The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot and Score in This Game Called Life, written by Kwame Alexander, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: Kwame Alexander’s slim, inspirational volume uses sports metaphors, analogies and examples to provide inspiration for young people to strive to be their driven and resilient best selves. The basketball theme starts immediately on the flyleaf, which is orange and textured to feel like the bumpy leather on a basketball. The theme continues as the book is divided into seven parts - a warm-up, four quarters (titled “Grit”, ”Motivation”, “Focus”, “Teamwork & Resilience”), halftime and overtime. Each section features an short, motivational piece by Alexander, featuring a story about a famous athlete or anecdotes from Alexander’s own life as an athlete. Every page of each of the four quarters follows the same pattern along the theme of that particular chapter. There is a Rule for Life, along with one supporting quote from a professional athlete. The message of each rule is reinforced by black & white basketball-themed photographs, highlighted with pops of orange, in the background. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book will be an easy sell, particularly with student athletes. It’s a sharp-looking volume with the cohesive basketball theme and black, white & orange color scheme that will draw in readers who judge books by their covers. The stories and quotes within are all motivating and inspirational, leaving readers feeling pumped up and excited to strive toward their goals. The writing is also delivered in short, easily digested chunks, making in accessible to all kinds of readers. If there is a drawback, it might be that it would be easy to read the book too quickly. I found myself taking short breaks between sections to give myself a moment to ponder the messages that I had just consumed. There may be some students who pass on this book because they prefer a narrative or because they lack interest in sports or athletes, but there will be just as many teens who find that this is the quick, motivational read for which they have been waiting.