This Was Never About Basketball - by Craig Leener (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In this coming-of-age novel, seventeen-year-old high school basketball star Ezekiel "Zeke" Archer has it all: a sweet jump shot, a full-ride scholarship to a Midwestern basketball powerhouse, and the brightest future. But when Zeke's temper gets the better of him in the city championship, he is expelled from school, has to forfeit his scholarship, and is left to ponder his once-hopeful future... While finishing his final high school days in the California educational system's version of purgatory, Zeke makes a stunning discovery. With the help of a young autistic classmate Zeke befriends, he learns that the mysterious 7th Dimension, which brought basketball to Earth more than a century ago, has decided to take the game away for good -- all because of the ugly event Zeke set into motion in his final game! As he embarks on the ultimate cross-country road trip to save basketball, Zeke must confront his unsettled past -- including a father he's not heard from in years and a brother fighting in a war half a world away -- in order to set his life on the right path and rescue the game he loves.

Review Quotes

"Leener's novel is unexpectedly powerful, perhaps because you wouldn't expect a story about sport-stealing aliens to carry such emotional weight. But, as its title suggests, THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT BASKETBALL is focused primarily on the journey and growth of its protagonist, Zeke, and uses this zany plot to help him reach his destination. This is a potent, positively charged novel that has a great message for young adults about the importance of leading by example and owning up to your own shortcomings. (2018 Most Original Concept award by Red City Review)" -redcityreview.com

"Here is where Leener's novel really stands out, his story isn't about sport or some cliche pretense about character building. Rather, Leener's book is that quality kind of young adult fiction (perhaps even better suited for middle grade readers) about the main character finding their place in the world and embracing how they have, must, and will change as a person." -msanthropester.com

"In THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT BASKETBALL, author Craig Leener marvelously marries his knowledge of basketball with his interest in science fiction to create a fun, fascinating read with page-turning action, unexpected plot twists and laugh out loud humor. (IR Rating: 4.8 out of 5)" -indiereader.com

"While THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT BASKETBALL is very much about basketball, and will most certainly appeal to basketball fans, it is really about coming to terms with what's important in one's life, so it can appeal to a wide gamut of readers. All combined - a stellar cast of characters and a great story - This Was Never About Basketball is a remarkable young adult novel that really is about so much more than basketball. (Five stars)" -selfpublishingreview.com