Hoops: A Graphic Novel by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536231959
Pages: 224
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Inspired by a true story, this graphic novel dramatizes the historic struggle for gender equality in high school sports. A resourceful art teacher moonlights as the girls’ basketball coach and takes this high school girls basketball team to the 1976 Indiana state championships. They have to practice at the elementary school and the girls put their numbers on white t shirts with electrical tape. They play to empty bleachers. Both the art and the plot are spare but highly effective. The depiction of the challenges the girls faced was perfect as was the artist’s use of skin tone and hair texture to suggest racial diversity. This book will appeal to upper elementary and middle school students, especially girls but boys should be encouraged to read it, too.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library