Dragon Hoops

   Basketball is a big feature in this hip(时髦的), fun and heartfelt graphic novel. But you don’t have to love basketball to enjoy it. The story is really about stepping into the unknown. Based on the writer’s real-life experience as a high school teacher, it follows the high school’s basketball team, the Dragons, climbing their way to the California State Championships. Although Gene Luen Yang isn’t really into sports, he can’t help getting swept up in all the excitement. Describing the book, Yang said, “Sport is actually really about having the courage(勇气) to step into a situation where you don’t know how things are going to end. Sport is a metaphor(比喻) for life.” Dragon Hoops also explores(探寻) different cultures, history and basketball’s popularity in China!       
　The book has had lots of praise. Booklist said it’s “a work of resounding humanity(瞩目的人性)”, while Oakland magazine described it as “an impressive feat(令人印象深刻的壮举) of illustrated journalism(插画式的新闻)”.