Run and Gun

Griffin is in middle school and part of the Winfield basketball team. He wants to play but isn’t one of the top players. In June, the coach warns Griffin that, if his skills don’t improve, he won’t make the team next year. Griffin goes to Winfield on a scholarship, and his mom can’t afford to send him to an expensive basketball camp for the summer. Griffin knows, however, that there are street teams that play at Regent Park, a disadvantaged area next to the area in which he lives. There are no refs and no rules, but the teams are fast, quick and rough. Making baskets is what counts. Griffin knows that, to get better, he needs to play with a team that will challenge him. Fly, the leader of the Running Rebels, gives Griffin a chance even though the other players aren’t convinced that a Winfield student should play on their team.

In the fall, the Winfield coach is amazed that Griffin has improved his skills, his speed and his level of play. When the Winfield team loses its best player, Griffin convinces Fly to apply for a scholarship and come to Winfield. It doesn’t work out because Fly and the coach don’t see the game in the same way. The result is an exciting story about basketball, teamwork, growth and understanding. The coach learns that maybe his way from the past isn’t the way to win now. Griffin learns that you can’t manipulate the situation and have it work out. Everyone learns to respect people who are different. Griffin also learns about friendship and the importance of being part of a team.

Run and Gun is part of the Lorimer sports series for readers 10 to 13 but with a vocabulary suitable for easy reading. The book is well-written and a “page-turner”. The characters are believable with interesting dialogue and word choice. The plot moves quickly into various situations that are suitable for the intended audience. Each of the book’s 23 chapters ends at a high point which would make Run and Gun an excellent read-aloud choice. An excellent choice for readers who like stories about basketball and friendship, Run and Gun would be an excellent addition to any collection.