Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up

Now in paperback! "A beautifully crafted tale of friendship, family, and forgiveness, with characters so vivid and real you can’t help but root for them, on and off the court." —Matt Tavares, New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Hoops: A Graphic Novel 

Competitive basketball takes center court in this fast-paced sports book about two girls discovering the truth about themselves—and their families—against the backdrop of middle school and college hoops.

Cincinnati, Ohio, lives and dies by college basketball, with two elite Division I rivals separated by a mere three miles. Rory’s dad has just become the coach at the University of Cincinnati, which means moving yet again—this time to her dad’s hometown. Rory’s life revolves around basketball; she’s never had a close friend outside of it. Could this be a chance for a fresh start?

Abby has always lived in Cincinnati, where her dad grew up playing ball and now coaches at Xavier University. But Abby has recently retreated from basketball after a confidence-shattering season. It feels like she’s on the outside looking in when it comes to her former teammates, and she could seriously use a new friend.

When Abby shows Rory around on her first day of school, the two connect over their shared love of the game. But after Abby’s dad practically forbids their friendship because of something that happened between him and Rory’s dad when they were younger, Abby and Rory have no choice but to hide their budding friendship.

As tensions rise on and off the court, will Abby and Rory be able to get to the bottom of what went down between their dads in the 1990s? Or will history repeat itself and tear the two friends apart?

PRAISE AND ACCLAIM: Selected for the 2025 Lone Star Reading List and named a finalist/nominee for several awards, this book garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews, among others, upon its debut.

SPORTS BOOKS FOR GIRLS: This novel stars two protagonists who love basketball in their own ways and features an array of characters (including a basketball-playing nun!) who engage with the sport individually and distinctly. Basketball is one of the most popular sports, and the breadth of athletes reflects the reality of sports for kids and young teens, making the story appealing to a wide range of readers.

GIRL POWER: The WNBA has totally exploded in popularity, and athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have become household names. This is a perfect read for this growing group of sports fans!

AUTHENTIC & ACCESSIBLE NARRATIVE: Reluctant readers and book lovers alike will find a genuine story that conveys real emotions, family struggles, and insecurities driven by the tension of middle school sports. Unraveling like a mystery and traveling through time and generations, this book has the right level of high stakes to keep readers hooked to the end.

Perfect for:

• Readers of middle-grade sports novels like Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang, and Knockout by K.A. Holt
• Fans of basketball
• Anyone looking for basketball books for teens and tweens
• Parents, teachers, and librarians seeking children's friendship books

Jenn Bishop is the author of several novels for young readers, including the Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner Things You Can’t Say. Her books have been named Junior Library Guild selections and Bank Street College of Education best books, and have been finalists for state book awards. She currently calls Cincinnati, Ohio, home. What team do you think she roots for? Visit her online at jennbishop.com.

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