Paul Volponi’s fast-paced and suspenseful novel draws the reader in from the first line with “A father shouldn’t have to outlive his own son. It’s not right.” Thus begins Mackey’s struggle with his best friend’s death on the eve of the big Rucker Park Basketball Tournament, the storied tournament played every summer in Harlem, and the role he may have played in it. J.R. and Mackey were both chosen to play for the Greenbacks, the team sponsored by J-Greene, a star rapper from the neighborhood. Stove, J.R.’s father and a surrogate to Mackey, believes Mackey knows more about the murder than he is telling and he is refereeing the big game. Stove also knows the coach of the opposing team, Fat Anthony, plays dirty by gambling on his own games and that J-Greene and Fat Anthony have money on the championship game between the Greenbacks and Non-Fiction. Volponi weaves together past and present with the action of the championship game, and commentary by Stove, Fat Anthony, and J-Greene masterfully which keeps the pages turning. Give this to anyone who loves the game of basketball and especially reluctant readers. Reviewed School Library Journal and Kirkus. ( )

A tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption played out on a Harlem city basketball court. Mackey and J.R. have been neighbors and best friends since childhood. As teens, basketball is their life and JR's Dad, "Stove" is their most demanding coach -- and supporter. Every pickup game is building towards the annual Rucker Park Tournament. But when JR is fatally stabbed, the whole game changes. 90% of the book is the Tournament Game in action through Mackey's eyes -- with occasional cut-ins from Stove, heavy Fat Anthony, and opportunist Rapper XX Green. Mackey must play the game of his life on the very court where JR is stabbed, knowing his role in the set-up and deciding how to make things right. ( )

Streetball is a way of life in the neighborhood surrounding Rucker Park, and to win the annual tournament is to cement your status as neighborhood legend. Mackey has dreamed about competing with his best friend and teammate J.R. for years. J.R.'s murder on the court right before the tournament has left Mackey feeling guilty and torn up inside. A quick read with play-by-play basketball action that explores the price of honesty and winning. Mackey tells the story, but quick interludes give the adult characters voice about their thoughts about the tournament and J.R.'s murder. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Basketball is life for Mackey and J.R. They've known each other forever and spend most of that time involved with basketball. Lucky for them, Rucker Park offers the cream-of-the-crop. The park has long been the scene of pick-up games and tournaments between actual pro-players and the best street players ever. Mackey and J.R. have long dreamed of playing in the annual tournament.

Unfortunately, Mackey gets involved in the "dark" side of basketball (game fixing), and as a result he may have been responsible for the fatal stabbing of his friend, J.R. Determined to make things right, Mackey starts the final tournament game intending to win it for J.R. no matter the consequences. But between his feelings of guilt, the pressure from the "dark" side, and the fact that J.R.'s own father is the long-time referee for the tournament, Mackey has everything he can do to play the game and not fall apart.

Paul Volponi demonstrates his knowledge of basketball in RUCKER PARK SETUP. The entire story revolves around the one tournament game. Readers are artfully filled in on the background information of Mackey's family and J.R.'s death through the use of flashbacks and the tormented thoughts of young Mackey. Colorful characters, top-notch players, and streetwise vocabulary help make the reader feel a part of the non-stop action. Fans of Volponi's BLACK AND WHITE and ROOFTOP will not be disappointed. ( )

Rucker Park Setup is very similar to Paul Volponi's other books. He follows the same format, a short, consise book filled with a lot of action. Unfortnately, at my own fault and not at Mr. Volponi's, I have a difficult time reading books that are following a sports game. However, the underlying story is wonderful, although devestating, and a good moral lesson. ( )