Rucker Park Setup

by Paul Volponi

Best friends Mackey and J.R. have waited their whole lives to win the basketball tournament at Rucker Park, where their favorite pro ballers squared off against street legends. But the day of their big game, J.R. is fatally stabbed—and it’s Mackey’s fault, even though he didn’t wield the knife. Now Mackey has a score to settle, but the killer is watching his every move.

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Basketball, Friendship, Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2007

Reviews

[Kolby Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book overall. I like the story line because it was confusing to me. I also love this book because I like listening to basketball games too. If there was a series I would read it all

[Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down, it was really good, I like to read a lot of chapter books, you learn a lot when reading novels. Rucker Park Setup, it's about basketball, betrayal, and murder. I would hate to be in Mackey's position. Any person can read this and enjoy it. I am thinking about, re-reading, that's how good it was. Cool book :)

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Wow” is all I can say after reading Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi. This
book really deserves 5 stars out of 5, no doubt about it. Being a person who
doesn’t like reading, Paul Volponi delivers big, as a writer, with his second
based basketball story after Black and White, showing how one bet can really
f*** you up, as described by the main character Mackey.
Rucker Park Setup is a similar story to Black and White. In this book, there
are two best friends who refer themselves as “blood brothers” (like in Black and
White) So the story goes like this, J.R. (a Puerto Rican kid) and Mackey (an
African American kid) who are best friends since fifth grade, a duo of talented
basketball players, despite their racial differences decide to enroll in this
new team called the Greenbacks, which is owned by this big-time rapper named
J-Greene and coached by former pro-baller of the New York Knicks called Tommy
Mitchell. So J.R. and Mackey practice as much as they can for their games along
with J.R.’s father , Stove,(the referee of all the games) who is like Mackey’s
second father since his father died when he was too little to remember, who
hates his second father, since he think he is a disrespectful person. Also,
since J.R.’s mom past away from cancer it leads the three of them Stove, J.R.
and Mackey to become closer together. As the final game of the tournament
approaches J.R. is stabbed with a knife in the basketball courts, in which
seconds later dies on the court with Mackey just looking on, terrified about
what just occurred.
Ricker’s Park Setup is a good book; the only downside of it is that it focuses
too much on the final game of the tournament, Mackey describing what he feels
and what the coach (Fat Anthony) of the opposing team, Non Fiction, thinks, what
J-Greene thinks and what Stove thinks. During the game, Mackey flashes back,
which is a technique Paul Volponi used in this book to make things clear in the
book for the reader, even though he used it at the end of the book. I think,
Paul Volponi could’ve elaborated on these scenes instead of flashing back a lot
throughout the final game. But these scenes basically gave the ending away,
J.R’s death can seen as Mackey’s fault since Fat Anthony made a bet with Mackey,
a $500 bet, where Mackey agreed not to win by 5 points if their team would win
the game., in order for Fat Anthony to win the bet he made with J-Greene that if
he were to lose, it had to be by at least 5 points and if he were to win it had
to be by at least 5 points. Somehow, J-Greene finds out and in Rucker’s Park
threatens to stab Mackey with the knife, but as J.R. walks in ready to shoot
some hoops for practice, before the final game, stabs J.R. instead for the bet
Mackey made with Fat Anthony. In the end, the Greenbacks win by five but Mackey
gives everything up and snitches on J-Greene for being the murderer, this leads
him to be hated by everyone when they find out the whole story how he chose $500
over his best friend. He feels that he doesn’t deserve to get a trophy from
winning the tournament and picks the broken trophy, the one J-Greene dropped on
the floor over a regular new trophy.
Overall, it’s a good book.

[Jared Grilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was alright I liked the story line but i didnt like how it jumped around. This book was about this kid Mackey and his friend J.r. and how they are joining a teaming up in a tournament called the Rucker Park Tournament. One of the most famous street ball tournament in New York. J.r. gets murdered and Mackey play the games anyways but J.r.'s dad is the ref. His name is "Stove" well his nickname. Through out the book it skips back and forth, from the final game against fat Anthony's team. Fat Anthony is the bad guy and he has a lot of beef with Stove. Mackey's team is this rapper who thinks he is the best at everything and very cocky. This book goes back and forth from the big game and memories either when Mackey was younger, the day his friend died, shooting hoops with J.R. and Stove, or with his mom and his mean step day. It also has different point of views like it has a page about what Fat Anthony is thinking and saying, and aslo a few about Stove, J.R., and the rapper but i cant remember his name. I liked this book because it makes you think "what would I do in this situation". I also like the story line and the drama, and the basketball. My favorite character has to be Mackey because he is who the story is mainly about and its hard to get to know the other characters, my second favorite has to be Stove because he seems cool. I didnt like how the book jumped all over the place. That was the worst part and the most annoying. I wish they talked about basketball a little more and not jump around so much, a little is fine but it was happining just about every page. This is why I give this book a 4 star rating i recommend this book to people who like basketball dramas.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is heart stopping and blood rushing. For all the basketball lovers out there, this is the book to read. A story about Mackey and his friend J.R. who live in Harlem that ball out on the most famous street ball court in all of New York. But one night when J.R. is murdered on the court, Mackey is struck with the loss of his friend. He must fight in the tournament without his partner. Mackey usually lives with J.R.’s pops. They are like family. He is stuck with either winning the Rucker Park championship or risk it all and take a bet to play D1 basketball. And with J.R.’s pops reffing the games, the calls will either be for or against him. And one Question that is still on his mind, who killed J.R.?
This is a story about mystery and action filled fun. And Rucker Park is indeed a real street ball court out in Harlem New York which makes the setting great for the story. A warning for readers, there is a lot of profanity. But otherwise, I give this book a 7 out of 10. A must read.

[Joshua Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fictional. Targeted to the sporty type kids, and those who like mystery of the sort. It was one of the best I've read. It had a great plot to it, and it just had great detail. The book keeps you guessing, and trying to figure out what will come next. Two boys are the best of friends. They love the game of basketball. There's hardly time when they're not playing. They both are getting ready for a big tournament, they have to win a few games to get into the tournament. When they finally get there, one of the friends, Mackey, makes a bet, which ventures to get his friend JR murdered. Not able to live with it, Mackey continues the tournament without his friend.

I enjoyed this book so much. There was a lot of suspense to it. I didn't know a lot was going to happen. Like figuring out who the killer would be. Though all suspense was cleared of course by the end of the book. I also enjoyed all the games that were described, because I too play ball, and I felt like I was living the moment they were having in the games they played in. Just made me feel like I witnessed their games.

I would recommend this book to any who enjoy basketball, and love to live in the moment of a game. To those who like suspense and mystery. Walter Dean Myers novel "Slam" is some what similar, in ways. But different in some areas. In Slam Greg has a best friend named Ice, but they begin to fall apart. He then has to chose which path of his life he'll take. But, again Rucker Park Setup is a must read.

[Bryan Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi was one the best books I have read this year. It’s about two best friends named Mackey and J.R. Who are really good at playing basketball. Their goal is to win a tournament at Rucker Park. Where it turns out some of sport’s greatest ballers squared off against street legends. Both friends had to play a certain amount of basketball games and win them to go to the Rucker Park Tournament. Then later turns out that J.R. gets brutally stabbed on the day of an important game. Mackey didn’t stab him but he feels responsible for the stabbing of his best friend. I think it’s kind of dumb that he has this guilt inside of him but he doesn’t tell J.R. right there. Like at the time he started feeling this guilt, he should have told J.R. and sorted everything out with him there.
On the other hand the person who stabbed J.R. is now watching Mackey’s every move, but Mackey is still determined to finish the Rucker Park Tournament on his own terms. Even without J.R. , I think that’s kind of messed up because him and J.R. are like really close friends, and for like Mackey to play without him is just not the same. But I think that J.R. would have wanted Mackey to go to the finals even without him.
Overall this was a really good book. I love the way the author writes the book with description. It just makes the book come alive, like it’s speaking to you. It also makes you feel like you’re really there.

[Hunter Storkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Friends Mackey and J.R. have been playing basketball for so long and they wait and wait to win a basketball game at Rucker Park. There favorite pro ballers and street legends and favorites have played against each other there. But something tragic happens the day of there big game, Mackey's best friend J.R. was severely stabbed. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes mild detail and sports and kind of a adrenaline rush. I enjoyed this book very much. This is the second book i have read by this author and i enjoy the length and the amount of detail there is to make you feel like you're at the game.

[Jiesen Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Volponi's amazing mystery/sports literature involves two best friends J.R. and Mackey. Their love for basketball brings them to Rucker Park, a famous basketball court holding a tournament. Before they can get to the championship game, J.R. is fatally stabbed right in front of Mackey. Now he has to keep quiet lest he be murdered as well. Volponi's ability to blend two popular, but different, genres produces a masterpiece that constantly has the reader question who is the murderer? The ending and reveal is marvelously done.

[Matt Gumularz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story "Rucker Park Setup" by Paul Volponi is about two best friends named Mackey and JR, and how one of them was murdered due to actions that had relations with the upcoming, big Rucker Park Tournament Championship Game. The story is in third person point of view, and told mostly during the championship game over at Rucker Park. This story taught me to always think before you act. You never know if your actions will lead back to people you care about or are close with. I highly recommend it to people who like sports, and action type books.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruker Park Setup takes place in New York. Two best friends playing basketball for a tournament in the most famous outdoor court in the country. But another rival team sets up a bribe for Mackey. And the head coach of his team is trying to figure out who took the bribe. This ends up killing his best friend JR. Now in his last game the book goes through every thought, flashback, and feelings of Mackey. Playing in the championship game at Rucker Park he is very angry and upset.

[Henry Sandiford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason why I only gave this book 3 stars is because it disappointed me with tragic events that occured. What I like about it thoush was that it showed all the scams, money and competition that goes into competitive street basketball in New York City.

[Connor Josephson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read was Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi. This book had a reading lexile level of 770. Paul Volponi usually writes books about sports and this is another one of his sport books. He has also wrote other books about basketball including the book, Final Four. Most of the books that Paul Volponi writes have main characters as teenagers. This book’s main characters, Mackey and J.R., are teenagers as well. In this book, Mackey’s betrayal leads to his J.R., his best friend's, death. They were both on the same basketball team that was on the way to winning a streetball tournament championship at Rucker Park. Mackey’s basketball team won the championship, but there are many twists and turns on the way to winning that championship.
I think that the author developed the theme well throughout the book and I liked how it changed throughout the book. At the very beginning of the book, the theme was to stick together with your friends. “People were looking at me because they knew how tight we were,” (page 2). I love that the author says this because it helped explain that friends stick together. The author did this in many other ways including saying that the boys wanted some of the same things. The author set up the theme very well in the beginning of the book. The theme changed though during the book from sticking together to not lying otherwise bad things could happen. “So when he got to J.R.’s name, I just nodded my head,” (page 128). Mackey lied that J.R. is the one that is a traitor when he is not a traitor. J.R. ends up getting murdered and had to pay for Mackey’s actions. This is a great way to show in the book the consequences of lying. The thing I didn’t like about the theme is how serious the consequence are for lying. Most of the time when someone lies, someone else or the person that lies will not be murdered for lying. It doesn’t make sense for someone to get murdered for lying in this event in the book. I liked the transition of the theme in the book.
I would recommend this book to teenagers that like sport books. This book is based around a teenage basketball player. During most of the book they are playing basketball. There are a few times that there was swearing in the book, so someone who doesn’t like that will not want to read this book. My favorite part of the book was when Mackey reveals who killed J.R. The author made it feel real when he wrote about what a dad would do if he found out who killed his son. That’s why this was my favorite part. Paul Volponi, the author, writes with a style that is easy to understand and makes the readers feel the characters emotions. “I scream at the top of my lungs,” (page 140). That lets the reader know exactly how the characters felt. The author also used flashbacks. An example from the book would be when he talked about how J.R. dies. The author also had the characters talking a lot to each other during the book, which added to the enjoyment of reading the book. This was a new author I hadn’t read before and I enjoyed the book.

[Alexandra I · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I am currently reading is “ Rucker Park Setup” by Paul Volponi in 2007. The protagonist is a teenage boys named Mackey and J.R. . They live in Harlem, New York , right down the street from Rucker Park. With a view over the very court at rucker, where J.R. was killed. The major conflicts is self-to-self as Mackey struggles to keep himself together on the court during a basketball game. Also, character-vs-character cause Mackey doesn't like Fat Anthony, the coach for his rival team. The theme for the book is making good decisions. This is a great book for ball players and people that really enjoy the game basketball. This book show deep emotions and makes you feel how everyone is feeling. I would recommend this book to basketball lovers.

Mackey is reminded of the tragic death of his best friend J.R.. During this basketball game, Mackey is so distracted by the fact he is playing over a sentimental spot, where his best friend was killed. All he could think about was how the very spot that J.R. died is covered with a bad layer of paint because his blood stained the court. “Greene brings me over a bottle of water and pours it on my hand. I rub them together, and the water runs through my fingers onto the floor in a puddle. Then it soaks into the ground, the same way J.R.’s blood did.” (p.55). Stove, J.R.’s father, is there reffing the basketball game- the Greenbacks vs. Non-Fiction. Non-Fiction is the best basketball team that plays at Rucker Park. Their team is coached by Fat Anthony, he has always wanted J.R. and Mackey on his team. But it was too bad because Stove knew that he didn’t want his boys caught up gambling. Stove always did his best to be an amazing role model to J.R. and Mackey because he knows how hard it is to be a man of color. J.R. was Puerto Rican and Mackey is African American. J.R.’s death hit everyone hard because they knew how amazing he was and how his father made sure of that.

[Tenzin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book that I read is called Rucker Park it was released in 2007 and was written by Paul Volponi, it talks about a park where a bunch of the greatest pro basketball players go up against street legends, J.R and Mackey have been waiting for this moment to win the basketball tournament there. The protagonist is J.R and Mackey who are best friends/neighbors. JR later gets fatally stabbed and everything changes for the team. 90% of the book is the Tournament game in action through Mackey’s eyes. Mackey must play the game on the court where JR is stabbed while knowing his role and deciding how to make things right. I like the book because it’s about basketball and basketball interests me.This book might interest other people who play basketball because it talks about redemption and betrayal

The quote I chose was “Lots of people show up to Rucker Park, the Crowds at Rucker Park are loud and almost right on top of the court. When they’re all together on something, their voice can be like a sledge-hammer that no team wants to get hit with.”This quote shows setting because it talks about how the loud crowds affect their confidence and how they play at Rucker Park. JR goes to Rucker Park and watches the two teams battle for a win on Rucker Park. This quote affected me as a reader because I play basketball, and I know how people yelling, parents, and coaches yelling can throw off someone’s confidence or focus in a game. Choose books are where you read a book from the classroom and you choose one of the prompts listed on the google classroom and fill in a response from that, For example I said the plot is to mess up the players at Rucker Park and make them get out of their comfort zone and make mistakes to make the opposing team has an advantage.

[Tommy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I put the two stars because I thought it was okay by good reads definition. I would really give it about two and a half stars.

Rucker park setup was an okay book. I thought it was fun and interesting at times.

The plot is kind of bland but here it is. The two protagonists of the story are JR and Mackey. There is a basketball league/area in Harlem called rucker park. Jr and Mackey are inseparable they are both wonderful basketball players with each other who both played at rucker park . We only know this from Mackey telling us later on as the story opens up right after JR got murdered. Throughout the story JRs killer is watching Mackey who is still playing basketball. Mackey is trying to win the championship of the Rucker Park Setup as all of his peers throw issues and pressure his way.

Overall I thought Rucker park setup was okay. It at times had me wanting to read more. For the most part there were only major interesting changes at the beginning of the book, it starts to seem to drag on after the first couple of chapters. There is a good use of slang words and a few curse words which may be helpful for tying in new readers. I also thought it was really easy to picture what was going on. There was really good imagery I could draw detailed pictures of almost every scene in the book. All in all you can try this book out and see how you feel after the first couple of days. I could see why someone would enjoy this book. For me I just had a feeling that the book could be much shorter the whole time I was reading it.

[Leo V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever dreamed of playing basketball? If so, Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi is a great book for you. The book starts with the main character Mackey mourning the loss of his best friend J.R. Mackey felt like he was responsible for J.R.’s death even though he hadn't killed him. Makey and J.R. were like brothers and they loved basketball. Mackey and J.R’s dream was to win the Rucker Park which was a huge tournament to get kids a scholarship. No one knows who really killed J.R. except for Mackey and the killer knows that Mackey knows it’s them. Mackey becomes a mole and attempts to sell the final game for the other team. In the end the Mackey confronts the killer at the end of the game.


Spoilers ahead



In my opinion if you don’t like watching or playing sports you shouldn’t read this book, or if you're under the age of 12. This book does not just have basketball scenes. It has violent scenes too. For example, when Stove (J.R.’s dad) found out who the killer was, he started to pound the killer's head into the ground, hospitalizing the killer. There are all sorts of things going on, like making deals with gang members or talking to old retired NBA players that come back to Rucker park to watch the up and coming athletes. All of the people that live in the area look forward to the tournament. In my opinion this book can be confusing at times but still very interesting. I highly recommend this book if you like basketball or any kind of sport. I would give this book a five out of five, and I would read this book again.

[Monica Caldicott]

Mackey and his best friend JR live their lives for basketball. Growing up in Harlem so close to Rucker Park, street ball was in their blood before they were tall enough to dunk.

Rucker Park is the place where the basketball tournament can make it or break it. Professional basketball players were discovered at Rucker Park. And young guys like Mackey and JR have the chance to shine.

Read p. 23: "Stove replayed moves for us that went down smooth as silk … the first time Fat Anthony put a dime in front of my face."

Fat Anthony is backing a team for the Rucker Park tourney, and his team (called Non-Fiction - I like that name!) is playing JR and Mackey's team, the greenbacks, coached by J. Greene, a rich rap star. The action on the court is NOT all the action there is surrounding these important neighborhood games.

Mackey takes $500 from Fat Anthony to throw the game.
But JR is the one on the losing end of J. Greene's anger - and his knife.

[Tyler DeCastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rucker Park Setup is a basketball drama that is intense and can make your heart skip a beat. 2 best friends J.R and Mackey are playing for the Rucker park tournament but before the game J.R got stabbed. Mackey didn’t kill him but it was all his fault. I would recommend it for someone who likes basketball, like me. The book is pretty short but it’s full of excitement. The one thing that bothers me about the book though is that it jumps around too much. What I mean by this is that the book goes into different times and back into another time a lot which confuses you. I would rate this book a ⅘. I really enjoyed the book but again it was sort of confusing reading it. The author does a good job of making you picture the book and feel what the characters are feeling. Rucker Park Setup is a pretty good book overall. I would recommend reading it.

[Garyu.Ide · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, written by Paul Volponi, illustrates a journey of not only basketball but life, linking to the world's most famous streetball court, "Rucker Park." Mackey and Fat Anthony are introduced as what readers call a main character who is seeking the hoop dream as a teenage athlete. The unique setup of the novel using NYC and Rucker Park draws every basketball player who enjoys playing the sport, but I would say unfortunately it is not one of a kind, which amuses everyone who reads the book. I personally would say that I would not have touched or enjoyed this book if I weren't a lover of basketball. Still an amazing book and maybe a potential entry to find some love or joy towards basketball, and of course towards reading.

[Cameron Pasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi is a really good book. The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it jumped around to much. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. My favorite character in the book is Mackey because he is a really good basketball player. He isn't even a ball hog, like you would think if a person is a really good ball player you would think they were a ball hog but he wasn't. My favorite part in the book is when Mad Dog Dunks it off Mackey's alley when they are in the tournament at Rucker Park. If you guys want to find out if they win the tournament. then you guys will have to read the book But overall this was a good book all in all.

[Jennifer Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for young basketball fans, as the entire action of the story takes place during the Rucker Park Basketball Championship. The reader is immediately introduced to the fact that Mackey's best friend has been murdered, and Mackey claims responsibility. This propels one to keep reading to find out his involvement, as well as to see who will win the championship game. Mackey is the star of his team, but is holding back to fulfill his obligation to Fat Anthony, who has money riding on the game. Will Mackey be true to his friend's memory, or will he succumb to the pressure of the adults who are trying to manipulate him? It's worth a read to find out.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the basketball descriptions in this book, and how the story was structured around flashbacks that took place during a basketball game. It has definite appeal for the sports enthusiasts and lots of drama. For reluctant readers the story might be a bit hard to follow as it flashes back and forward in time, but those who are willing to stick with it will be rewarded with the slowly revealed tale of how the main character's best friend was murdered and why he deals with so much guilt about his role in the crime.

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this is a good book. The book is about a boy who enters a basketball tournament at Rucker Park. The boy's best friend is murdered and he saw who did it but is too afraid to tell anyone. The book almost entirly takes place during the final game and it gives you hints about who the murderer is.

[Julian Lozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

My main character "mackey" and his bestfriend "J.R" play basketball at rucker park and J.R gets stabbed but its mackeys fault and the killer is watching everything mackey does. if i had to sum up the main characters name in one word i would say that he is anxious because he knows who the killer of J.R is but he dosent want to tell anyone who it is.

[Ashton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very good and inspirational. There were 2 kids with the same dream and one of them didn't get to live out he dream because he was murdered and the other kid lives out his dream for both of them. All in all very good book would recommend to a friend.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was disappointing. I read it because it came up as a Ya to use with TKAm or Just Mercy. One, I don’t know why? Two, couldn’t use it anyway cuz the “F” word is quite abundant. 3) It got a bit confusing with all the basketball activity and keeping the players straight.

[Adrian M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was pretty good and its one of the first books were I Had to force myself to read and overall I recommend this book, good for people who like basketball

[cindy haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good 👍

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book,highly suggested!