Hoops of Steel

by John Foley

Basketball is Jackson O’Connell’s life. Much more than a game, it allows him to cross barriers of class and race, and make new friends from the rival high school. Driven by his passion for hoops, he can almost forget his alcoholic father and a night of violence that tore his family apart. Jackson’s senior year is plagued by volcanic zits, girl shyness, and rumors that isolate him from most of the school. And when team politics keep him off the starting lineup of the basketball team, his hopes for a scholarship plummet like an airball. His self-confidence in tatters, Jackson makes errors on and off the court that almost cost him a friend and the girl of his dreams. With no rulebook to follow, Jackson must learn how to rebound from injustice and anger . . . and start shooting from the heart.

Genres: Young Adult

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

John Foley is a high school teacher in Washington State. He previously worked as a newspaper reporter in the Chicago suburbs and Alaska, covering sports, cops, features, and any other beat that didn't require him to attend sanitary sewer meetings. Following a career change to teaching, he worked in Alaskan villages for several years, which led to his memoir Tundra Teacher. Hoops of Steel is based in part on his experiences as a basketball player. Foley was second string on the junior varsity at a Division III school, but prefers to simply say that he "played college ball."

Reviews

[Cody Hudziak]

Name: Cody Hudziak

Book title: Hoops of Steel

Hoops of Steel By: John Foley


Personal Response
In my opinion, this wasn't a very good book at the beginning due to the confusing storyline. The reason it was somewhat confusing is that it talked about Jackson’s parents but didn't explain what happened and why he wasn't living with them. The book then got better as i read and had sorta explained what had happened between Jack and his family. Overall i ended up enjoying this book.

Plot Summary
Jackson O'Connell was your average everyday teenage boy. Jackson loved playing basketball and had made it into his life so far. For the past three years, Jackson had been a starter for his high school varsity team. Unfortunately, due to team issues, the coach wasn't going to let jack start as a senior du
e to the fact that he wanted young athletes to become better. Jackson lives with his granny due to an alcoholic, abusive father and having his mom not talking to him because he wouldn’t state to court how horrible his father was to them. Every day, he tried to get this off his mind by going to high court with his friends and playing basketball to eventually become a great athlete.


Recommendation
I would recommend this book to both and girls. More specifically teenage athletes because i feel they could understand what is going on better. The book Hoops of Steel can also be a very relatable book to anyone that is a basketball player and tries to get better. The book also shows that throughout rough times u have to keep your head up and u will be able to get through it and do tremendous things.

[Brooklyn Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked 5 stars because it had you on the edge of of your seat wording why something happened or what is going to happen. It is a sad but not sad story.Someone should read this because it so enjoyble. It also has many ways to conect your life with the book like. The book reminds me of my life. Because in my book my character is playing basketball and he is very poor so he lives with his grandmal. In my life I play basketball and i love it too i am not that good at it but i keep trying my best to get better. What would make this book better is haveing some gril basketball playsers.

[Bailey Folk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoops of Steel

Personal Response
In my own opinion Hoops of Steel is a good book. I can relate to it because the character likes basketball and so do I. It's a good book that involves a character that goes through a normal life a teenager with a couple things that aren't so normal. It's a good book that describes the life of a tennager that really likes baketball.

Plot Summary
Jackson O’Connell is just an everyday ordinary student attending Highland. He has the same problems most teenagers have, a problem with being self-conscious. The erroting volcanoes on his face (that's what he calls them) is what makes him really shy, because he thinks it makes him look ugly. The only thing not ordinary about him is his ability to play basketball. Jackson is the only senior on the basketball team, but he doesn't get any playing time. Jackson and his parents got into a fight which separated them. His mom took his sister and his dad went by himself. Jackson's English teachers mom, took him in her house to live. Jackson goes on with his life as if it were normal. He started to show his coach that he is a better player than to be sitting on the bench during the game, instead of the freshman and sophomores. Later on Jackson gets a girlfriend and his family starts to reunite, which makes him have more courage. He shows his coach that he is good, which got him more playing time. Jackson started off with a rough year, but ended with a pretty good one.

Recondemation
I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't like to read. It is a good book for people who like basketball. I think the audience is pushed towards boys age 8-18. It's an easy book that you could do to get a goodread in and not fail English.

[Drew Vandervest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal response:
I liked this book, because it was about basketball. The book had a lot of drama outside of basketball that I didn't really like. I liked the main character, Jackson, because he was smart and good at basketball. I didn't like the outcome at the end, because Jackson didn't deserve to sit out the rest of the season. I liked the story of the book, because it showed the ups and downs of life and did not try to hide it. This book wasn’t that exciting, though, only at certain points the book were super interesting.
Plot:
The book is about Jackson O’Conner, a high school senior that plays basketball. Jackson has a huge passion for basketball and wishes to play in the NBA one day. Jackson deals with problems on and off the court which could cost him a friendship. Jackson grew up with an abusive alcoholic dad. Jackson had a rough childhood, which made him move in with a family friend. Jackson has flashbacks of days of living with his abusive father. Jackson will never forgets the time when he had to protect his family from his father's abuse. At the end of the book Jackson gets suspended by the the principal, which ended his basketball season.
Character analysis:
Jackson is the main character of the book. Jackson loved basketball. Jackson had a rough childhood which caused him to move in with family friend. Jackson is a smart kid and also a hard worker. Jackson made a school paper that the principal told him not to write which led to suspension to school basketball for the rest of his senior year. Jackson has flashbacks of his childhood from time to time. Jackson doesn't like his team because his the only senior and the rest of his teammates are juniors.
Setting:
The setting took place in New York. Jackson attended the high school Shoreview. Shoreview has over a thousand students. Jackson’s sister and mother were on the other side of town. Jackson’s father lived in California where he attended a rehab clinic for his drinking problems. The book first took place during the fall then carries into winter. This book took place in an area where basketball gets taken seriously.
Recommended:
I recommend this book to people who love to play basketball. I also recommend this book to people in high school. I recommended this book to both genders, because it's a good book overall. I recommend this book for anybody who wants an easy book to read, because the book is worth it. It has a nice story to it. I recommend this book to people with rough childhoods. They will relate to this book more than others, because the main character had a rough childhood.

[Byron Antoine · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!Best book!!

I would read one chapter and can't help to read the next! I would recommend this book to any who likes sports. I even heard that a movie is being made based on the book!!

[Duane Brazil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response: I think this book was good. I liked how the main character Jackson who was a senior and played basketball a lot. There were a lot of fun and exciting characters in this book. My favorite part of this book was when Jackson accidentally started a food fight. I did not like the letters in the book even though they were a big part about what happened with his family.

Plot: This book is about a senior kid named Jackson who dreams about one day being a NBA star. He lives with a close friend of the family. Jackson dose not live with his mom and dad because one night his dad and one of his friends came home drunk and started a argument. His dad's friend somehow got stabbed by a knife in the argument while Jackson was protecting his sister from them.

Characterization: Jackson started off as a average teenage boy who likes playing basketball and dreams about becoming a star one day. He always followed the rules except when he snuck into school after hours on rainy days to shoot hoops in the gym. Eventually the janitor let him stay and shoot hoops even though he was not supposed to. Jackson got into trouble with the principal for a food fight that he didn't start and then he got in trouble for making a school paper about a teacher that the principal told their journalism class they couldn't do. He got suspended and his senior game that night was the last basketball game he could play at his school.

Recommendation: I recommend this book to people who like books about basketball and friendships. It's a decent book and I liked how nothing could keep the main characters apart. I rate this book a four out of five. Its a pretty good book.

[Josh Parks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Hoops of Steel was an excellent book. The author wrote it brilliantly. I never had a moment where I wanted to stop reading or even a single moment of boredom.
I really enjoyed every bit of this book. I liked how the author created suspense leading up to the point when he reveals what happened to Jackson's parents "one horrific night." I also liked the struggle throughout the book as Jackson tried to reclaim his starting position as a senior, after missing the season his junior year.
The only thing I happened to dislike turned out to be how the author used several flashbacks that only confused me.
This book was great overall, and I would recommend it to most, if not all fans of the sports genre.

[Narwhal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this book on my shelf ever since I was a kid but never picked it up due to the underwhelming cover, but I’m glad I finally did.

Good things first:
Foley had me laughing on multiple occasions. He’s great at writing dialogue in a way that keeps your attention.
This book is probably intended for boys in early high school, but as a college student who knows literally nothing about basketball, I enjoyed it just the same.

The cons:
Although all the plot points were very interesting, it did feel a little too fast-paced at times. The first 3/4 of the book was build-up to something, then the last 1/4 threw events one after the other, rapid-fire. There was something new happening every other chapter, which didn’t fit the preset mood, before wrapping everything up a little too neatly in the end.

That being said, I did find the book hard to put down after I reached the midpoint. The beginning was a little slow for me, but it usually is for most people.

The characters talked with that vaguely John Green-esque intelligence at times which sometimes felt out of place, but I still feel overall that this book is super underrated. I’ll definitely recommend it to my sister when she’s a bit older.

[Dallana Alvarenga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson's senior year of high school is overshadowed by something that happened at home during his junior year. His family has since split up, with his dad moving to California and his mother moving to his sister to a nearby town.

Jackson is lucky to have his Granny, who opens her home to him even though they are not really related. He also has basketball and like every high school player, he hopes he can play his talent into a college scholarship. His love for basketball and the Zen feeling he gets when shooting baskets sees him through anger and depression whenever it creeps up on him.

In the community of Highland where Jackson lives, he has no friends except Granny, but in neighboring Midland, he finds a group of friends on the basketball court.

Hoops of Steel is a different kind of sports novel. It's not predictable and the ending doesn't go where you might expect.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was reading the book I was actually interested in what was going to happen next . This is not a normal thing so i began to take my time reading it . The book also relates to me in many ways I people wouldn't understand. The book taught me many things just by reading it like always being prepared because you never Know when your name is going to called.

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with a likable main character and supporting cast. If you like YA books about sports and the usual topics of acne, suicide, racism and abuse, then this is the book for you.

[Osman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Osman Siddiqui
Ms. St. Clair
English 10 College Prep
9 December 2016
Hoops of Steel Book Review
After reading the Hoops of Steel written by John Foley during my first semester of my sophomore year in English class, I can say that this book had met all of my expectations because I had set them very high due to basketball being my favorite sport. While reading this book, I had really enjoyed the way the author had described objects throughout the book. He would describe many different objects such as a basketball, basketball hoop, and Jackson’s school. The author would often use similes and metaphors when describing these objects which make it fairly easy to picture in you head and that’s what makes this author unique. I also enjoyed how the author would describe the main character, Jackson O’ Connell’s basketball games because each time while reading, I could always picture the game in my head and it felt extremely vivid. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book while reading because it had always kept me turning the page anxious to see what happens next in Jackson’s life. Other than the author’s unique writing style, I enjoyed reading this book very much compared to other books such as The Lords of Discipline because it was much shorter in length being at 226 pages compared to the 560 I had read while reading The Lords of Discipline. I was also able to read this book much better than The Lords of Discipline because instead of listening to that book on audio, I was able to read this book by myself and understand the plot much better. Other than the author’s writing style, another element that I had enjoyed while reading this book was how this book had left a ton of cliffhangers. By the authors leaving cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, it always caused me to always turn the page and keep reading, which is another reason why I had finished this book in a short amount of time. Other then that, I really enjoyed the plot of this story because it talked about all the problems that Jackson had to go through during his senior year of high school during his basketball season and because it was very realistic.
Even though my reading experience for this book had completely met all of my expectations, I had also found many interesting quotes throughout the book while reading it during this semester. One scene in the book that I had found to be extremely interesting was when Jackson was giving his friend Gerry some advice about giving speeches and said, “Try that when you give your speeches. Observer the stress you feel when facing a group of people you have to talk to. Breathe deeply, let the stress pass through your system in silence, knowing it’s based on false and silly fear. And then give your speech”(Foley 105). This line said by Jackson to his friend Gerry showed how he is very helpful and he is always willing to help his friends with something they are not confident in such as speeches. This also shows that Jackson is very experienced in giving speeches and talking to big crowds since he knows such good advice about it. The advice that Jackson had given is showing that whenever giving speeches, it is always key to let all the stress pass through your system so you can have a great speech.
This quote written above that was said by Jackson to one of his good friends Gerry relates to the essential question about developing values and beliefs. This quote relates to that specific essential question because Jackson is helping his friend Gerry get through his fear of giving speeches and is installing the belief in his mind that he needs to get rid of all stress in order to give a nice and clear speech. I think the author had included that line within the book because he wants to install that belief into teenager’s minds that it is easy to give speeches as long as you get rid of stress.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to all young high school students that are either in their freshman or sophomore year of high school. I would recommend it to this specific age group because the vocabulary of this book fits that specific age group and I do not think it would have fit for seniors to read this book. I would not recommend this book to middle school students or lower school students because the book may be too advanced for their age group. I think all young high school students would enjoy this book very much because it takes you through Jackson struggles in his senior year of high school while he is going through his final basketball season.

[Corben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson has various family problems going on in his life. But since he loves basketball so much, he keeps calm from doing anything crazy. Even though the team's coach is very funny acting towards him, he carries on with his life. He is shy to really talk to females and also has issues with people at school and not just his family. All his friends meet up at a court called, "High Court". But they are also his rivals in basketball because he plays them during season. Jackson overcomes these issues with basketball.
This book really kept me interested because of his issues. It makes you think about how
i read 13 other pages from wrench book

[Trey J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoops Of Steel Book Review



The book I am reading is Hoops of Steel it was the first book in a long time I actually got into. Main characters name is Jackson O’Connell, he lives with his father and his little sister, they just moved to Shoreville because Jackson’s mom divorced his father. She divorced him because he was an alcoholic and was very abusive so she left him. Jackson was only staying with him so he could take care of his little sister, he was working 2 shifts just for her. He was so busy working that he forgot all about how important school was and he was failing 2 classes. That is the introduction of the book, as you can see Jackson is in a lot of trouble but it is very interesting to see how the book actually ends.
One feature of the book I want to talk about is how strong Jackson is, he could’ve left his father and his little sister but he stayed, protected and worked his butt of so she could live a normal life. Jackson worked 2 shifts, had to go to High School and still go to basketball practice everyday after school. As you can see he is doing so much just for his sister and his father who barely provides the family with anything besides some money. In this book Jackson is the more responsible guardian because his father thinks parenting and working is just a big joke.
The next feature I want to talk about is Jackson’s father, he is abusive and an alcoholic. If you choose to be them two things you might as well just leave your wife and kids so you don’t hurt them. All you are doing is hurting yourself and others, it has no good outcome from doing it. Jackson's father was never there for them, he was a bad role model and a very bad parent. I think if his father was never abusive and an alcoholic Jackson would have good grades and ended up being a very good basketball player in the end.
Overall, this book was very well written. I don't get into much books but this one I was able to sit down and read for an hour almost each day. If you like basketball and family you will most likely enjoy it. There is never a dull moment you will always be locked into the book wondering what big event will come next.

[Kevin Dethloff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoops of Steel, by John Foley, is about teenage boy who is in love with basketball but encounters many problems during his senior year of high school. The main character, Jackson, has a dream to someday get a Division 1 basketball scholarship until he runs into a problem, he doesn’t start. Jackson started during his sophomore year but then broke his hand in his junior year so he wasn’t able to play. During his senior year he doesn't start because he is the only senior and the coach thinks that all of the scrubs and jag offs should get some experience. Jackson really wants to start, but he will have to make some big changes in his game if he expects to start. Not only does Jackson want to start but another problem that Jackson runs into is that his best friend is attempting suicide. This occurs when his best friend, Thaddeus, gets into drugs and then falls asleep right next to a railroad on purpose. It was very unfortunate that he attempted suicide because he was an elite basketball player that was going to go to a Division 1 school for basketball. These are just a few of the many problems that Jackson encounters.

The author, John Foley, writes this book for one main reason. It’s to stick with your dream and never give up. Jackson never gives up with basketball despite not starting his senior year and lucky for him, he finally gets something positive out of it. John Foley does a very good job of pacing the events in the book, pacing of the character’s development and most of all, keeping it very unpredictable throughout the entire book. If you are someone who enjoys adventure sports books, this book is probably for you. If you like fantasy books, this probably isn’t for you. I would recommend this book to most basketball players because this book deals with a lot of basketball. If you are the kind of person who likes to sit on the couch and play video games, this book probably isn’t for you. If you liked he book, Last Shot by John Feinstein, you will like this book too because they are both adventurous basketball novels. John Foley kept me guessing throughout this entire book and then ended the book with a lot of excitement.

[Ben Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hoops of Steel by is a great short novel that is based around a high school student who eats breaths and sleeps basketball. Jackson O'Connell is a normal kid who has classes and stresses in his life but he is able to escape everything through basketball when he is on the court it is like that is the only thing happening in the world and all stresses are gone and he is able to be himself. But something happens and it almost ruins everything for Jackson. Jackson lives with a neighbor who he calls grandma because she treats him as if he is part of the family. Jackson didn't really know his father, his father was an alcoholic and one night his father attacks his mother and Jackson is in the care of his grandmother, really his neighbor, and Jackson grew up with basketball because his grandmother was obsessed with it and so was her son who was Jackson English teacher at school. English was the only thing Jackson liked about schools that didn't have to to with basketball. It was Jackson last year being able to play basketball and he couldn't play last year because of a broken hand and now he was a senior but Jackson found out he will not be starting and he just kind of gave up on school and couldn't focus on basketball. Towards the end of the book Jackson finds hope and does something that takes a lot of courage to do read the book to find out what. This book is mainly about how mistakes can affect not just you but everyone around you this book talks about how Jackson grows up and becomes a better person. I liked this book because I play sports and I find it frustrating when someone plays who I am better just because the coach wants him to have experience. I would recommend this book to someone who likes basketball. Hoops of Steel was not my favorite book but it had its moments.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Dianna Geers for TeensReadToo.com

Jackson is beginning his senior year with one goal: To play basketball and get a college scholarship to a division I college. He lives with Granny (who is not his actual grandmother, but rather a kind neighbor who took him in when things "got crazy" about a year ago). Even though Jackson didn't play basketball during the previous year's season due to a broken hand, he's been honing his skills with friends from his school's rival team. Even though he still battles ferocious acne and shyness, Jackson feels he is handling life well and is looking forward to when basketball practice begins.

That's when the coach informs Jackson that he won't be a starting player. He is the only good senior and the coach's goal is to develop the younger players in hopes of a winning season next year.

And Jackson wonders why everything he touches turns out bad. He's separated from his family, won't be able to get that scholarship, and he is being shunned by most people at his school. He even considers quitting the team. On several occasions.

Will Jackson chase his dream when there doesn't seem to be any hope? Will others' actions choose the destiny of his life or will he be in charge? That's a tough question for a high school senior to figure out.

Many readers will relate to Jackson's self-doubt and will understand why he might give up. Readers will also cheer for Jackson as he makes small steps towards recovering from his turbulent past and to live for himself rather than others.

HOOPS OF STEEL is a realistic book full of real pain and real surprises. It is also filled with good friends, hope, and determination. If only everyone would continue to do what they love even if it might not make their dreams come true.

[Jacari Lenoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson has various family problems going on in his life. But since he loves basketball so much, he keeps calm from doing anything crazy. Even though the team's coach is very funny acting towards him, he carries on with his life. He is shy to really talk to females and also has issues with people at school and not just his family. All his friends meet up at a court called, "High Court". But they are also his rivals in basketball because he plays them during season. Jackson overcomes these issues with basketball.
This book really kept me interested because of his issues. It makes you think about how you would handle your family problems and the other issues that Jackson had in the story. And of course I liked it because it was about basketball. The most interesting part was that he was still managing to still play basketball while dealing with many issues. I just thought it would be to stressful for me.
What I didn't like about this book was the characters. The characters were really boring. Basic teenagers doing drugs, etc.
But any basketball player who has issues out of basketball, I recommend to. Really will catch your attention and may even make you think about your own problems.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book revealing typical teenage themes and conflicts. Jackson, a high school senior, finds his identity after a serious of ups and downs. All Jackson has first is basketball after his family was torn apart one night with his drunk day. He faces problems fitting in in school, but makes friends later when they share the common interest of basketball. Hindered by his coach, principle, and acne, Jackson is forced to make difficult decisions that will determine his whole future.

Some themes are building up courage to stand up for important people, forgiving and forgetting the past, don't be too greedy, be happy with what we got, treasure the people around us. b
Basketball is important in life, I will learn from this book and get better at playing basketball;

At his last finish-off game, he thinks:
"Shoot when you're open"
"Pass when you're not"
..."Celebrate the moment. Give thanks for all you've got. Run to the sunshine. Stand up to any fright. And most important of all, play with joy and delight."

I think this expresses the main themes from the book, not only one should do that in a basketball game, but also in life.

[AlexG.Buckets13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoops of Steel by John Foley is an amazing read should be highly recommended. The inner conflicts throughout the book keeps the reader coming back for more. For example, when the main character, Jackson, is told by his basketball coach that he isn’t likely to play his senior year. “I think I’m good enough to get a scholarship Coach.” “ Not likely, Jackson.”(Foley). Starting a fire in his soul. Jackson prepares to prove everyone wrong this season. The conflicts off the basketball court to exciting too. Troubles at school with teachers keep the attention going. “Teachers and students should never hold a relationship outside of school.”(Foley) Jackson’s high school gets crazy with everyone walking on thin ice. Lastly the battle between the towns make the reader feel a battle that is real. “People thought everyone in Highland was rich.”(Foley). The dilemma between two towns make for interesting competition. Due to the intense conflicts in Hoops of Steel by John Foley this book is great and needs to be shared.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love a good sports story, basketball especially. I can tolerate a mediocre one also, but what mars this story is the author's continuous and largely unnecessary use of the 'N' word. Since this book is set in the 2000's (at least...evidenced by cell phone usage and readily available internet) I'm appalled at the word's blatant usage. Its use almost seems incongruous with the story as a whole. Personally, I just feel that the author could have referred to race and issues stemming from it in a different manner.

I honestly wonder why it's such a big part of the story. It's certainly not needed. Jackson (the main character) definitely has enough challenges to overcome, and plenty of teen angst to drive the story, so what's the point?

There's so much more I could say, but overall the absurd use of such an ugly, degrading, word really doesn't sit well with me. And thus negatively impacted my views and opinion of this book.

[Diego Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a real-life situation, Hoops of Steel is sure to rattle the rim. Jackson, a senior in high school, eats, sleeps and breathes basketball. He stays after-school in the gym to take shots (under the permission of the janitor), and he is always at his friend Danny's house shooting hoops, yet he still doesn't get to start for his basketball team. He is discouraged by other parts of his life, as well -- his acne keeps him from being entirely comfortable with girls, his disassembled family has his head messed up, and he lives with his English teacher's mother -- weird, huh? This book was very interesting, because of how real it got; it is sure to be a book that kids all over the world can establish some sort of connection with. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of basketball, as well as teenagers who feel that they are alone in the world.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

An above-average sports novel for those in about grades 8-10, this is the story of a high school senior who really only cares about basketball. Jackson is engaging and feels real, and his status as a jock is balanced by his social awkwardness and his obsession with his own bad skin. There is a sweet relationship between Jackson and the bright, high acheiving, slightly awkward and also tall girl he slowly discovers is literally the girl of his dreams. Extra tension is added by hints at (that get annoying sometimes) a family drama that has torn Jackson's family apart and made him something of an outcast in his own high school, and that has him living with the grandmother of a former neighbor/now teacher. Like I said, it is above average for a sports book, but its still very much a genre book.

[Aaron_ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hoops of Steel", this was an amazing book! I don't really read a lot, but this book hit home. The vocabulary was not too overwhelming and the characters really have a personality all their own. It was a book about a boy named Jackson O'Connor, he was a senior at Highland high-school. Jackson was OBSESSED with basketball.He had overly active acne on his face,and he was very self-conscious of it.I believe the book tends to draw you in, because he has had a rough life. His dad is a drunk and his basketball coach refuses to play him his senior year. Honestly it was a really good book and I might read it again. I would recommend it to anyone going through adolescence, or anyone who loves basketball like I do, because it would directly pertain to them.

[Yuwei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is from the point of view of a high school kid, named Jackson, who is looking forward to playing in the NBAs when he grows older. Everything seems to getting worse in his life. More zits are popping out of his face and his coach it putting him on the bench more even though he is the best player. But a girl liked him.
This book talks about friendship and about growing up. I can connect to Jackson because i am a fan of basketball and i am going through many of the similar things in my school. The author uses understandable language. It is very clear. It kept me interested till the end.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I've been spoiled by Chris Crutcher's books, so I'm a bit jaded when I read a sports book by anyone else. But, at least this YA basketball novel is for high school students, rather than the plethora of junior high titles that are out there.[return][return]Jackson O'Connell somehow thinks he can get a Div I scholarship going into his senior year, even though he never started last year. Um, hello? Reality, please? Of course, his coach is more interested in building next year's team so Jackson doesn't get much playing time. There is a girl, of course. And some family drama.[return][return]So, I call this an "okay" basketball book. But I'd recommend My Losing Season first.

[Callan O'brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoops of Steel is an amazing book. It kept me wanting to read until the very end. It talks about the life a teenage boy, Jackson O'Connell. He lives with a friend that acts like a grandma to him, she is not his grandma, but they treat each with a grandparent grandson relationship. During the novel, it keeps coming up with events in his life that always seem to be interesting every time. The dramatic incidents leave off and the end of a chapter with a cliffhanger and I always found my having to read the next chapter.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a a person which wanted to fit in but he didn't. He has this dream that one day he would be a famous basket ball player in national tv like the NBA's and that the state of him growing is coming up because he has lots of things coming out and their is this one thing i can never figure out, what does that girl see in him? Anyways my friends talked about this book and said it's good so i read it and i thought it was 4/5.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoops of steel is above average consideredto other sports books.The story gets better towards the middle and end as it starts out slow. The book tells about Jackson O'Connell's life which is basically basketball. He faces many conflict as his parents split when he was young and now he lives with his grandmother. His friend almost dies, he gets suspended for a game, and goes through many struggles his high school season. Good book overall.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl trying to fit in with her school and she wants to be the best on the basketball team. While reading she over comes many obstacles to accomplish what she desires. I thought she book was great and i can relate with it by trying to be the best to whatever she does in her life. I would recommend this book to everyone becomes everyone will understand the lesson.