Dragon Hoops

Description: Gene Luen Yang turns the spotlight on his life, his family, and the high school where he teaches, especially the high school's basketball team, the Dragons.

Brief description: Gene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. He was named a National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by the Library of Congress in 2016, and advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. His graphic novel American Born Chinese, a National Book Award finalist and Printz Award winner, was adapted into an original series on Disney+. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the LA Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award finalist. His nonfiction graphic novel, Dragon Hoops, received an Eisner award and a Printz honor. His other comics work includes Secret Coders (with Mike Holmes), The Shadow Hero (with Sonny Liew), and Superman Smashes the Klan and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series (both with Gurihiru).

Review Quotes:

Michael L. Printz Honor Award Winner, 2021
Eisner Award Winner, Best Publication for Teens, 2021
A YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens
A YALSA Teens' Top Ten Finalist

Listed as a New York Times, Washington Post, Amazon.com, Forbes, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly 2020 book of the year.

"Full of insight about race and ethnicity, this graphic novel intercuts the thrilling wins and crushing defeats of one high school team with basketball's own turbulent history." --New York Times, from "The 25 Best Children's Books of 2020"

"A triumphant, telescopic graphic memoir." --Publisher's Weekly, starred review and a Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2020

"Another standout showing from Yang." --School Library Journal, starred review and a School Library Journal Best Graphic Novel of 2020

"A perfect entryway into this form."--Horn Book, starred review

"A work of resounding humanity." --Booklist, starred review

"Impeccably paced." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review