When Kevin Durant and his brother were kids, they knew that money was tight, but they could count on their mother and their grandmother for stability, discipline, and caring. Teased about his height, eight-year-old Kevin signed up for basketball at a nearby recreation center. There he found excellent coaches, including Taras Brown, whose saying, "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard," became a mantra for Durant. Even as a child, he practiced fundamentals with determination and a sense of purpose, and the skills that he practiced became his springboard to greatness. More than half of the book tells of Durant's childhood and his teen years, while the rest details his NBA career and his philanthropic work. An appended section gathers the creative black-and-white drawings that appear at the chapter headings and uses them to visually reprise his life story. In this volume from the Epic Athletes biography series, sportswriter Dan Wetzel offers a well-organized and very readable account of Durant's youth as well as his stellar career.

In this middle-grade biography of top basketball talent Kevin Durant, readers learn the passion, persistence, and self-discipline that have made him one of the greatest offensive players ever.Kevin Durant is both one of the most skilled basketball players of his generation and an incredible inspiration for many. Greatness doesn't come without a bit of backlash, as much of his record-breaking, hall-of-fame-in-the-making–NBA career has been reduced to one decision he made in 2016 to leave the stagnating Oklahoma City Thunder to join a successful Golden State Warriors team. Wetzel here resets the narrative by taking the long view on the incredible work ethic and discipline that earned Durant all types of accolades along his journey from Prince George's County, Maryland, to the top of the basketball ranks. Readers meet the community behind the man, including coaches Charles Craig and Taras Brown and, of course, his beloved mother, Wanda Durant. Wetzel, who works as a columnist for Yahoo Sports, draws the details of Durant's life story from published reporting done throughout the years, disregarding much of the commentary to focus on the words and framing offered by KD himself. Baez's comics-style illustrations are dotted throughout the chapters, concluding with a spotlighted final sequence of the dagger three Durant sank over Lebron James on his way to his first championship ring in 2017.Young hoop dreamers will find this a highly engaging read about one of today's most skilled players. (Biography. 9-12)

Gr 4-8 Growing up just outside of Washington, DC, Kevin Durant was an enthusiastic athlete. At an early age, his impressive height often brought unwanted attention. Before becoming a legendary NBA player and Olympic medalist, Durant didn't have the easiest childhood. A year or so after Durant's birth, his parents separated. Durant moved to many different houses and frequently changed schools. When he was around eight years old, Durant signed up to play basketball at the local recreation center. He met two basketball coaches, Charles "Chucky" Craig and Taras Brown, who would change his life and set him on a path towards success. They instilled in him the skills that were needed to become a professional ballplayer: a strong work ethic and being a team player. Prolific sportswriter Wetzel emphasizes Durant's passion for basketball, his willingness to share the spotlight, and how his early years learning the game inside and out propelled him to be one of the greatest athletes in basketball today. This detailed biography is full of play-by-play action sequences and illuminates Durant's character, on and off the court. Wetzel highlights Durant's prowess as a natural athlete and his loyalty to his teammates and his fans. Young readers will find much to admire in Durant; the text's pacing and sports-heavy details will keep them hooked until the final pages. VERDICT Substance and insider knowledge make this an excellent choice for most libraries serving young sports fans.Jody Kopple, Shady Hill Sch., Cambridge, MA