The New Jersey Nets (Team Spirit (Norwood))

The books in the Team Spirit series provide both fans and newcomers to the game with a solid resource for team histories, focusing on key players, momentous matchups, home courts and uniforms, and the unique qualities that have helped define the spirit of each franchise. The New Jersey Nets covers the team’s highlights (back-to-back NBA finals appearances in 2002 and 2003) and lowlights (letting go of Dr. J when they merged into the NBA from the ABA) and makes a case for playing together as a team. The books are endowed with plenty of high-energy photos of court action and feature two separate glossaries, one for basketball terms and another for vocabulary not related to the game. The broad array of back matter also includes a time line, fun facts, lists of telling quotes and additional resources, and a primer on the rules and conventions of basketball. Grades 3-5. --Ian Chipman