Slam Dunk by Donna King

“Hook”
“In the high pressure world of sports, talent isn’t the only thing you need in order to be a winner. Ashlee is more determined than ever, and has a dream to be the best! ‘Go Ashlee!’ screamed a group of girls from her team sitting on the bench. Ashlee ran down the court, heart pounding like a boulder in her stomach. She bounced the basketball all the way down, staying clear of the other team. The hoop sit clear in the distance, Ashlee approaches it with the other team racing after her. Another scream is heard from the bench and Ashlee takes a deep breath. ‘This is it. This is my chance to be the best.’ A voice inside Ashlee’s mind echoed. She slowly reached her arms in the air and forced her feet off the ground. Her hands touch the metal lining around the hoop and swishhh! SLAM DUNK!!! The crowd goes wild and jumps out of their seats. Ashlee runs to her team receiving a variety of high fives and ‘nice shot’s from her teammates. Now it’s time to face the judges. ‘Sure that last shot was good but I was a little rusty during shoot out.’Thought Ashlee as she slowly approached the judging table. ‘Okay, this is it, did I make it or not?’ Ashlee asked herself. She was so nervous she didn’t even want to know.” (pages 12-14)

Recommendation

If you play sports you’d know that it’s pretty competitive game. But you’ve got your friends and family there to cheer you on. Once you start playing it’s hard to stop before you come out a winner.
Thirteen year old Ashlee Carson is tall, blonde and an incredible point guard. But is she enough to make it into the Girls Choice finals? With a former professional basketball player as a dad and team mates who are there for support, things are looking pretty good for Ashlee’s basketball career, there’s just one problem…Ashlee’s mom has other ambitions that go beyond the court. With her straight A semester it’s hard to focus more on sports for Ashlee, but for her mom who dreams of Ashlee succeeding in school, basketball is the least of her worries. Sometimes Ashlee just wishes her mom could be like the others, cheering in the stands with a big smile, or in the lobby after games with a welcoming hug waiting for you whether we won or lost. But nope, Ashlee’s mom wouldn’t be caught dead watching one of her games, she was too busy looking into collages or forcing Ashlee to study. How can she keep up with it all? Well, her determined dad being a player and all, can’t get enough of Ashlee on the court so you can imagine how pleased he was when Ashlee decided to try out for the Girl’s Choice National team. With her parents being divorced and her career being tugged between sports and school how does she play so good? Basketball is in her blood she takes after her dad, plus, she’s got a mind set on achievement and she can’t quit until she succeeds in everything her family wants for her. But when the finals for Girls Choice are moved to Miami, Ashlee is determined to chase her dream all the way to Florida! Want to find out if Ashlee can get permission to travel to Miami, or if she has to quit basketball altogether? Read Slam Dunk to find out!!

Recommended by Sarah Jacob