If you’re looking for a middle grade novel that will fly off the shelves with basketball fans—and maybe even hook a few reluctant readers along the way—Shook by Julian Randall deserves a spot on your radar.
Author: Julian Randall
Illustrator: Nathan Walker
Genre: sports fiction, realistic fiction, novel in verse
Setting: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Themes: basketball, sports injuries, family financial problems, medical debt, identity, friends drifting apart, anxiety, panic attacks
Protagonist: male, age 12, Black, 8th grader
Recommended for: Grades 4-8
Starred reviews: Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and SLJ
Notes: Includes occasional black and white illustrations. Excellent choice for reluctant readers and fans of Ghost (Reynolds) and The Crossover (Alexander).
Publication date: August 4, 2026
At first glance, the striking bright yellow cover practically demands attention. I’m going to draw some parallels in this review with the immensely-popular Ghost by Jason Reynolds and Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Ghost also has a bright yellow color with simple eye-catching cover art.
Inside, readers will find a compelling novel in verse enhanced with occasional black-and-white illustrations and creative page layouts that keep the pages turning. It’s the kind of book that’s incredibly easy to booktalk with seventh and eighth graders, especially students who enjoy sports stories but don’t always gravitate toward traditional novels.
Twelve-year-old Malik “Shake” Page has one dream: basketball.
Growing up in Chicago, Shake has spent years working toward a future on the court, inspired by his father’s own basketball legacy. Making the varsity team—and eventually the NBA—feels like his destiny.
Then one game changes everything.
A fractured ankle sidelines Shake for the entire summer, forcing him to confront a terrifying question: Who am I if I can’t play basketball?
As his injury heals, Shake struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, mounting family stress, and friendships that suddenly feel more complicated than ever.
Through powerful free-verse poems, Julian Randall explores identity, mental health, vulnerability, and learning that strength sometimes means asking for help.
Sports novels are always popular in middle school libraries, but Shook offers much more than an entertaining basketball story.
Shook honestly explores the emotional toll injuries can take on young athletes, especially when so much of their identity is wrapped up in a sport. Randall treats anxiety and therapy with compassion, helping normalize conversations about mental health while never losing sight of Shake’s authentic voice.
The novel-in-verse format, generous white space, creative typography, text-message exchanges, and occasional black-and-white illustrations make this an approachable choice for reluctant readers or students who may feel intimidated by longer novels.
Basketball fans will appreciate the authentic game action, while readers who have never picked up a basketball will still connect with Shake’s fears, friendships, and determination to figure out who he is beyond the game.
This would make an excellent recommendation for students who enjoyed:
This title also opens the door to conversations about:
The combination of basketball, verse, striking visual design, and timely themes makes Shook feel tailor-made for today’s middle school readers. The vibrant cover will catch students’ attention, but it’s Shake’s authentic journey through injury, anxiety, and self-discovery that will keep them reading.
With three starred reviews and praise for its engaging storytelling, accessible format, and compassionate portrayal of mental health, Shook looks like a strong addition to any Grades 3–8 library collection—and one that should be especially easy to place into the hands of seventh and eighth grade readers looking for “something good.”
