Elle Of The Ball by Elena Delle Donne

Elle of the Ball

Author: Elena Delle Donne

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date: March 13, 2018

Summary:

From 2015 WNBA MVP, 2016 Olympic gold medalist, and global ambassador to the Special Olympics Elena Delle Donne comes the first novel in a brand-new middle grade series with as much heart as there is game.

Elle Deluca is a seventh grader who is tall—not just sort of tall. She’s six feet tall. And for a twelve-year-old girl, this means that her basketball team has high hopes for her changing positions and becoming their starting center. But a new position is not the only footwork she has to learn. Her class’s dance unit in gym is coming up, and that means she has to learn ballroom dance steps with a boy much shorter than her—and perform publically for a grade.

In the first book in WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist Elena Delle Donne’s Hoops series, Elle must figure out a way to remain herself when others want her to be someone else.

My Thoughts:

Elena Delle Donne's life inspires this first book in the Hoops series about Elle Deluca. If you have a reader who loves sports and is struggling to find her place in the world this book is a must-read. My son loved sports and had the opposite problem of Elle, he was small for the sport that he wanted to play, however, it didn't stop him from playing and doing well. I truly believe that what a parent teaches their child about attitude helps them to learn to deal with their struggles with a more healthy approach. In this book, Elle's parents and friends try to help her with her outlook as she struggles to adjust to her fast-growing height. 

I do appreciate the lessons that are taught in this book. I appreciate the fact that a middle-grade reader has fears, and hopes of what they should expect while going to 7th, 8th and 9th grade. This book helps readers to see that everyone is going through the same struggles, just not always talking about them or reacting to them where someone else can see the struggles. 

This book reminds me of Matt Christopher's sports series that came out starting in the 50's and decades into the 2000's when my son read some of his posthumous released books. 

Ms. Donne's writing is youthful, easy to read and great from your daughter or son. I think that this is a worthy book purchase.

I give this book 4 stars for middle-graders and younger who like sports. 

I want to thank Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this book via Edelwiess+ for my honest review.