The upcoming graphic novel Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang is an exceptional book. Mr. Yang opens with his early life and shows us how he has to balance his life between teaching, being a dad and his passion, writing comics. Mr. Youngster (as some students call him), struggles finding the next story he wants to tell. He is eager to fulfill his talent and desire to write another graphic novel.
While Boxers and Saints were based on a historical event, Dragon Hoops is based on his actual experiences. Mr. Yang is computer science teacher at a Catholic school in California. As he is looking for something to write about he gets inspired by his students. Their basketball team has gone to the state championships xxx times but never won. The buzz around school is that they will win it this year! He starts interviewing the head coach team coach Lou.
Readers meet the players on the team and the history behind the sport. He does it in a realistic and organic way, through interviewing the characters and bringing their backstories onto the page. He follows the team throughout their journey to the championship, discovering the hard reality of the players’ lives on and off the court- the racism, adversity and obstacles faced by the players.
Mr. Yang does a very good job going back and forth in time and never loses his reader. He is also very good at giving background information. He doesn’t only talk about the game but he also talks about culture, racism, police brutality, and even history. This turns stories into an impactful novel. Lastly, he uses techniques in his art that make the book meaningful. For example color codes the past and the present he stays consistent thought the book like in the past scenes he subdued colors. He also uses an effect on hes speach bubbles to add outside noises and loud sounds which make
This book will appeal to basketball fans, but is not just for sports fans. This is a book that celebrates the spirit of a team and how to persevere when things don’t go your way. It also teaches that no matter what your race you can still fit into society and be a part of something special.
