A perfect book for striving middle grade readers who love books on friends and family with a sprinkling of basketball.

This is such a great series! So glad it is in the world! My students and myself already love the first one, and I’m sure they will love this one as much as I do.

Zayd is busy with basketball and also his uncle Jamal Mamoo's large Pakistani style wedding, which takes up a lot of family time, but has an unexpected set back-- he sprains his ankle playing basketball and ends up on crutches. He can't play, and he's not happy about it. Shortly afterward, his beloved grandfather Nana Abu has a heart attack. While it's not fatal, he ends up in the hospital, and then both of his grandparents move in with Zayd's family for a bit while Nana Abu recuperates. When Zayd's ankle is a better, he is allowed back on the court but struggles, worrying that he will reinjure himself. He also struggles with wanting to tell his teammates information that might help them play better, and his coach reassures him that taking a leadership position is difficult, but important.

Strengths: This addresses two very common and important concerns young readers face-- sports injuries and ailing grandparents. Khan really has hit the sweet spot of incorporating specific cultural information into universal stories that is a great way to show readers that while the particulars of Zayd's family, food, and celebrations might be different from their own, the essentials of his life are very similar to their own. I would love to see more sports books dealing with injuries, since they can change the way a student's entire school year goes.

Weaknesses: Zayd complains about going to practice and games when he is injured, thinking that watching tv and drinking milkshakes instead is due recompense. That seemed odd to me-- my injured runners are always very good about coming to practices, even though it often means they are sitting around in a field somewhere!

What I really think: I would love a similar but longer and more complex series with a slightly older character; my 8th graders are not going to pick this up because it looks too easy and Zayd is too young.