Gr 7 Up –These biographies of the NBA’s biggest current stars will give report writers much to appreciate. Each book outlines its player’s upbringing, early career, draft selection into professional basketball, and greatest career moments thus far. To illustrate their superiority over their competitors, statistics and comparison charts are interspersed throughout chapters, giving the books a fair balance of narrative and stats. Neither LeBron James nor Giannis Antetokounmpo played at the collegiate level before being drafted into the NBA; readers will see why, as they’re two of the most explosive stars of their time. The players’ notable quotes are broken down by their originality (as opposed to being pure clichés), and explainers add context to the sound bites. The charitable work of the players is discussed, as are the controversies. QR codes throughout link readers to videos, bringing big plays to life. Text-dependent questions and further research suggestions add a layer of comprehension. While not page-turners, these books are solidly written research fodder.

VERDICT Fair basketball biographies that will likely circulate with regularity.