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Lizzy Legend
by
Lizzy Trudeaux loves basketball. She doesn’t have much by way of money, but she has access to the community court, a worn ball named Ginger, and she practices constantly. After fighting to join the boy’s team at her school, Lizzy is finally given the opportunity to show off her hard-earned skills.
When she answers what she believes is another bill collecting phone call, Liz ...more
When she answers what she believes is another bill collecting phone call, Liz ...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
January 8th 2019
by Aladdin
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I grew up on stories with strong female protagonists: A Wrinkle in Time, Lizzie McGuire, etc. So, this book sounded right up my alley.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be a dud. The biggest problem with this book is, instead of describing what happens during the basketball games, all it gives is inane commentary from the players, the announcers, and random online viewers. Couldn't the author have just shown us what happened without that mess?
Add to that profanity--not only do the a-word, b-word, a ...more
Unfortunately, it turned out to be a dud. The biggest problem with this book is, instead of describing what happens during the basketball games, all it gives is inane commentary from the players, the announcers, and random online viewers. Couldn't the author have just shown us what happened without that mess?
Add to that profanity--not only do the a-word, b-word, a ...more

This book is a girl named Lizzy who is poor and lives with her dad because her mom died at a young age. Lizzy practices basketball every chance she gets because basketball is her life. One day when she was out practicing she got this weird call asking what she wanted for a wish and she said to never miss a shot not thinking that the wish will come true, but it does. Lizzy can't miss a shot no matter how hard the shot is she can't miss. She got onto a professional basketball team and she is on fi
...more

What I Liked
Friends, I learned so much about basketball from this book! I don't follow the sport but I was still able to keep up with the games and what was going on. Lizzy is a great character who is fierce and determined, and even the magic wish she gets doesn't stop her from grueling practice she forces herself to do. Her friend Toby and her dad offer great balance to her dogged seriousness: Toby is goofy and always live streaming on his phone, and her dad starts off pretty beaten down and sa ...more
Friends, I learned so much about basketball from this book! I don't follow the sport but I was still able to keep up with the games and what was going on. Lizzy is a great character who is fierce and determined, and even the magic wish she gets doesn't stop her from grueling practice she forces herself to do. Her friend Toby and her dad offer great balance to her dogged seriousness: Toby is goofy and always live streaming on his phone, and her dad starts off pretty beaten down and sa ...more

This book is pure fun. Strong female protagonist ft. bits of magic, duct taped sneakers, and lots of grit.
The writing alternates between first-person narrative and sports casting that calls in all sorts of media (Tweets, comments made by reporters, interview-style quotes). I've not seen writing like that in a MG book and think it would be perfect for hesitant readers or sports-loving students. ...more
The writing alternates between first-person narrative and sports casting that calls in all sorts of media (Tweets, comments made by reporters, interview-style quotes). I've not seen writing like that in a MG book and think it would be perfect for hesitant readers or sports-loving students. ...more

The writing in this middle grade book is a great example of how multiple points-of-view can enhance a story and keep up the fast-paced action so the reader is caught up in it.
Lizzy works her butt off (literally) to become the best basektball player she can be, but it's still not good enough to earn a spot on the 8th grade boys' team. That is, until she gets a mysterious phone call informing her she has one wish. And she wishes...that every shot she makes will go in. From anywhere. Doing anything ...more
Lizzy works her butt off (literally) to become the best basektball player she can be, but it's still not good enough to earn a spot on the 8th grade boys' team. That is, until she gets a mysterious phone call informing her she has one wish. And she wishes...that every shot she makes will go in. From anywhere. Doing anything ...more

E ARC from Edelweiss Plus
Lizzy lives in an impoverished neighborhood near Philadelphia, and is a fantastic basketball player. She practices an insane amount, and has made a name for herself. When she tries out for her school team, she's sure she'll make it, but when bully Tank and her friend Toby make it but she does not, she is not pleased. She talks to the coach, who is sympathetic and recognizes her skill (which she shares with her father, who was a great player until he was injured), but tel ...more
Lizzy lives in an impoverished neighborhood near Philadelphia, and is a fantastic basketball player. She practices an insane amount, and has made a name for herself. When she tries out for her school team, she's sure she'll make it, but when bully Tank and her friend Toby make it but she does not, she is not pleased. She talks to the coach, who is sympathetic and recognizes her skill (which she shares with her father, who was a great player until he was injured), but tel ...more

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Gr - 5-6
Lizzy’s worked harder than anyone else for most of her 13 years at being the best basketball player, spending hours each day practicing on the rundown court outside her apartment. All the work pays off when Lizzy makes it onto her school’s 8th grade boys basketball team and quickly proves herself to be the MVP. Meanwhile, she is also dealing with bill collectors calling her constantly to get ahold of her father. At first, upon receiving a strange call from a robot, Lizzy thinks it’s some ...more
Lizzy’s worked harder than anyone else for most of her 13 years at being the best basketball player, spending hours each day practicing on the rundown court outside her apartment. All the work pays off when Lizzy makes it onto her school’s 8th grade boys basketball team and quickly proves herself to be the MVP. Meanwhile, she is also dealing with bill collectors calling her constantly to get ahold of her father. At first, upon receiving a strange call from a robot, Lizzy thinks it’s some ...more

This book was so much fun to read. Lizzy is totally serious about basketball and she is a worthy competitor for the boys in her middle school. When she gets the opportunity to make one wish, her life changes in exponential ways. At times the narrative is like a play-by-play with participants and observers contributing information. Sometimes it is famous people we all know like Spike Lee, Jack Nicholson and LeBron James. Reading about Lizzy reminded me of the movie "Like Mike" that my boys watche
...more

I recently finished this ARC, and I loved it! It was so nice to see a book feature a girl athlete AND add a twist to the "wish comes true" trope. So often, books about wishes delve into more serious fare, a sick relative, etc. It was nice to read about something a bit more relatable--a kid who wants to be great at a sport. Lizzy also comes from a lower income family, which is not something I see a lot of in MG, and it's added in an organic way that doesn't take over the plot, but is still someth
...more

3.5 stars
Great addition to any sports collection at a middle schools. Parts are unbelievable and hard to follow, but Lizzy (the main character) is adorable and sweet and genuine. Loved her!! Her best friend Toby is also super endearing and charming. Just parts of this were ridiculous but the writing was really good so it made up for it! Overall, I’d recommend.
Great addition to any sports collection at a middle schools. Parts are unbelievable and hard to follow, but Lizzy (the main character) is adorable and sweet and genuine. Loved her!! Her best friend Toby is also super endearing and charming. Just parts of this were ridiculous but the writing was really good so it made up for it! Overall, I’d recommend.

Lizzy Legend is a story about a girl who has almost nothing, and one wish changes her life. She wishes to never miss a shot is basketball again. She goes on to be the first girl, and youngest player ever in the NBA. She becomes the best player ever, and then she misses a shot. Her world starts crumbling, but she learns to pick her self up again and to keep going, and gets back on her feet.

This pleasant, wish-fulfillment sports fantasy places a gratifying emphasis on hard work and gender equality, with a side of socioeconomic diversity. I was less sold on the character development; her best friend was a bit of a stock character and I didn't see a ton of growth.
...more

I didn't think I would like a book about basketball but I am so glad I picked this up. Basketball fan or not, you like this a lot!
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Matthew Ross Smith is an author from Philly.
He's also a teacher, a musician, and the Founder of The Spaces Between Your Fingers Project, a nonprofit that provides free biographers for people with Alzheimer’s. ...more
He's also a teacher, a musician, and the Founder of The Spaces Between Your Fingers Project, a nonprofit that provides free biographers for people with Alzheimer’s. ...more
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