Published: August 2026
Author: Julian Randall
Illustrator: Nathan Walker
Genres: Sports, Realistic Fiction, Verse
Audience (Grade Levels): 4- 7
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: Shook
Triggers: Injury
Review By: Heather Turner
Publisher’s Summary
Shake’s dream of making the varsity basketball team is in peril when he gets injured. Can he rebound and make his way back onto the court—and back to feeling like himself? For fans of Kwame Alexander and Jason Reynolds.
Malik Page—though unless you’re his mama, call him “Shake”—dreams of making the Marshall Grove varsity basketball squad as an eighth grader. Then he’ll be on his way to joining the ranks of Chicago legends like his pops and late Uncle Kenny. But when Shake fractures his ankle in a championship game, he’s sidelined for the first time since his first dribble.
As his world is turned upside down, Shake feels like there’s ginger ale bubbling in his chest and sweat slicking on his palms. With a best friend who’s getting more distant by the day, a growing silence between him and his dad, and varsity tryouts fast approaching, Shake will have to cross up every obstacle to find a way back onto the court—and back to being himself. Thankfully in Marshall Grove, the sky is always full of hope.
Review
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy.
I have a soft spot for middle grade novels in verse, and Shook absolutely delivers. If you enjoy books like The Crossover or Booked, this is one you’ll want to add to your list. While basketball is at the heart of the story, it is really about identity, mental health, family, and learning who you are when the thing you love is suddenly taken away.
Shake has spent his entire life dreaming of basketball. When an injury sidelines him just as varsity tryouts are within reach, he begins to question everything. What I appreciated most was that the story didn’t simply focus on his physical recovery. Julian Randall gives equal attention to Shake’s emotional recovery as anxiety begins to take hold. The panic attacks are described in a way that feels authentic and accessible, helping readers understand what anxiety can look and feel like. I can see this book being incredibly meaningful for young readers who may be experiencing similar feelings but don’t yet have the words to describe them.
I also loved the family dynamics. Shake’s parents are supportive, realistic, and genuinely invested in helping him heal, even when they don’t always know the right thing to say. His relationship with his father, built around their shared love of basketball, adds another emotional layer to the story. The introduction of a Black male therapist was another highlight. Positive mental health representation is still far too rare in middle grade literature, and I appreciated how naturally therapy became part of Shake’s healing journey rather than something to fear or hide.
The verse itself is engaging and approachable. Even readers who are new to novels in verse will find this one easy to follow, while the poetic structure beautifully mirrors Shake’s emotions throughout the story. Basketball fans will enjoy the action on the court, but even readers who know nothing about the sport will connect with the universal themes of disappointment, resilience, friendship, and hope.
This is exactly the kind of book I want on middle school library shelves. It is an excellent choice for readers who love sports stories, but it is equally valuable for the conversations it opens about anxiety, identity, and asking for help. I have no doubt this will find a lot of readers, and it is one I will happily recommend.
Classroom & Curricular Connections
- SEL (Social-Emotional Learning): The story offers a vital, authentic entry point for SEL discussions on mental health, recognizing and navigating anxiety, emotional resilience, self-identity, and the importance of seeking help when facing emotional challenges.
- ELA / Poetry: As an accessible novel in verse, the book serves as an excellent mentor text for studying poetic structure, rhythm, tone, and how verse can effectively reflect a protagonist’s emotional state.
- Diversity & Representation: The novel offers exceptional, positive representation by featuring a Black male protagonist navigating mental health, as well as the inclusion of a Black male therapist. This provides crucial visibility around destigmatizing therapy and mental health support within middle grade literature and for readers of diverse backgrounds.
Readalikes
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
- Booked by Kwame Alexander
