Shadowed

Hoping to prove himself as a competent basketball player, Nate sets his sights on classmates Colin and Bo. Though they play for a select club group as well as the high school varsity team, Nate is certain he can compete with them. He recruits neighbor Lucas to play on the local rec team with him. The two haven’t been friends since grade school, during which Lucas was given the derisive nickname Creepy Crawley when classmates found him playing with his sister, who has a learning disability, during recess, but they have chemistry on the court. They make a pact: “We just have to keep pushing each other, getting better every day. No quitting.” They eventually make their way onto the club team with Colin and Bo, but when a prank goes sideways, Nate is left reeling. In this straightforward underdog tale, Deuker (Golden Arm) supports explorations of friendship, family, dreams, and grief with high-octane gameplay; utilitarian writing and action-packed chapters propel this empathetic sports novel with an emotional arc that tugs at the heartstrings. Main characters read as white. Ages 13–up. (Nov.)