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“Looming team tryouts don’t quite overshadow friendship and family crises for a b-balling Florida seventh grader. …Raam’s obsessions with practicing and staying focused on the boards in the face of Payton’s jeering, the story contains little direct hoops play. What stand out instead are Raam’s experiences of daily life, from the rich evocation of the values and rhythms in his Hindu Indian American family and community to his crush on a classmate and his repeated efforts to get his coach to stop mispronouncing his name as “Ram.” …Sports journalist Shah really puts it to his protagonist with a family emergency just as the tryouts are beginning; seeing how he responds will give readers more good reason to cheer him on.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Take the Shot (Play the Game #2)

Written by Amar Shah
Published by Scholastic Inc.

Raam is out for redemption. He’s been training and rebranding, and he’s ready for a new school year and team tryouts. But his time on the basketball court is limited. His best friend and practice partner, Cake is busy working on his social media content, and Raam himself is torn in about a hundred different directions.

His game has improved by miles, but this time, he’ll need to rid himself of old and new distractions … and rivals. Can Raam stay focused?

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Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: October 2024
Available As: Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Orlando FL)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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