Review of House of Hoops

[francesg222]

[Following is a volunteer review of "House of Hoops" by June Gillam.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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One of the primary aims of fiction is to entertain, and June Gillam, author of House of Hoops, does exactly that. She creates a story unique in highlighting contemporary topics such as school violence, lying, gentrification, and dysfunction in the family. Gillam developed her characters and plot well enough to keep me bound. Hilary Broome, the protagonist, and Charlie Bierce, her adversary, strike the reader with realism, action, and some mystery. Hilary struggles with the abandonment by her mother and the coming of age of her daughter. Charlie, on the other hand, is stereotyped as a grumpy baby boomer who lives in the past and faces health issues, even death.

Gillam exchanges the point of view of these memorable characters, keeping the reader glued to the book. Hilary is living with a secret, and Charlie confronts her at every turn. Charlie battles with the urban renewal that will destroy his neighborhood—his home. He also has a health issue that he deals with and that influences his adverse behavior.

In all, Gillam takes us on an engaging journey with her story. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars because her book is professionally edited, and she uses minimal profanity. There is no sexual content. I recommend it to all readers, including teens. It is wholesome and captivating.

What I disliked about the book was that it did not expand on the issues of gentrification and motherhood. I would have liked for Gillam to explore them with more intensity than she did. I also disliked the stereotype of the antagonist. He was a testy old man, and I am a testy old woman. There could have been more development in Charlie’s upbringing and psychological demeanor. Hilary’s emotions could have been refined as well. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and do recommend it. My analysis is purely based on professional taste, not negative criticism.

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House of Hoops
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