Families who loved How I Fell in Love and Learned to Shoot Free Throws by Jon Ripslinger often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling the pressure of high school social hierarchies or struggling with the gap between who they are and who they think they need to be to impress a crush. It is a lighthearted yet sincere look at seventeen year old Danny Henderson, whose mediocre basketball skills are put to the test when he falls for the star of the girls' team, Angel McPherson. The story explores themes of self confidence, the vulnerability of first love, and the importance of being authentic rather than putting on a front. While it centers on sports, the emotional core is about the resilience required to fail and try again in front of your peers. It is perfectly suited for middle and high schoolers navigating the awkwardness of teen romance and the discovery of hidden talents.
