Name Earned, A

Bobby Byington plays on his high school basketball team, but belonging to his team means much more than just playing sports. In this easy-to-read novel, one can see how the efforts of a whole community can help restore one family’s sense of belonging while they struggle with internal and social conflicts. A story told through the eyes of a Choctaw teen, “A Name Earned” gives readers a front-row seat to how a strong sense of community and supportive friends can help young people overcome the most extreme adversities. Suitable for students in Grade 8–10, both basketball and the Choctaw heritage are highlighted in a story that touches on important themes within First Peoples cultures as well as on mature subjects such as abuse, alcoholism, and racism. In the classroom, this novel could be read as an independent or guided novel study. Its concise chapters and simple vocabulary can help students develop literacy skills and its themes lend themselves to class discussions and debates.