Shook
by Julian Randall; illustrated by Nathan Walker
Ages 8-12
Shake’s dream of making the varsity basketball team is in peril when he gets injured. Can he rebound and make his way back onto the court—and back to feeling like himself? For fans of Kwame Alexander and Jason Reynolds. Beautifully designed with illustrations.
Malik Page—though unless you’re his mama, call him “Shake”—dreams of making the Marshall Grove varsity basketball squad as an eighth grader. Then he’ll be on his way to joining the ranks of Chicago legends like his pops and late Uncle Kenny. But when Shake fractures his ankle in a championship game, he’s sidelined for the first time since his first dribble.
As his world is turned upside down, Shake feels like there’s ginger ale bubbling in his chest and sweat slicking on his palms. With a best friend who’s getting more distant by the day, a growing silence between him and his dad, and varsity tryouts fast approaching, Shake will have to cross up every obstacle to find a way back onto the court—and back to being himself. Thankfully in Marshall Grove, the sky is always full of hope.
About the Author
Julian Randall is a Living Queer Black poet from Chicago. His poetry and essays are published in New York Times Magazine, POETRY, and Vibe. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. Julian holds an MFA in Poetry from Ole Miss. His first book, Refuse, won the Cave Canem Poetry Prize and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. Julian has previously worked as a youth mentor, teaching writing workshops to children on house arrest. He is the author of the Pilar Ramirez duology, The Chainbreakers, and Shook.
Praise for Shook
★ “Highly recommended for fans of Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover.”—School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Vividly explores the complexities of being vulnerable and different ways of showing up in relationships.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Author and poet Randall uses poetry to create storytelling as smooth as a freshly polished basketball court, and he spares nothing when describing the game itself, pulling the reader alongside Shake and his teammates as they battle for every point and savor every victory. Shake’s and his community’s struggles are timely and authentic, particularly regarding the impact of game-related injuries that may force young athletes to question their identities and their value when they can no longer perform on the court or field. Randall’s writing offers the characters opportunities for growth in subtle and realistic ways, including candid discussions of mental health within the Page family and Shake receiving therapy for anxiety . . . This story is already a winner”—Booklist, starred review
“Absolutely vibrating with energy and heart, Shook is a masterful middle-grade novel.”—Newbery Honoree Jasmine Warga
“Randall does what the poet does best, which is to trick the heart into feeling by using sleight of language. In this case, basketball is metaphorized, transformed from a tale of physical injury and disappointment into one that explores what it means to try to fix the fractured bits of our emotional lives, regardless of age. A gift!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds