Summer Ball

Mike Lupica

May 2007 · Sold by Penguin

About this eBook

The sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Travel Team!

When you’re the smallest kid playing a big man’s game, the challenges never stop—especially when your name is Danny Walker. Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny’s leaving Middletown for the summer and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he’s out of his element and maybe out of his league. The country’s best ballers are in attendance, and Danny will need to raise his game if he wants to match up. But it won’t be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny wondering if he really has what it takes to stand tall.

“Lupica is at his best when he puts the reader right in the center of the action on the court. His game descriptions are fast, accurate, and exciting. Young sports-fiction fans will eat this up.” –Booklist
 
“Sports fans will relish the on-court action, expertly rendered in Lupica's taut prose. This worthy sequel to Travel Team should earn a wide audience.” –School Library Journal
 
“Lupica knows his basketball and knows how to spin a page-turner of a story. Those who enjoyed the first installment of Danny's story will be thrilled to read a sequel, and even those middle school readers who are not huge sports fans will want to cheer for Danny Walker, who proves that determination can be a whole lot bigger than height.” –VOYA

Ratings and reviews

Danny Walker is a boy that is looked down by everyone, literally. He has been underestimated by his coaches and teammates since the first day he started playing basketball. He wants to prove everyone wrong and show that he wont let his height stop him being a dangerous basketball player. But that wont be easy as it sounds, he has to join a basketball camp filled with America's top ball players. He has to work his way to the top with all the intimidation and disbelief riding on his back. This book is a perfect of example of never giving up an keeping your head up until your goal is accomplished. - Patrick Chatterbooks

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica is a book that all basketball lovers and kids will love. Many kids will find themselves connecting to many of the characters, and their situations in the book. One of the great characteristics about this book is that you don’t have to be a basketball fan to read it. You can enjoy learning life lessons about hard work, never giving up, and standing up for yourself. Mike Lupica describes the feeling and action of each situation in the book well, whether it would be a game on the hardwood floor or the main characters talking to each other. Read Summer Ball. You won’t regret it. -Justin, Chatterbooks

The book was awesome from the 1st page to the 2nd to last page. The ending stunk and didn't give anything about a happy ending or anything instead just cliff hangs you with him walking back to his team.

About the author

Mike Lupica is the author of multiple bestselling books for young readers, including QB 1, Heat, Travel Team, Million-Dollar Throw, and The Underdogs. He has carved out a niche as the sporting world’s finest storyteller. Mike lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four children. When not writing novels, Mike Lupica writes for New York's Daily News, appears on ESPN's The Sports Reporters and hosts The Mike Lupica Show on ESPN Radio. You can visit Mike Lupica at mikelupicabooks.com