We Are Family by Lebron James

We Are Family by Lebron James

Kids have big dreams. And when those dreams are on the line, how far are they willing to go to achieve them?

When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year--and maybe ever again--they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their basketball season, in this inspiring new middle grade novel from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams. A New York Times bestseller!

Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group--the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.

And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.

For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible--but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.  

It's an inspiring, original middle grade story from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams that channels the many relatable challenges so many young kids face.

The first step to winning is getting out on the court.

her father's job in the U.S. Coast Guard, Andrea spent most of her childhood moving up and down the East Coast. She was inspired to become a writer at a young age by her YiaYia, who would often create stories and gift books to her grandchildren.

After graduating from ODU with a B.S. in Exercise Science and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education, Andrea became a kindergarten teacher. The idea for Goodbye Kindergarten came from a project she worked on during her last year as a kindergarten teacher at Hillpoint Elementary School. Andrea originally wrote this book for her class as a parting gift.

When she's not writing, Andrea likes to enjoy anything with

her kids: the beach, sporting events, concerts, knitting, and, of course, reading. Her favorite children's book is Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.