Erik Sanchez

Eng 112B

Warner

W 4-6:45

Annotated Bibliography

11/30/05

Life Lessons through Sports Experiences

I chose this variety of Young Adult material to fit in with the countless young adults that could come in contact with learning about sports fiction. The stories also try to connect to the different gender groups that could be taught sports fiction in an educational setting. The range of stories provided in this annotated bibliography attempts to relate to the many ethnic groups that could be learning about sports fiction. The central focus of this annotated bibliography is to help students see life lessons through each authors� unique use of sports experiences.

Alexie, Sherman. Ten Little Indians. New York: Grove Press, 2003.

�Alexie�s latest book is arguably his best. Savor his language, his humor, his characters, and his storytelling flair in stories about a forty-year-old wannabe basketball star and an Indian poet who �faked� it� (Ayers 120).

Colton, Larry. Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the Little Big Horn. New York: Warner Books, 2000.

�You have probably seen the movie Hoop Dreams�about the basketball ambitions of Chicago teenagers�or even read the book� Well, this is a different take on the city game. A teenage Lakota Sioux Indian girl and her team fight their way to respect and awareness in their pursuit of the high school state title. A great read. A similar tale is told for Navajo girls� basketball in the film Rocks with Wings� (130).

Gallo, Don, ed. Ultimate Sports: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults. New York: Delacorte Press, 1995.

�Stories by Robert Lipsyte, Chris Crutcher, Tessa Duder, and Norma Fox Mazer are included� (Donelson 181).

Hoop Dreams. Dir. Steve James. Perf. Arthur Agee, William Gates, Bobby Knight, Spike Lee, Kevin O'Neill, Isiah Thomas, and Dick Vitale. United States: Home Vision Entertainment: New Line Home Entertainment, 2005.

�This documentary follows two inner-city basketball phenoms' lives through high school as they chase their dreams of playing in the NBA� (SJLibrary).

Jackson, Phil. Sacred Hoops. New York: Hyperion, 1995.

�The Chicago Bulls, Michael, Jordan, and Zen Buddhism�what more do we need to say? This book was written by the legendary and meditating powerhouse coach of the Bulls� (Ayers 147).

Joravsky, Ben. Hoop Dreams. Atlanta: Turner Publishing, 1995.

�You may have seen the great documentary of the Chicago high school ball and dreams of the NBA. This book goes deeper. The desperate, and usually impossible, dream of making it in professional sports is exposed with heartbreaking truthfulness� (148).

Krich, John. El Beisbol: Travels Through The Pan American Pastime. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989.

�Travel the Latin American baseball circuit with Oaklander John Krich in this wonderfully insightful story about the passion for baseball. This book shows that the sport is widely popular in places most Americans don�t even know the game exists. And, of course, a promotion to The Show of professional baseball from a Dominican barrio can mean financial rescue for whole communities. If you�re a baseball fan, this can sketch and deepen your sense of the game�s appeal, of your sense of yourself, and of your fellow fans� (152).

Radio. Dir. Mike Tollin. Perf. Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ed Harris, Alfre Woodard, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Debra Winger. Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 2003.

�The story of the relationship between a prominent high school football coach in a small South Carolina town and the illiterate, mentally-challenged man nicknamed Radio whom he mentors. Although their friendship raises some eyebrows at first, Radio's growth under the coach's guidance ultimately inspires the local townsfolk� (SJLibrary).

Rudy. Dir. David Anspaugh. Perf. Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, Charles S. Dutton, Jason Miller, Lili Taylor, and Robert Prosky. Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, 2000.

�Although people have told Rudy all his life he's not good enough, smart enough or big enough, nothing can stop his impossible dream of playing football for Notre Dame� (SJLibrary).

Soto, Gary. Living Up The Street. San Francisco: Strawberry Hill Press, 1985.

�Soto�s short prose-poem pieces describe a life of growing up in the barrio, playing little league baseball, and persevering� (Ayers 171)

Works Cited

Ayers, Rick and Amy Crawford, eds. Great Books for High School Kids: A Teachers� Guide to Books That Can Change Teens� Lives. Boston: Beacon Press, 2004.

Donelson, Kenneth L. and Allen Pace Nilsen. Literature for Today�s Young Adults. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2005.

SJLibrary.org Catalog. Sept. 2005. < http://mill1.sjlibrary.org/search/>.