Marino, Max. Hoop Dreams. Roman Diaz, Illus. Addl. Creator Elliott Smith. Lerner Sports Stories. Lerner, 01/2026. 70pp. Fiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-6056-0. Paper $11.99. 979-8-7656-6060-7. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: These two Lerner Sports Stories titles introduce readers to girls who play a sport that they have been told is only for boys. Iced Out focuses on Xio, who moves to a new school, encounters a group of boys who make fun of her for saying that she plays hockey, encourages a few other girls to try out for the junior hockey team, and shows the boys that girls can be good at hockey. Hoop Dreams follows Beatriz as she decides to try basketball instead of soccer, which her older brother says she can’t be any good at, and she manages to impress her brother with her effort and determination as her team does well. Each of these short, transitional chapter books includes some b&w illustrations, fast-paced storylines, BIPOC characters, strong female protagonists, and encouraging classmates and teammates. All read as being in primary grades, but without a clear grade, age, or specific ethnicity.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library