The New York Times Book Review - Rumaan Alam
It's a tale by a wise elder—about basketball, sure, but also about cultural, political, social and religious awakenings, big stuff narrated in a very accessible way.
Publishers Weekly - Audio
04/23/2018
Basketball legend Abdul-Jabbar awkwardly reads the audio edition of his memoir aimed at young listeners. The book recounts his childhood and timid teenage years in NYC, his transformation into a basketball phenomenon, his success on the court, and his spiritual growth and conversion to Islam. Throughout, he talks about the people he met and admired—such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Wilt Chamberlain—who left enduring marks on his political views and life on and off the court. Unfortunately, Abdul-Jabbar’s performance lacks confidence and too often sounds like he’s reading off the page rather than telling his life story. Abdul-Jabbar’s story is fascinating, but the audiobook is frustrating to listen to. Ages 10–13. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
* "In our current moment when black athletes are joining the national confrontation with the nation's overwhelming legacy of racial injustice, few are better suited to provide context than Abdul-Jabbar.... Wrestling with what it means to be black, determining his own responsibility and capacity to respond to injustice, and becoming the "kindest, gentlest, smartest, lovingest version" of himself takes center stage in this retelling of the early part of his life. Like the author's unstoppable skyhook, this timely book is a clear score."—Kirkus, starred review
* "More than a play-by-play sports story, it's an honest, powerful exposition of what it means to be black in white America, offering a de facto history of the civil rights movement."—Booklist, starred review
* "This timely and unforgettable memoir is essential for middle and high school collections, and affords rich opportunities for classroom and book club discussions."
—SLJ, starred review
"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is... as gifted an intellect as he is an athlete... It's a tale by a wise elder— about basketball, sure, but also about cultural, political, social, and religious awakenings, big stuff narrated in a very accessible way."—The New York Times Book Review
School Library Journal
05/01/2019
Gr 7 Up—In this young readers edition, legendary basketball star Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., reflects on his life from childhood to school to the basketball court, shedding light on the experiences and people who helped shape him into the man he became and discussing how his search for peace, meaning, and fulfillment led him to Islam.
DECEMBER 2017 - AudioFile
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar narrates his deeply engaging memoir, which includes the events that shaped his life from early childhood to the beginning of his fame on the basketball court. Though he’s not a professional narrator, his distinctive voice adds immense value to the listening experience. Abdul-Jabbar’s level, low-key delivery creates the sense that he’s chatting about his life in a companionable way, and chapters often end with suspenseful observations that prompt continued listening. Pivotal moments of astonished happiness (as when Wilt Chamberlain himself admires his long legs) and piercing discomfort (as when a best friend betrays him in middle school) are all the more striking for being delivered with restrained intensity. This audiobook creates a portrait of an impressive life lived against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2017-10-10
One of the greatest basketball players of all time reminisces on the lessons that pushed him into a life of personal reinvention.In our current moment when black athletes are joining the national confrontation with the nation's overwhelming legacy of racial injustice, few are better suited to provide context than Abdul-Jabbar. At 24, the newly minted NBA Finals MVP publicly embraced his conversion to Islam by renaming himself, choosing to become the person he wanted to be. The reactions stretched from confusion to outrage and betrayal. For this Harlem native, the influence of the massive 1960s civil rights and '70s Black Power movements and the examples set by Dr. Martin Luther King, historian John Henrik Clarke, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali had a lasting influence on the superstar and scholar. Abdul-Jabbar recalls them and more, including most significantly coach John Wooden of UCLA, where Abdul-Jabbar and the Bruins accumulated an awe-inspiring 88-2 record. Wooden's lessons would extend well beyond the basketball court. Abdul-Jabbar lets his many other, worldly accomplishments sit in the background, choosing to focus on the long road of self-discovery, which included many blemishes, mistakes, and struggles. Wrestling with what it means to be black, determining his own responsibility and capacity to respond to injustice, and becoming the "kindest, gentlest, smartest, lovingest, version" of himself takes center stage in this retelling of the early part of his life.Like the author's unstoppable sky hook, this timely book is a clear score. (Memoir. 10-16)
