Butler, Caron. Clutch Time. Addl. Creator Justin A. Reynolds. Shot Clock Novel. HarperCollins, 09/2024. 242pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0630-6964-0. GRADES 6–9. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Kofi, known as KO, is living his basketball dreams. At fourteen, he’s just been named the number one ranked AAU player in the country, and his comebacks are as sharp as his game. But dreams don’t last, and when conflict with friends and the return of an incarcerated father throw KO off his game, he realizes playing just for himself won’t get him the win. Set in the same world as Butler and Reynolds’s Shot Clock (Harper, 2022), the second in the series traces many of the same themes through a very different main character. Told in the first person, readers see KO adeptly use language to fend off and posture, while maintaining an inner vulnerability that allows him to grow. Virtuoso word play, superb on-court action, and deep insight resolve surprisingly quickly into a neat conclusion, which may leave readers wondering if they skipped a chapter. A welcome addition to a series perfect for fans of realistic drama and sport. All characters read as Black. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired