Review of The Final Four by Paul Volponi

The Final Four by Paul Volponi; Penguin, 2012

Four collegiate basketball players on two different teams share a common goal—to make it to the finals of the NCAA basketball tournament and, ultimately, to win the coveted title.  Playing for the Michigan State Spartans, Malcolm “One and Done” McBride hopes to be drafted into the NBA after only one year of college.  It is only because of an NBA rule stating that players cannot enter into the draft directly from high school that he is playing college ball at all.  His hapless teammate, Michael “MJ” Jordan, is named for the most famous player to ever grace the game by his late father, who was a big fan.  However, MJ cannot fill his namesake’s shoes, nor is his idol “Air Jordan”.  The Spartans are also joined by John “Grizzly Bear” Cousins and DeJuan “Baby Bear” Wilkins, two huge centers who have talent of their own.

This year’s “Cinderella Team” hails from Troy, Alabama—the Troy University Trojans.  Their star player, Roco “Red Bull” Bacic, has had a hard life, growing up in Croatia and is grateful to be able to attend college and play ball in the United States.  Playing alongside him is Crispin “Snap-Crackle-Pop” Rice, the biggest guy on the team, whose heart belongs to Troy cheerleader Hope Daniels, whom the media has dubbed “Hope of Troy”.  Roko and Crispin are joined by fellow player Aaron Boyce, whose family lived through Hurricane Katrina when it hit New Orleans.

Waiting in the wings for the second game of the final four, are the teams from North Carolina and Duke.  Join them as they wait through four tense overtime periods played by the Spartans and the Trojans to learn who their opponent will be in NCAA semifinal game at the Louisiana Superdome!

Final Four opens with the end of regulation play as the game is tied at the buzzer.  Both teams from Michigan State and Troy are exhausted, as the game has been extremely taxing, both physically and mentally.  The coaches from the teams are trying their best to rally their players and figure out a game plan to win and make it to the end of the game. 

Each chapter opens with a quote about basketball and life, in general, from various celebrities, mostly coaches and players—LeBron James, Bill Walton, and “Pistol Pete” Maravich—among others.  There is fantastic play-by-play action woven into the plot, as well as media releases thrown into the story.  Newspaper articles, flashbacks, and live radio broadcast scripts tell most of the back story of the players’ lives, leading up to the game. A possible NCAA scandal is added into the mix, which only serves to thicken the plot! 

Although Malcolm and Roco have both had hard young lives, it is Roco, who has grown up in war-torn Croatia, who remains a true optimist, despite all he has witnessed and been through in his country.  Both basketball and the opportunity to receive a college education bring him true joy!  Malcolm, on the other hand, has a huge chip on his shoulder.  He resents being forced to play college ball just to become eligible for the NBA draft, and he feels that the NCAA is profiting off the backs of college players.  He is not shy about making his feelings known, even to the media!  Malcolm is not a team player because there is no “I” in team!

There are a number of slang terms used—kicks, scratcher, crew—that I was unfamiliar with and had to research for meaning.  There are also excerpts of Roco’s diary, which he begins as a young boy and continues through college, in his own handwriting, which give readers a first-hand look into his life.  Readers can also see him mature through his writing process.

The cover art gives the reader a true feel for what is in store for him if he opens the book.  The Final Four is a great guy book, but any basketball fan would enjoy this “Trojan War”!  I recommend it for high school and public libraries.

Review of Boy 21 by Matthew Quick.

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick.  Little, 2012.

High school senior Finley McManus lives with his dad and disabled grandfather in Bellmont, PA, which is a suburb of Philadephia.  Bellmont is not a great place to live; residents must deal with violence, racial tension, drugs, and the Irish mob.  Finley wants to get out of Bellmont, and he figures the only way this could happen would be if his girlfriend, Erin Quinn, receives a college basketball scholarship.  Finley, who wears number  21, on his basketball jersey, works hard to perfect his playing skills and loves the game, but he will never be as good as Erin. 

Russ Washington, whose parents were murdered, has come to Bellmont to live with his grandparents.  Before his parents were murdered, Russ was a brilliant student and star point guard, being recruited by dozens of colleges.   The trauma of the murder has changed him, and he is having problems coping.

Coach Wilkins, who coaches the Bellmont High School basketball team, secretly asks Finley to befriend and keep an eye on Russ.  Although Finley is worried that Russ could take his spot on the team, he agrees to help his coach.  Finley discovers that Russ is extremely unusual, and their relationship turns out to be a turning point in both of their lives.

I read Boy 21 as an ARC awhile ago, and I can’t stop thinking about it.  I loved everything about this book—it was awesome!  It has so much in it—humor, romance, sports, and a great plot line!  When Boy 21, aka Russ, was introduced, I was laughing out loud at his “antics”.  Boy 21 tells Finley that he is waiting for his extra-terrestrial family to pick him up, and that he was sent to earth to study human emotions!  The things that Boy 21 does and says and Finley’s reactions are priceless!  The characters in the book are so likable and real!  I especially like the cafeteria scene where Boy 21 claims, “We are not rabbits!”  I loved this character.  Even when he wants to play basketball again, he purposely messes up because he doesn't want to take Finley's starting position away from him.

The two boys are foils for one another.  Finley is the only white player on an all-black basketball team; conversely, Russ has been the only black member of an all-white team!  Both boys sport the number 21 on their jerseys; both have had tragic events happen to them in their young lives.  Each uses basketball and friendship to each other as coping mechanisms to deal with their respective tragic situations. 

Coach Wilkins, at first, comes across as having a caring and compassionate attitude.  However, as the story progresses, it turns out that he has ulterior motives.  He takes advantage of Finley’s loyalty to him and to the team when he pushes Finley to get Russ back on the basketball court.  Erin, Finley’s girlfriend, respects that Finley doesn’t want to give Russ’s secret away, even to her.  Without giving anything away, I will say that I was mad and upset at the situation that happened to her.

Readers don’t have to be basketball fans to enjoy this book; it has something for everyone!  I highly recommend it for junior high, high school, and public libraries!

 **Reviewer’s note:  The copy reviewed was an ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.