A fun and engaging mix of basketball and theater in a multiple viewpoints plot.

Jax starts off the story. He loves basketball, but Jax and his friend Nic failed to make the roster for the middle school team. Jax’s mom has always been his biggest fan. She tries not to show her worries about maybe getting laid off from her job, making things even tighter financially for Jax and his little sister.

Next up is Luke who is tall but prefers acting instead of basketball. He auditioned for the school play and lost out to others, including his friends.

Both Jax and Luke are not happy about failing at what they do best. Jax decides to create his own team. He challenges the varsity players and coach in a game to prove how good his backup basketball team can be. He just has to recruit new players.

Luke agrees to join if Jax and Nic will perform with him in a regional drama competition. Just like Jax, he is wanting to prove a point that when he wins, everyone will agree he should have been chosen in the original tryouts.

Miley also takes some of the chapters. She presents her feelings with illustrations and conversations with an AI voice. She is not into basketball but is the smartest kid at the school. Lacking friends, Miley loves to study statistics so her task is to help Jax’s team with strategies based on her research.

They are all underdogs and you will be rooting for their success. Jax’s team turns out to be a feisty coed group of players, each with their unique personalities. Miranda and Charlotte are sure to step in when anyone hints at boys being better than girls.

The lead up to the basketball and acting competition is a compelling look at the pressure of doing well. It also brings about much conflict when Jax and Luke can’t get the internal fire of intensity in the other’s passion whether it be basketball for Luke or acting for Jax. THE PLAYMAKERS is a memorable story and one that will show readers how courage and struggle are important components of success.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: April 1, 2025 PAGE COUNT: 256

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE PLAYMAKERS by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown

1. Mr. Juma, one of Jax’s teachers, is a favorite of students. He’s always supportive and provides motivation for everyone. He agrees to be Jax’s basketball team supervisor so they can use the gym. Mr. Juma knows very little about the game but provides a pregame pep talk that will bring a smile to your face.
2. Tying these two different pursuits into one story is such a great idea. The authors pulled it off with ease.
3. The unique voices of each character brings forth each of their character arcs in superb fashion.
4. Luke and Miley were very different characters but were certainly my favorites in how they eventually faced their fears.
5. Underdog stories are usually very popular with middle grade readers and I’m glad this one doesn’t disappoint.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

CHAD MORRIS loves the VR set he got for Christmas and is much better at it than he is at video games, but that’s still not saying much. Still he would love to try to keep his balance on Skatecoaster, laugh like crazy in The Furriest, and punch light blasts at alien bugs in Infestation ExtermiNation. He occasionally dances in public, and he’s pretty terrible at social media.

SHELLY BROWN went to junior high in a regular ol’ building (boring) and has never transformed into a round fuzzy animal. But she has been listening to K-pop since before BTS’s first album and feels a deep affection for well-made falafel pitas. She’s an aunt to some incredible young people, a substitute teacher, and a wannabe Kyoshi warrior.

As a married couple, Chad and Shelly both love writing books and hanging out with each other and their five kids. They’re grateful they get to spend time with students in assemblies across the nation talking about topics from kindness to writing.

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