Told in two parts, Before and After, it follows Nate Dravus, whose family idolizes his athletic older sister but doesn't really pay him much mind. When he decides to switch from his family's main sport, soccer, to basketball, they are less than enthusiastic. He practices with his neighbor and social outcast, Lucas, and the two eventually form a good pair for the school's JV team. But can they make it to varsity? Recommended for grades 7+.

I had not read any other books by Carl Deuker, but I'm so glad I had the chance to read Shadowed.

Shadowed. That's how Nate feels every day.
Between a soccer star sister and basketball star friends at school, Nate has always felt left in the shadows. That is until he and the new neighbor, Lucas, bond over one-on-one games of basketball. Nate believes that he is building up his basketball skills to outplay his school friends, but the real skills Nate will need in this story go far beyond basketball basics. Deuker weaves Nate's thoughts and actions effortlessly throughout this story. While some chapters seem a little slower, the pace of this book kept me turning pages long after I needed to get back from lunch.

Upper middle grades and young adults will enjoy adding this one to their TBR list.

Nate's family is heavily invested in soccer, and his older sister, Amelia, is working hard to get the attention of college scouts so that she can get a scholarship. This is important, since the family's subway shop business in Salmon Bay, Washington is continually struggling. Both parents are frequently at work, and they get little support from their own parents, one set of which lives in Portugal, and the other set in Missoula. When Nate suffers a bad concussion when he is hit with an errant ball at his sister's soccer game, he struggles for weeks to stand up straight without being nauseated. He tells his parents that he is no longer going to play the sport, but wants to try out instead for the basketball team. They don't take him seriously, because he's never been involved in the sport, but he starts to play pick up games with his neighbor, Lucas Cawley. Lucas' family is troubled; the father does woodworking at home, the mother works in a hospital but is a functioning alcoholic, and Lucas' sister is developmentally delayed. His oldest brother, Richard, is considered "wild", and Amelia is told to stay away from him. Lucas is devoted to his sister, and always makes sure she is safe on the bus. He even goes to her unit during the day and will play with her, giving way to the derisive nickname "Creepy Crawley" that popular basketball players Bo and Colin bestow upon him. Nate doesn't stand up for Lucas, and the two stop playing basketball together. As high school starts, Nate struggles. Amelia is off at college, and his parents are still more invested in her sporting career than his. When he wants to join an expensive travel team, they say that they don't have the money. Feeling that he needs some kind of preparation and coaching, Nate plays rec ball, and eventually gets good enough to try out for the team. He barely makes it, and reconnects with Lucas. The two compete with each other, and always have a slightly wary relationship. When there is a big tournament during their junior year, a tragedy occurs when the team is goofing off. Having to come back for his senior year, Nate tries to make peace with what has happened, and to make plans for how he can go forward with the rest of his life.
Strengths: I loved the family dynamics with the parents' restaurant and Amelia's soccer playing. I think there are a lot of high school students who are often left to their own devices because parents are busy, or concentrating more on another child. Nate's a good kid; he even gets decent grades when recovering from the concussion. The fact that Lucas has more urgent struggles is also realistic, and Nate doesn't really have a solid enough situation to really be able to understand and support Lucas. (If this were a Mike Lupica book, there would be an awesome mother who took care not only of Nate, but of Lucas AND Megan, but this is more realistic.) It's interesting to watch Nate change over the four years of high school, and watch him meet the different challenges that come his way. He is a resilient character, and we certainly need a lot more of those!
Weaknesses: The contemplative tone, as well as the long time period, makes this more of a young adult book. I definitely appreciate that Deuker is always circumspect in his use of language and situations, making his books suitable for younger readers as well as older ones. The story moves more slowly because so many emotions are being processed.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want an upper middle grade/lower young adult book that covers a long range of time, like Volponi't Top Prospect , and reminded me a little of Whitaker's Snap Decision. The way the death is treated is somewhat reminiscent of Stokes' Fadeaway, and definitely reminded me of Bunting's hard-hitting 1999 Blackwater. This is not quite as sad as Deuker's Swagger (2013), but lacks the intrigue of High Heat or, my favorite, Runner.

Absolutely loved this book about friendship and basketball when Nate and new neighbor Lucas begin shooting hoops together. Nate joins the rec league and is told to bring Lucas. The two work well together and Lucas even wins MVP. The boys are told they should be able to play varsity next year. When something happens to Lucas, will Nate still continue to play basketball?