Playing Without the Ball by Rich Wallace***

Playing Without the Ball is about Jay, a 17 year-old with a messed up life. His father left his mother and dragged him to California. He now lives in an apartment above a bar where he works. He is trying to get on the basketball team, but is cut instead. He joins a church team and plays against the church kids for fun. He must figure out where he belongs in this beat down world.

This book was a great story about basketball. I think it shows more of the true colors of the world though. I would not let anyone under the age of thirteen read this book.