Harold Keith Boeken

Set against the backdrop of Oklahoma's unique six-player girls' basketball, the narrative explores the evolution of women's sports and the challenges faced in gaining respect. It centers on a man reluctantly coaching a girls' team, who discovers their fierce competitiveness and dedication to the game. His unexpected passion for coaching girls transforms his perspective, leading him to prefer it over coaching boys. This inspiring story highlights the journey of girls' basketball and its fight for recognition, serving as the inspiration for the film "Believe in Me."

This full-length junior novel should hold a place with the best Civil War fiction for young people. The fighting takes place in the West. . . . A young farm boy joins the Union forces, becomes a scout . . . There is suspense in the telling and many a colorful character.--The Horn Book.