Kevin Durant: Epic Athletes
Series
Epic Athletes
by
Dan Wetzel
illustrated by
Marcelo Baez
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Macmillan
Imprint
Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
ISBN
9781250295835
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
In this middle-grade biography, acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspirational real-life story of NBA superstar Kevin Durant! In 2016, Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world when he decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Many questioned why one of the league's best players would join a team that was already stacked with talent—didn't he want to make a name for himself as the sole leader of a team?
Kevin would have the last laugh, winning two championships and putting to rest any questions about his legacy. In choosing to tune out the noise, he instead set his sights on success. Even after his father abandoned the family when he was a kid, when he was told he was too skinny to make an impact in the NBA, Kevin ignored the critics and forged his own path to victory. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations, this inspiring biography recaps the life of one of the most talented scorers in NBA history.
Black-and-white illustrations.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
Details
Format
Page Count
176
Trim Size
8 3/10" x 5 2/5"
Dewey
B
AR
6.7: points 4
Lexile
1010L
Genre
Nonfic
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Oct 2020
Book Genres
Autobiography/Biography, Sports
Topics
Kevin Durant (1988– ). US basketball players. Sports and recreation. Biography. African American basketball players. National Basketball Association (NBA).
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Cover Art
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Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
School Library Journal
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
Growing up just outside of Washington, DC, Kevin Durant was an enthusiastic athlete. At an early age, his impressive height often brought unwanted attention. Before becoming a legendary NBA player and Olympic medalist, Durant didn’t have the easiest childhood. A year or so after Durant’s birth, his parents separated. Durant moved to many different houses and frequently changed schools. When he was around eight years old, Durant signed up to play basketball at the local recreation center. He met two basketball coaches, Charles “Chucky” Craig and Taras Brown, who would change his life and set him on a path towards success. They instilled in him the skills that were needed to become a professional ballplayer: a strong work ethic and being a team player. Prolific sportswriter Wetzel emphasizes Durant’s passion for basketball, his willingness to share the spotlight, and how his early years learning the game inside and out propelled him to be one of the greatest athletes in basketball today. This detailed biography is full of play-by-play action sequences and illuminates Durant’s character, on and off the court. Wetzel highlights Durant’s prowess as a natural athlete and his loyalty to his teammates and his fans. Young readers will find much to admire in Durant; the text’s pacing and sports-heavy details will keep them hooked until the final pages. Substance and insider knowledge make this an excellent choice for most libraries serving young sports fans.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-8-Growing up just outside of Washington, DC, Kevin Durant was an enthusiastic athlete. At an early age, his impressive height often brought unwanted attention. Before becoming a legendary NBA player and Olympic medalist, Durant didn't have the easiest childhood. A year or so after Durant's birth, his parents separated. Durant moved to many different houses and frequently changed schools. When he was around eight years old, Durant signed up to play basketball at the local recreation center. He met two basketball coaches, Charles "Chucky" Craig and Taras Brown, who would change his life and set him on a path towards success. They instilled in him the skills that were needed to become a professional ballplayer: a strong work ethic and being a team player. Prolific sportswriter Wetzel emphasizes Durant's passion for basketball, his willingness to share the spotlight, and how his early years learning the game inside and out propelled him to be one of the greatest athletes in basketball today. This detailed biography is full of play-by-play action sequences and illuminates Durant's character, on and off the court. Wetzel highlights Durant's prowess as a natural athlete and his loyalty to his teammates and his fans. Young readers will find much to admire in Durant; the text's pacing and sports-heavy details will keep them hooked until the final pages. VERDICT Substance and insider knowledge make this an excellent choice for most libraries serving young sports fans.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill Sch., Cambridge, MA
Grades 2-6
Sports Elementary Plus
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Grades 2-6
Sports Elementary Plus
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