2017
WISE Score
Amazon
A high-energy pep talk in book form that uses basketball logic to help kids navigate the actual hard stuff in life.
4.7
4.7View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
Kwame Alexander is basically the GOAT of modern middle-grade engagement. He knows how to write for kids who think books are boring.
The Playbook isn't a story you sit down and read cover-to-cover; it's a manual for mental toughness. It’s the kind of thing you leave on a nightstand for a kid to flip through when they’re feeling down about a bad grade or a lost game. It’s high-quality, high-impact, and honestly, most adults could probably stand to read a few of these rules too.
Best for the 9 to 14 crowd. It’s sophisticated enough for middle schoolers to not feel babied, but simple enough for a 4th grader to digest.
It's pure character-building. It focuses on resilience, teamwork, and personal integrity without being saccharine or fake.
While it's a self-help/motivational book, the use of poetry and sports metaphors to explain complex life hurdles is clever and visually engaging.
Zero red flags. No language, no violence, no mature themes beyond the 'struggles of life' variety. It's as safe as a book gets.
This is the book's entire purpose. It teaches grit and emotional intelligence using the language of basketball and success stories from real-world icons.
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