Choice Book Report Part 1: Travel Team by Mike Lupica

     The main character in my book is Danny Walker. Danny is an insperational person with a big heart and an open mind. He never gave up on basketball even after he didn't make the twelve-year-old travel team for a year. Danny is constantly reminded and criticized about his size, but he doesnt let that get in the way of him playing bsaketball, the game he loves.

     I think Danny feels a lot of pressure on him because of how good his dad was at the game of basketball. Danny's dad, Richie Walker, was an NBA player and won the national championship for the same team that Danny didn't make. Danny's mother, Ali, has a few opinions about his father like how he thinks Danny is one of the "boys" and how he is only happy when he is with the "boys". Danny's father is also the head coach on the basketball team he did not make.

     Another thing that I think puts pressure on Danny is that he is trying to impress his dad too much. An example of this is in the beginning of the book Danny is shooting baskets in his back yard and his dad comes back to watch him. Danny misses the first few shots he takes and feels bad about it. The author then says that he helplessly tried to make the next shot which luckily he did make. After that he tells his dad that he didn't make the travel team and he breaks out crying. Earlier in the book the author had even said that Danny hardly ever cries, especially in front of his parents. I think that shows how much approval he wants from his dad.

     Another thing that I noticed that affects him is that his parents are divorced. This also adds on to what I said about him trying to impress his dad because he doesnt live with him and everytime he sees him he trys to be better than the last time he saw him. He also relies on his mom a lot and is somewhat of a "momma's boy".
I say that because the author mentioned that he crys to his mom a lot.

     Over all I could relate a lot to Danny because of how he trys to impress people especially in basketball. The author also mentions that he is a really strong hearted kid and that he will do whatever it takes to satisfy himself and others, and I think thats a very good trait.