Streetball Showdown - (Jake Maddox Jv) by Jake Maddox

About the Book

When country kid Langston spends the summer with his city cousins, he learns street basketball from his cousin Ant; however, their friendship suffers as Langston gains attention and gets an invitation to play on a new team.

Book Synopsis

When country kid Langston is sent to spend the summer with family in the city, he's sad about missing an important basketball tournament. But then his cousin Ant introduces him to street basketball. After a rough start, Langston makes strides with this new way to play, largely thanks to Ant's tips and tricks. But when Langston gets too much attention from the others in the neighborhood, the cousins' friendship takes a hit and the two start avoiding each other. Soon Langston is given the chance to play with another team. Will he leave Ant and the bad blood behind, or will family come first?

Review Quotes

The "Jake Maddox JV" series ­introduces two new stories centered around basketball and skateboarding, each featuring different characters and challenges. Themes of friendship and adjusting to new environments are central to both titles, making them relatable for middle school readers. In one story, a country boy spends the summer with his cousin in the city, where he must quickly adapt to the faster-paced style of basketball. In the other, a skateboarder faces the challenge of an old friend who has befriended bullies, who doubt her skills simply because she's a girl. Both books contain 10 chapters, and each includes discussion questions, writing prompts, a glossary of challenging words, and facts about the featured sport, making them interactive and engaging reads. VERDICT A solid ­addition to collections where sports-themed chapter books are popular.-- "School Library Journal"