Emmy Award-winning sports producer, journalist, and author Amar Shah (Play the Game series) and Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Rashad Doucet (Art Club) bring their tremendous talents to Wish I Was a Baller, a remarkable graphic memoir about Shah's extraordinary early life as a teen sports journalist.
On May 10, 1995, the Chicago Bulls visit Amar's school and the freshman is determined to get into the gym to see them--"Jordan's here!" Amar is turned away at the door for not having a media pass, so he makes the split-second decision to skip a geometry test and go to the journalism room to acquire one. The kid thinks that, since he's taking the class next year, Ms. Whitt might let him "get some experience." Ms. Whitt isn't there but journalism student Kasey ("a mixture of Cameron Diaz, Tinkerbell, and heaven") is, and she writes him a pass. Amar gets in and has a short and unimpressive encounter with B.J. Armstrong and is "ragged" by coach Phil Jackson for wearing a Knicks jersey. "I was stunned," a sidebar in Amar's voice states. "An hour ago I was sweating a math test and now I had just interviewed the former world champs."
Amar decides to reach out for more opportunities to attend games as press when he starts his journalism class. In his first year, Amar meets Shaquille O'Neal, who not only gives Amar an interview but also becomes a mentor. Unfortunately, it's not all hanging out with NBA superstars. Amar must juggle his new passion with being 15 years old--doing homework, having a crush, attending family events, and facing bullying for his height, his basketball mediocrity, and for being Indian American.
Shah's graphic memoir is an excellent depiction of high school in the '90s and is filled with appreciation for the "golden era of the NBA." Amar's interactions with stars Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Grant Hill are exciting even as his daily life remains relatively ordinary. Doucet's illustrations are full of action and '90s flavor. The cartoonist uses diagonal lines and panels to build momentum and has characters and text break those lines to create movement. Details like Amar's extra-large jersey, a classmate's extreme hi-top fade, and landlines set the scene. Extensive backmatter includes an author's note, pictures, and acknowledgements. Amar Shah's story is certain to delight any basketball fan. --Kharissa Kenner, library media specialist, Churchill School and Center
Shelf Talker: Amar Shah and Rashad Doucet capture the exhilaration of professional basketball in the 1990s in this energetic, approachable graphic memoir.