is it any good?
Nonfiction sports stories are fairly unusual in comics, but this epic tale of sportsmanship shows that the medium is perfectly suited to the subject. In Dragon Hoops, cartoonist Gene Yang pulls out all the stops to celebrate the Bishop O'Dowd High School basketball team, mixing reportage and history to captivating effect. He captures the energy on the court and delves into the psychology of the team's players. Sure to please sports fans, the book also has plenty of relevance for those who don't follow the games. Dragon Hoops is a winner all around!
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how Dragon Hoops emphasizes the benefits of athletics in education. Why do schools have sports teams? How do students benefit from them?
What makes a "winner"? What character traits are necessary to excel in a sport or creative endeavor?
Why do people regret missed opportunities? How can you stay open to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities?
Book details
- Author: Gene Luen Yang
- Illustrator: Gene Luen Yang
- Genre: Graphic Novel
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, High School
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: First Second
- Publication date: March 11, 2020
- Number of pages: 448
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated: January 25, 2021
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