This is the rare book that deserves its awards and actually gets kids to read. The novel-in-verse format isn't a gimmick—it's the whole point, making the story feel like a mixtape of Josh's life. The basketball is authentic without being exclusionary, and the family dynamics feel real in the best way: loving but messy, supportive but flawed.

The emotional punch comes from the father's health crisis, which forces both boys to reckon with what really matters. It's heavy but not traumatic, and handled with care. Parents should know it's coming, but it's exactly the kind of meaningful conflict that makes kids think about mortality and family without being scared.

If your kid thinks poetry is boring or reading is a chore, hand them this. It moves fast, hits hard, and might actually change their mind about what books can do.