Review by Booklist Review
Graduating college basketball players and rivals Maurice Stokes and Jack Twyman found themselves on the same NBA team. A strong, quick player who looked for a good pass before taking a shot, Stokes was voted an All-Star and Rookie of the Year while earning the respect and admiration of his teammates. The authors explain this was groundbreaking; as a Black athlete in the 1950s, Stokes was expected to take only a supporting role. In 1958, slammed in midair while jumping to shoot the ball, Stokes fell, hitting his head hard. Three days later, he was unable to move or speak. His career was over. To help pay his medical bills, Twyman invited the greatest players to a basketball tournament in Stokes' honor, and it became an annual tradition. Telling a moving story, Chapman and Coy introduce Stokes' unusual combination of size, skills, quickness, and understanding of the game and then explain how Black players were treated differently on NBA teams in the 1950s. From action scenes to quiet moments, Ollivierre's art illustrates the narrative with empathy and style.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--6--Fans of basketball may not know the name of 1950s NBA superstar Maurice Stokes, and this excellent picture book biography corrects that. Stokes had a brilliant but short career, strong and adept in all aspects of the game. He was generous with the ball and well-liked by teammates. Unfortunately, Stokes was injured during a game. He hit his head and was unconscious for three minutes; without treatment from a doctor, he eventually had a massive brain bleed that left him paralyzed. At the time, there were no concussion protocols and no support from the NBA or the team franchise. Teammates rallied and organized a charity basketball game that raised money to help pay for Stokes's ongoing medical bills. Vivid writing pairs with vibrant illustrations to depict a tragic but fascinating look at an engaging and exciting player whose misfortune, sadly, changed the way that basketball is played forever. VERDICT A very interesting and well-illustrated biography, this is surely a necessity for the shelves.--Debbie Tanner
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