Jump Ball: A Basketball Season in Poems

A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to find their place within a group or feeling the heavy weight of expectations from coaches, peers, and themselves. This verse novel captures a full basketball season at a high school, but the game is really a backdrop for exploring the internal lives of players, parents, and teachers. It is an ideal choice for the child who is feeling 'seen' only for their performance rather than their personhood. Through a series of poems, Mel Glenn weaves together the diverse voices of the Tower High Tigers. The book touches on themes of resilience, the pressure to succeed, and the quiet loneliness that can exist even on a crowded court. It is a realistic and grounded look at the high school experience, suitable for ages 12 and up, offering a mirror for the social complexities and emotional hurdles of the teenage years.