Hoops Heroes
The Untold Story of Black Basketball
From the Series Black Trailblazers in Sports (Read Woke ™ Books)
When much of the US was segregated, Black athletes were not allowed to play alongside white athletes. Black athletes started their own sports leagues, including the Black Fives. Learn about basketball’s beginnings and the stars of the Black Fives Era, including Charles “Tarzan” Cooper and Ora Washington. Then discover how the National Basketball Association became integrated, what led to the creation of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and how the Black Fives had a lasting impact.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
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979-8-7656-1155-5
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$22.99 | |
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979-8-7656-2851-5
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$10.99 | |
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979-8-7656-3272-7
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$34.99 | |
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979-8-7656-6431-5
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$39.99 | |
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979-8-7656-6430-8
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$10.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 4 - Grade 8 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 4 |
| Genre | Social Studies |
| Category | 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Narrative Nonfiction, Diverse Books: #OwnVoices, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diversity, Sports |
| Copyright | 2025 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Brand | Read Woke ™ Books |
| Imprint | Lerner Publications ™ |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2024-08-01 |
Author: Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith is a writer and editor based in Falls Church, Virginia.
Narrator: Cicely Lewis
Cicely Lewis is a school librarian with a passion for creating lovers of reading based in Georgia. In 2017, she started the Read Woke challenge in response to the shootings of young unarmed black people, the repeal of DACA, and the lack of diversity in young adult literature. She was named the 2020 National Librarian of the Year by School Library Journal and Scholastic, a 2019 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and the 2019 National Teacher Award for Lifelong Readers by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Penguin Random House (PRH).
Awards
- Booklist Top 10 New Series Nonfiction
Reviews
Booklist
“The books balance historical accuracy with compelling narratives, weaving personal challenges, societal hurdles, and athletic triumphs into vivid storytelling. Each chapter is complemented by engaging photographs and fast-paced writing that will keep readers hooked while broadening their understanding of racial injustice and resilience. These stories of extraordinary determination and achievement remind readers that every champion deserves their place in history.”—starred, Booklist
