The Hoop Con (Play the Game #1)

(Paperback)

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Description

YOU CAN'T WIN IF YOU DON'T PLAY

Raam Patel is eager to prove himself ever since he didn't make the middle school's basketball team. So, when Hoop Con comes to town he is determined to be there and take his shot. His big moment proves to be unforgettable... but not in the way he'd hoped. Raam gets schooled by the camp's golden boy right in front of his NBA idol. To make matters even worse, this fail goes viral.

Raam is used to being the underdog, but becoming the newest meme might be something even he can't overcome alone. He skips town in an effort to lay low and take a break from basketball. However, he's met with new courts, fresh kicks, and tough new competition, changing his whole outlook on the game. Raam has the skills, but now it's time to unlock the mental game.

Reviews

"Lovers of basketball, especially fellow athletes, will devour this novel." School Library Journal

"The Hoop Con is an action-packed basketball story written by an author who clearly knows the ins and outs of basketball, but like all the best sports stories, this satisfying series opener is about so much more than sports. Readers will root for Raam as he faces humiliation and despair and then bounces back-with the help of his baller cousin, Trina-to become a better basketball player and a better person. Amar Shah's debut is as fun as it is powerful, and this tale of resilience and growth-on and off the court-will score big points with middle grade readers." Laurie Morrison, author of Up for Air and Keeping Pace

"A terrific beginning to a new basketball-focused series. I loved the way this one dug into the all-too-familiar tween emotions of humiliation and how this low point fueled Raam's comeback. I'm always a fan of the home-away-home story structure, and even more when it comes with an unlikely mentor. Raam's connection with his baller cousin in LA was one of my favorite parts of the story. Replete with PLENTY of basketball references, this one holds a ton of appeal for the basketball-obsessed nine to thirteen-year-old. Can't wait to see what happens over the course of this series." Jenn Bishop, author of Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up

Author Bio

Amar Shah is a multiple Emmy-winning writer and producer who has written for ESPN.com, NFL.com, The Wall Street Journal, The Orlando Sentinel, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Slam Magazine and The Washington Post. In the 90s, Amar was a teen sports reporter and got to hang out with the Chicago Bulls during their golden era. He even landed on the cover for Sports Illustrated for Kids with Shaquille O'Neal!