REBOUND

People are hard to figure, especially when you’re a 17-year-old white boy in a racially divided section of New Jersey. The geography of prejudice is apparent from the start: Polish-American Greenville, predominantly black Jefferson Park and mostly rich white neighborhoods of Regent’s Park. These worlds collide at Franklin High School, where Ray Wisniewski dreams of making varsity basketball, though most white boys go out for wrestling. A lot is going on in this ambitious work exploring the subtle and not-so-subtle faces of racism today. Layers of prejudice are dissected, a climactic gang showdown forces the issue of race and loyalty and Ray discovers his place in this world, where what’s important is a “brotherhood of actions. Of deeds.” Though the first-person narrative falters at times (with “dudes” and “brothers” not ringing true to Ray’s voice, a father’s corny words of caution and a good deal of dialogue that teaches lessons), the author clearly knows the world of high-school basketball. Sure to be a slam-dunk success with players and fans alike. (Fiction. 12-15)