After the Shot Drops

Straightforward story of two friends (alternating narration) Bunny & Nasir: growing up together in urban neighborhood outside Philadelphia, playing for their high school basketball team. Bunny is offered a scholarship to the much more upscale private St Sebastian's High school and makes the difficult decision to leave the familiarity of his neighborhood and high school to travel across town to expand his chances for college scholarships, & continue to "up his game" as an exceptional ball player. Nasir, with his struggling, more angry cousin Wallace, watches from afar as Bunny continues to excel - the growing bitterness is not overnight, portrayed realistically. It's even more complicated because Bunny has now begun dating Keyona, a show more dedicated athlete herself, and the girl Nasir has secretly had a crush on for a long time. real pluses: realistic dialogue without resorting to much vulgarity; respectful treatment of Keyona & Bunny's romance; characters are fleshed out a bit at a time, with life progressing as it would in a school year; good basketball game excerpts-appealing to those who love the sport. Potential drawbacks: story is done at leisurely, relationship-give and take pace - some students may want faster story/suspense. Does build to a violent climax - some students may find disturbing - but there's been a build up to it throughout the chapters. show less

*I got this book for review from Net galley*

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how this book was told from two boys POV and how it really focused on their friendship and how it changed over the course of the novel. It was such a impactful novel and it was super hard to put down. I thought the racial elements in this book was super well done and it was handled so well. I loved how sports was used to increase tension in this novel. I was equally invested in both POVS and loved the cast of characters that populated this world. I was super impressed by this novel as well! I will def.check more stuff by this author in the future!

*I got this book for review from Net galley*

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how this book was told from two boys POV and how it really focused on their friendship and how it changed over the course of the novel. It was such a impactful novel and it was super hard to put down. I thought the racial elements in this book was super well done and it was handled so well. I loved how sports was used to increase tension in this novel. I was equally invested in both POVS and loved the cast of characters that populated this world. I was super impressed by this novel as well! I will def.check more stuff by this author in the future!

Literary merit: Good
Characterization: Great
Recommend: Yes
Level: High School

Bunny is on the fast track to finally get out of his neighborhood and finally get out of poverty. He has a full scholarship to a prestigious high school to play basketball and scouts from colleges are already knocking at his door. But to make a life for himself and his family, he will have to separate himself from his neighborhood and friends that he has known all his life. The other part of this book is narrated by Nasir who feels betrayed by Bunny leaving and stuck in a neighborhood he wants out of. This book is a fantastic look at how rising out of poverty can not only be difficult physically but also emotionally. Wanting to do better means that relationships show more can become strained in the process. Ribay tackles this subject with care and attention. There is also a lot of basketball talk in this book. This will be a plus to many teens but also may alienate others that are not interested in sports. However, this is a first purchase for any high school or public library serving teens. show less

Great read. I wasn’t sure what direction we were heading, but enjoyed where it finished. Lessons to be learned all around on this one.

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The blurb told everything! And I hate the ending! Will this make you read all my thoughts about this book? It should.

First off, I got really interested in reading After the Shot Drops because, aside from receiving its ARC, a Filipino author wrote it. Huge applause for Randy Ribay! I’ve received this book in exchange for an honest review, let’s stay transparent.

▪ Really, having a dead guy for the first chapter?

As much as I want to try something new, this book doesn’t appear to fall under the mystery or thriller genre. So why a dead teenager…? But that would unfold so long as the story goes. Loved the idea!

▪ Bunny, Nasir, Wallace, Keyona, Jess

BUNNY and NASIR are the two main characters of this story. They used show more to be “BFFs” but Bunny transferred to another school. He’s pretty awesome at basketball. Why am I telling you this? It’s on the blurb! Wallace also existed and Keyona and Jess. Only one had the easy name and that’s Jess. Kinda loved the names!

▪ Not pure basketball!

You know that I’ve received this book along with three other books and this is the last that I picked up. I really thought that it’s gonna be boring with all the basketball stuff… but, surprisingly, it’s not boring at all! It took me only three days to finish this book whereas on the second day I was out swimming. So yes, you only need a day or two to finish this and hate the ending!

▪ Another person’s win is another’s loss

If there is something I’d learn from this book, then that’s it. I love how Bunny is getting all his scholarship and sponsorship from different people with connection, he deserves it. But I hate how people want to take it all from him. He’s just a kid with a real talent. But he’s also good at taking everything for granted. He’s self-centered from start to end. Sorry, hated it. It’s true, though. His wins are just his wins.

▪ Giving a chance, huh?

So, let’s talk about Wallace. Wallace is pretty stupid for betting bets he can’t win. Wallace is pretty dumb for not striving for himself and for his grandma. Wallace is pretty awful for what he did (ending part!) BECAUSE IN THE END THIS IS BUNNY’S STORY AND BUNNY WOULD STILL WIN IN LIFE AND WALLACE IS JUST NOWHERE. I hate how that turned out! He was good running away and he’s still good at running. Just plain awful, hate it.

▪ What I liked about After the Shot Drops

I liked the forgiving friendship between Bunny and Nasir, Nasir’s relationship with his parents, Wallace’s soft side to cats, Bunny’s determination to achieve his dreams, Keyona’s full understanding to things. Plus, all the lessons this book has in store for its readers.

Recommended or not? Hmm, it’s something new to me so I do recommend it. Plus, a Filipino author! Randy Ribay is something else and I swear to read all his published books and his books to come! show less

View full review

The blurb told everything! And I hate the ending! Will this make you read all my thoughts about this book? It should.

First off, I got really interested in reading After the Shot Drops because, aside from receiving its ARC, a Filipino author wrote it. Huge applause for Randy Ribay! I’ve received this book in exchange for an honest review, let’s stay transparent.

▪ Really, having a dead guy for the first chapter?

As much as I want to try something new, this book doesn’t appear to fall under the mystery or thriller genre. So why a dead teenager…? But that would unfold so long as the story goes. Loved the idea!

▪ Bunny, Nasir, Wallace, Keyona, Jess

BUNNY and NASIR are the two main characters of this story. They used show more to be “BFFs” but Bunny transferred to another school. He’s pretty awesome at basketball. Why am I telling you this? It’s on the blurb! Wallace also existed and Keyona and Jess. Only one had the easy name and that’s Jess. Kinda loved the names!

▪ Not pure basketball!

You know that I’ve received this book along with three other books and this is the last that I picked up. I really thought that it’s gonna be boring with all the basketball stuff… but, surprisingly, it’s not boring at all! It took me only three days to finish this book whereas on the second day I was out swimming. So yes, you only need a day or two to finish this and hate the ending!

▪ Another person’s win is another’s loss

If there is something I’d learn from this book, then that’s it. I love how Bunny is getting all his scholarship and sponsorship from different people with connection, he deserves it. But I hate how people want to take it all from him. He’s just a kid with a real talent. But he’s also good at taking everything for granted. He’s self-centered from start to end. Sorry, hated it. It’s true, though. His wins are just his wins.

▪ Giving a chance, huh?

So, let’s talk about Wallace. Wallace is pretty stupid for betting bets he can’t win. Wallace is pretty dumb for not striving for himself and for his grandma. Wallace is pretty awful for what he did (ending part!) BECAUSE IN THE END THIS IS BUNNY’S STORY AND BUNNY WOULD STILL WIN IN LIFE AND WALLACE IS JUST NOWHERE. I hate how that turned out! He was good running away and he’s still good at running. Just plain awful, hate it.

▪ What I liked about After the Shot Drops

I liked the forgiving friendship between Bunny and Nasir, Nasir’s relationship with his parents, Wallace’s soft side to cats, Bunny’s determination to achieve his dreams, Keyona’s full understanding to things. Plus, all the lessons this book has in store for its readers.

Recommended or not? Hmm, it’s something new to me so I do recommend it. Plus, a Filipino author! Randy Ribay is something else and I swear to read all his published books and his books to come! show less