Hoops by Walter Dean Myers

Hoops

By

Walter Dean Myers

Critical Analysis

June 3, 2007

The novel, Hoops, by Walter Dean Myers tells a story that is filled with all sorts of topics that are relevant to today’s teenagers, such as drugs, sex, peer pressure, and crime. In addition, this story has a lot of basketball action, which appeals to those who enjoy sports.

This fictional story takes place in Harlem. As it begins a lot of crimes being are being committed and no one is surprised. For example, the liquor store was robbed. The main character, Lonnie, has been playing basketball all of his life, and is very talented in the sport. One night while he was going over to play ball at the courts, he met a man who was drunk, singing, and passed out. This man, named Cal, is a basketball coach. As he coaxed the man to get up, the man pulled a knife on him. Cal made a deal with Lonnie that if he could beat Lonnie in a one on one game then Cal would coach the basketball team.

Cal’s basketball team had their first game but Cal did not show up for it. Later, after the game, Cal met the team and had an argument with him and Cal accidently shot himself.

The team started acting more as a team tan a street gang. They began encouraging each other. Cal, the coach, really came through for the team and found them a new gym to practice in. He got them new jerseys also.

One of the team members, Paul, mysteriously made a lot of money in a short period of time and when Lonnie’s girlfriend Mary-Ann asked about it, she was beaten up by her brother Paul. She and Lonnie discovered that Paul stole welfare cheques.

Paul found out that Cal had originally been part of the NBA and was dismissed because of his drinking problems. The basketball team finally made it to the championship game. Even though the team was bothered by Cal’s drinking they managed to pull together and win the championship. However, because Cal coached the team to victory and played Lonnie when he was not supposed to, he was murdered by a bookie.

The main characters in the book are Lonnie and Cal. Lonnie wants to stay out of the life of crime that is all around him in Harlem and tries to keep focused on his favourite sport, basketball. Lonnie is a very determined man . For example, he never gave up on his basketball, even though there was lots of illegal activities that he could get involved in. He realized that if he worked hard a basketball he might get out of his environment and have a chance of success with the NBA. Lonnie also showed that he was a considerate person. When Paul bet up Lonnie’s girlfriend, he was to only person in the group who was upset that she got hurt and he wanted to get back at Paul. Mary- Ann, Lonnie’s girlfriend and