We Are Family

Sacrificing for Other People is one of the book’s key themes. In what ways does the novel argue that pursuing one’s own potential can be an act of generosity rather than selfishness?

How does Chris’s situation with his father parallel the dangers of fame and exploitation in sports?

How does the literary device of imagery help the authors depict the basketball action?

Compare Tamika and Jayden. Which character plays a more vital role in shaping Hoop Group’s identity, and in what ways do they balance each other as leaders? Does the book suggest that leadership is more about individual talent or the ability to unite a team?

Why doesn’t Coach Beck want Tamika to become a professional basketball player? Analyze his argument and explain the sexism and the economic reality he presents. In what ways is his perspective rooted in genuine concern, and in what ways does it reflect patriarchal biases?

What is the relationship between Daily Persistence and Self-Control? When do the characters successfully demonstrate both traits at the same time, and when does a lack of control lead to setbacks? Consider how Jayden’s discipline in training differs from his emotional struggles on the court.

Anthony is a fan of the Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. Read one of the poems he likes—“Harlem” or “Mother to Son.” How do Hughes’s themes of resilience, struggle, and deferred dreams mirror Anthony’s challenges with his father and his place in Hoop Group?

The documentary More Than a Game (2008) follows the amateur career of LeBron James and his teammates. Watch the film and consider its depiction of real-life challenges in youth sports compared to the novel’s fictionalized version. In what ways does James’s rise to stardom reflect or differ from Jayden’s, Tamika’s, or Chris’s struggles?