Bouncing Back

by Scott Ostler

Packed with humor and thrilling sports action, this "wonderful story of friendship and the unique ability of kids to overcome a challenge" (#1 New York Times bestselling author Mitch Albom) "will get in your heart and won't get out" (#1 New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica).

Back in his old basketball league, before the car accident, thirteen-year-old Carlos Cooper owned the court, sprinting and jumping and lighting up the scoreboard as his opponents (and teammates) watched in amazement. But now, Carlos feels completely out of his league on his new wheelchair basketball team, the Rollin' Rats. After all, how can he make a layup when he's still struggling to learn how to dribble?

But when the city's crooked mayor threatens to tear down the Rollin' Rats' gym, Carlos realizes that he can't stay on the sidelines forever. Because without a gym, the team can't practice, and if they can't practice, they can kiss their state tournament dreams goodbye. If Carlos is going to learn what it truly means to be part of a team and help his new friends save their season, he'll have to either go all-in . . . or get out.

Genres: Sports, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Disability, Juvenile, Humor, Basketball

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2019

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is heartwarming and filled with authentic basketball court action reminding us that wheelchair basketball is indeed real basketball. The book begins with Carlos going to his first practice with the team. He is relatively new to being in a wheelchair and struggles with being on the court in a chair. Once a hotshot scorer, he is forced to be a student of strategy and that makes him a better teammate. The team faces a crisis with their home gym and the book depicts their efforts to effectively fight for their space. Sometimes they make mistakes and there are consequences. Will their team make it to state even though their gym is unavailable for practices and games? Will they get to go to Kansas City (love having that song as a part of the plot) for nationals? Since Carlos is the main character we get a great sense of his home life and the story behind his need for a wheelchair. We do not get to learn much about the other team members (besides their basketball court moves) except for Mia who lived in sixteen different foster homes before she "hit the lottery" and was adopted by two moms.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books and Edelweiss for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Ostler is a writer of sports non-fiction and that background allows him to bring a ring of authenticity to the basketball aspect of his debut novel for middle grades students. But there is so much more than basketball in this novel! Students and teachers will easily recognize themes of perseverance, working together, and being a true friend, but there are other messages that are more subtle--standing up to bullies, both the typical school yard type as well as the scarier ones in the role of parent, and the idea that a disability doesn't have to eliminate as many things from life as you might think. Every player on the Buccaneers/Rollin' Rats basketball team is in a wheelchair for some reason of the other, but at times, readers in grades 4-8 will forget that fact and only see 12-13 year old kids who have the same fears and dreams as they do. Ostler creates a diverse cast that does not feel contrived or forced as he blends Caucasian, Hispanic, and African American characters with varying financial and family backgrounds together into a cohesive team of young people who just want to play basketball and will even rise up against city leaders to reach their goals. Critics of Ostler's work may object to the way that all the threads in the book tie up so neatly in the end, but most kids will recognize that the lives of everyone are not left perfect, only changed. Highly recommended without any reservations on content for middle grade libraries with readers of sports writers Lupica and Green as well as realistic fiction by Lord, Graff, Sonnenblick, and O'Connor.
Added note: one character briefly mentions that she "hit the lottery" when adopted by double moms and those moms both attend her basketball games.

Thanks for the digital advanced reader copy, Edelweiss.

2nd reading-During COVID19, I set up a Read Aloud Google Classroom for my library patrons and primarily read books I had given 5 star ratings. Both boys and girls commented that they enjoyed this one.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 bk 243. I rarely give sports fiction books a five star - this book is deserving of the five stars and more. I read this as one of the 2021-2022 Young Hoosier books (4th - 6th grade) in order to write a reading quiz for it. Instead I, put down my notepaper and read it for the wonderful, engaging, story that it is. Not just a book for guys or girls, this is a book about heart, courage, using your brains and your skills and human and print resources to achieve your goals. Left in a wheelchair after an auto accident kills his parents, Carlos now lives with his aunt and uncle and has little interest in the sport that once consumed his life. Uninterested until his relatives introduce him to wheelchair basketball and a team of warmhearted, goal driven kids and their coach. The story has so many elements: bullies, research into history, derelict buildings, donuts, rats, and people with and without integrity. I heartily recommend it to all who like a good story.

[C Heaslip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic...wheelchair basketball. Fans of Wonder and Out of My Mind will like it. Boy loses his parents in a car accident and moves in with his Aunt and Uncle. Bully at school. Sports fans will like how a lot of things are worked out through basketball.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

[Landon]

In this book a handicapped kid named Carlos loves basketball but doesn't feel normal in his wheelchair team. There is many ups and downs in this story for example it all started off when he got into a car accident and had to be in a wheel chair and he's trying to become the basketball player he used then he found out that the gym was being destroyed. Read this story and find out what Carlos does.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't quite put my finger on why, but this just did not work for me. Such a shame because this is one of the few, if any, books about wheelchair sports that I am aware of. None of the characters felt particularly well-developed and there were so many issues brought up, then barely dealt with, that it was hard to really process any of them. You could write a whole book about what was going on with Smasher, the bully, and the abuse he’s endured. I wish this had been written by someone who has actually played wheelchair basketball. I felt I was missing the experience as a reader of what it’s like to actually play wheelchair basketball, possibly because the author doesn’t have any experience with it himself. Having read other sports books that capture the feeling of really being out there playing, this seemed a little lacking. I never quite felt like I was connecting with Carlos or experiencing his story completely. I was hoping for an author’s note talking about why Ostler wrote this book, all the research he did to write about multiple populations he does not belong to, but there wasn’t one. To me that felt like a massive misstep that detracted from my appreciation of the book. This is one of the only books I know of that talks about a wheelchair basketball team and I do think Ostler made great effort to include a myriad of kids/characters. Am going to start researching to see what other wheelchair sports books are out there now.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably about 2.5 stars. I liked that the book had a different perspective: boy adjusting to life now that he’s wheelchair bound. I felt it was a little much having him also adjust to life as an orphan, especially because that wasn’t addressed too heavily. There were a few too many details about basketball too.

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: disabled youth athletes are empowered when the gym they use for basketball practice is about to be torn down

Cons: The bad guys are overly stereotypical. I also have concerns that this book was not written by someone with a physical disability. I could change my rating after Disability in Kidlit has a chance to review.

[Catharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about changing perspective and adapting to new circumstances. A sports story with plenty of discussion opportunities.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jam-packed, exciting story focused on a wheelchair basketball team that is fighting to become a strong team and save their community gym. Tons of issues in here -- from the various personal stories of the kids on the teams (losing parents, dealing with chronic illness, foster system) to the backstory of the notorious school bully (DV) to the loving family that Carlos, the main character, has created with his aunt and uncle following the death of his parents in the same accident that paralyzed him. Diverse kids, diverse stories, a little old fashioned sleuthing, some spectacular teamwork, and fascinating game play-by-plays. A lot of heart in this book, and what I loved is that while those back stories give the characters appeal and life, the book is ultimately about sports kids playing sports, and the author never forgets that or trivializes it.

Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carlos was the star shooter on his basketball team. Now, a year after the accident that killed his parents and put him in a wheelchair, Carlos thinks he has lost sports as well. Eager to help, his aunt and uncle, ask him to visit a practice of a wheel-chair basketball team. Finding this sport takes all new skills that he doesn't yet have, Carlos almost leaves but the kids and the coach help Carlos find a new joy in an old sport - and a lot of new skills too. Just as the team is really starting to roll, they learn that the sleazy major is planning to tear down their gym. Team work has never been so important as the kids fight to make it to state and save their gym.

I really enjoyed this story! The disability experience is a major element here but the real draw is the sports with the action of this intense and demanding sport really well written. There is a likeable cast of characters with some interesting side themes and the whole package will make kids cheer.

[Kylie]

Recommended for grades 4-7. The story of Carlos, a recently wheelchair-bound middle schooler who rediscovers his love of basketball on a wheelchair basketball team. This book really has the feel of a sports book more than a realistic-fiction-about-having-a-disability book. (Basically the opposite of Mascot by Antony John, where the disability experience is more of the focus and the sports is more in the background.) The team is made up of a diverse cast of disabled players who work hard, support each other, and fight for their team. There's an element of civic engagement, too, as the team takes on a corrupt mayor in hopes of saving their gym from demolition. A great choice for sports fiction fans looking to read something from a less commonly-covered perspective. There is some light swearing.

[Rasleen Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the Bouncing Back book, I feel that this is another masterpiece, going onto my favorites list. It was a new genre for me but I really liked it. I must say that it kept me engaged till the end of the story. The writing and the setting is well depicted by the author and that's the reason, it made me feel curious to know and read more. The characters chosen are amazing and the conversations between them are really interesting. The author describes a person’s inner feeling so deeply that the reader feels he is into the character’s shoes. Scott Ostler leaves no effort behind to make this book a fun read. I have no hesitation to recommend this book to others who are looking forward reading something interesting about topics like sports but also the ones who love to read inspiring and motivating stories about friendship and overcoming disabilities.

[Chalida · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an #ownvoices text but I have been reading Scott Ostler in the sports section of the SF Chronicle for years and was excited about this middle grade novel about a basketball team composed of teens in wheelchairs. Carlos has experienced tremendous loss in the course of a year-- lost his parents and the use of his legs, but this book is about basketball at the highest level of competition and it's about taking down the man, the mayor who is involved in shady dealings. It's about bullies and friendships and a lot about this amazing team. Really wonderful read.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book for two reasons-- 1) I had read Roll With It about a girl in a wheelchair and 2) because I recognized Scott Ostler as a sports reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. Although I'm not a follower of sports and don't know all of the basketball terms, I enjoyed this story that seems set in the Bay Area and makes references to various Bay Area people and places. The team work and friendship of the wheelchair teens proved inspiring. Good book. Go Rats!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

When thirteen year old Carlos Cooper, a pure shooter for his old basketball team, joins a wheel chair basketball team after his car accident he discovers that basketball is more than just being a gunner. Just as he starts to feel comfortable being a member of the rolling rats, the team loses the use of their home gym, and their hopes of going to the State, and possibly the National Championship begin to fade.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book, the characters were great. It had a great plot and pace. We don't actually find out what happened to Carlos properly until mid-way through the book, but it seems appropriate and fitting. I think it would have been a slower (too slow) pace if it had been earlier.
I loved the character development over the course of the story. The ending was open ended but also wrapped up the story nicely.

[Jenny Lacika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one. The tension of game action paired with the struggle to keep their gym kept me turning the pages. The characters are incredible too, with full personalities. It incorporates a lot of important topics and themes, but does not feel preachy or heavy.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great feel-good story. Perfect for middle schoolers. Lots of basketball—wheelchair basketball. And plenty of tween shenanigans. Every time I put this book down, I looked forward to picking it up again.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age rating: 9-13

Bouncing Back is about a kid, Carlos, getting into wheelchair basketball. Scott Ostler, as a renowned sports writer, did an excellent job writing the play-by-plays of the games. I’ve never read a better sports novel.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The story line is kind of standard fare, with endearing kids, a wise coach, and a corrupt mayor. Also, a good bit of basketball play by play. Still, wheelchair basketball sounds like a challenging sport! I listened to the audio version and really admired the aunt and uncle.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goodness this took Elijah and I awhile to finish this book. It is one of the battle of the books he is reading. I really enjoyed it and there were so many different topics to discuss from this one book.

[Lyndsie Wimpey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great Middle Grades read. I think it is an interesting side of diversity and this is very much so a possibility of a student I could teach as future P.E. teacher. So hearing his story of how he became disabled and how he was treated opened my eyes for sure.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carlos owned the basketball court before his accident. Will he be out of his league on his new wheelchair basketball team?

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bedtime book with Isaac. He loved it. Positive story filled with easy to love (or hate, where appropriate) characters and lots of basketball play by play.

[Missy Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for sports fiction fans and those that like Lepich and Tim Green.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different type of basketball book. It was good, but very detailed.

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story! I really liked the main character and his attitude despite all of his obstacles. I think this would be a great read aloud for upper any elementary/middle grade classroom!

[Lam780]

LGBT - two same sex parents of supporting character