About the Author

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975) and for the Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989), helping his teams win six NBA Championships. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. He also holds the records for the most field goals (15,837) and the most minutes played (57,446). Abdul-Jabbar gave the game the skyhook, considered basketball's most classic, and lethal, offensive move. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. Since retiring, Abdul-Jabbar has been an actor, basketball coach, and an author, focusing on history. His previous titles include GIANT STEPS, KAREEM, BLACK PROFILES IN COURAGE, A SEASON ON THE RESERVATION, BROTHERS IN ARMS, and ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS: MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE HARLEM RENISSANCE, and the children's non-fiction book about inventors, WHAT COLOR IS MY WORLD?, won the NAACP award for Best Children's Book. In 2012 he was selected as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador.

Raymond Obstfeld is a novelist, screenwriter, and nonfiction writer. His second novel, DEAD HEAT, was nominated for an Edgar Award; he also wrote an award-winning YA novel entitled JOKER AND THE THIEF. Obstfeld has previously collaborated with Abdul-Jabbar on the sports memoir ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS: MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE HARLEM RENISSANCE, and the nonfiction picture book WHAT COLOR IS MY WORLD?. Obstfeld currently teaches creative writing at Orange Coast College as an associate professor.

Reviews

A crisp tale of sports, smarts and what it means to be your own man or woman-or boy or girl, if you happen to be 13. It seems to be an embarrassment of riches to be, say, one of the best basketball players in history and also write tightly entertaining novels for kids, but there you have Abdul-Jabbar. Surely Obstfeld added polish and framing, but this obviously is a work of someone intimate with sports and, by extension, how sports can serve as metaphor for a way of being in the world. Here, newly tall eighth-grader Theo Rollins is trying to find his way between the brainiacs and the basketball players. Along the way, he meets Rain-aka Crazy Girl-a sort of "girl with the dragon tattoo" minus the heaviest baggage. Characters, both friend and foe, feel real; there is talk of abandonment as well as serious comments about the skewed vision Americans have of Islam. The deepest running narrative pivots around sports, but the story has much to give. Theo's cousin's taxonomy of basketball players is broadly applicable: There are the happy-go-lucky, the self-conscious and "those who never want the game to be over, because each minute is like living on some planet where you got no problems....[They are], for that brief time, in a place where everything they thought or did mattered." Fearless, caring sports fiction. (Fiction. 8-12) Kirkus"

Gr 5-8 Theo Rollins had been one of the most inconspicuous members of his class until he experienced a six-inch growth spurt before the start of eighth grade. Now, Coach Mandrake wants to build his entire offense around him, much to the dismay of the other team members because Theo is a science geek who stinks at basketball. The first game he plays is a disaster and, after a spectator makes a racist comment causing him to make a costly mistake, a classmate named Rain gives him the nickname "Sasquatch." Later, Theo discovers that there is more to Rain than meets the eye. Faced with dismissal from the "Brain Train," the school's Aca-lympic team, because of the time he spends on basketball, Theo must make an important decision about his future. Fans of Matt Christopher and Dan Gutman will enjoy this humorous novel that delivers a heartwarming story about growing up, facing down bullies, and learning what true friendship is all about. Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX SLJ"

Likeable characters deal with realistic issues in this basketball-themed book, the first in the Streetball Crew series. Eighth-grader Theo has grown six inches over the summer, so he is recruited to play basketball even though he is not an athlete. Theo struggles with basketball and the pressures that come from being the tallest person around. Along the way, Theo is befriended by Rain, who has problems of her own and in which Theo gets involved. The characters, attitudes, language and interactions are believable and the writing is flat-out funny at times. Basketball does not take center stage, so readers who are not fans will still be able to follow the action. Situations such as the loss of a parent, pressure to achieve success, friendship, and family relationships are dealt with in an authentic manner. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and I am sure middle graders are going to enjoy reading it. Laura D'Amato, Library Media Specialist, Berea, Ohio [Editor's Note: Available in e-book format.] Recommended Library Media Connection"

Thanks to the six inches he grew recently, eighth-grader Theo has lost his invisibility. The basketball coach conscripts him, but Theo's so uneasy in his new body that he's uncoordinated and self-conscious on the court. He doesn't want to quit, though, even when he's nicknamed Sasquatch during his first game. The more he studies and practices the game, the more he loves it, but "to want to do something you weren't good at was begging to be let down." Meanwhile, he's having trouble balancing other responsibilities, including the "Aca-lympic" academic team that's been a huge part of his life. This smart, sensitive novel is full of simple truths that extend far beyond the court. Theo's dedication makes him an admirable role model for kids on the slow-burning value of practice, while his struggles to adapt to life changes and weather embarrassments make him relatable. Secondary characters, including his new Muslim friend Rain, realistically support and challenge Theo as needed. Pair with Candy Gourlay's Tall Story (2011) and Matthew Quick's Boy21 (2012) for a successful assist.- Krista Hutley Booklist"

The author team behind What Color Is My World? opens the Streetball Crew series with the story of Theo Rollins who, though only an eighth grader, is already more than six feet tall. A self-proclaimed nerd, Theo gets recruited for the school basketball team, even though he's terrible at the sport. Additionally, Theo is puzzled by new girl Rain, who's smart but being threatened by a guy on a motorcycle; his widowed father is unexpectedly interested in dating; and he might be kicked off the school's Aca-lympics team if he can't balance his responsibilities. The depth and realism Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld bring to the novel keep it from being a run-of-the-mill sports story. Rain, for instance, is Muslim, while Theo is one of only a few black kids at his school; their ostracism doesn't overshadow the action, but it isn't ignored, either. Perhaps most refreshing is the fact that the authors allow Theo to gain confidence in basketball without the predictable game-winning shot. Readers will feel a kinship with Theo as he maneuvers through tough but realistic choices. Ages 8 12. PW"