H. N. Khan

This was an easy read and pretty enjoyable, although it could have used some polish.

The relationships between Fawad and his family were the most interesting part of the book to me. There was a lot complexity there and their conflicts and fears made sense with situations and personalities.

The narration was also read authentically as the voice of a teenage boy, but at times sort of stream-of-consciousness, jumping from thought to thought felt annoying or shallow. With that distractibility and show more shallowness, some of the ideas the book explored like the cycle of violence didn't feel fully explored or incorporated into the story.

Also, that ending had its issues. The resolution between Omar and Fawad did not make sense with their characters (Omar's character mostly) and how far their conflict had escalated at that point. It seemed like the author very much wanted a completely positive, uplifting ending but didn't know how to get there from where he was at in the story and just forced it. The book was already getting sentimental and already giving Fawad for his last-minute comeback, hero moment. The exchange with Omar pushed that a little too far for me to believe. show less

"Wrong Side of the Court" by H.N. Khan is a touching and compelling coming-of-age story about fifteen-year-old Fawad Chaudhry, a first-generation Pakistani who dreams of being the world's first Pakistani to be drafted into the NBA. The novel explores Fawad's struggles as he tries to navigate his way through life while dealing with the loss of his father, his mother's desire to arrange a marriage for him, and living in a tiny apartment in Regent Park. Khan's writing is sincere and authentic, show more capturing the essence of Fawad's experiences as he tries to pursue his passions and overcome the obstacles in his path. This novel is a heartfelt and inspiring read that will resonate with anyone who has ever had a dream and fought to achieve it. show less

This book would be a good fit for a middle school boy who has an interest in basketball or really any sport, and has trouble fitting in. I thought the main character of Fawad Chaudhry, a 15 year old Pakistani boy, was well developed as he vacillates between trying to please his traditional Pakistani mother plus honoring his religion at the same time attempting to meet the expectations of his high school friends.

Excellent story of a teen boy coping with everyday struggles in his neighborhood and family life. Fifteen-year old Fawad lives for basketball, but he's having trouble convincing his protective Pakistani mother to let him try out for the school team. He gets bullied by Omar, a neighborhood teen who plays on his rival school's team. Fawad's mother wants to arrange his marriage to a cousin back in Pakistan, which Fawad definitely does not want to do because he is interested in a girl at show more school--but his mother has forbidden him from dating. And then his best friend's brother, a young man whom Fawad looked up to and valued as a mentor, dies from gun violence, and this really shakes up both of their lives. This story started out grim and I thought I wouldn't like it that much, but I quickly grew to like Fawad's character, and it turned out much more positively than I'd predicted. The basketball action is fast-paced and pretty easy to follow; there are good moments of friendship and a sweet storyline involving his blossoming first relationship. Despite living in a poor neighborhood with rough circumstances, Fawad and his friends rise above their challenges and stay positive and hopeful. The Regent park neighborhood is a character on its own, described as very diverse and varied, which Fawad values despite the drawbacks; descriptions of Muslim culture in general and Pakistani food in particular add warmth and vibrancy to the story. Strong coming-of-age story. For junior high readers and up who are fine with some spicy language. Although it is set in a Canadian city, American teens shouldn't have any problems following the story. I received an Early Reviewers copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. show less