Shook

Julian Randall

Preorder
Book cover for Shook
Image for variant 9781250882059
Book cover for Shook
Image for variant 9781250882059

Shook

Shook

Julian Randall

Member Benefits

  • 30% Off All Books - Savings that support storytellers, not stock prices.
  • Fight Book Bans - Every membership sends a book to LGBTQ+ youth in affected states.
Member Book Price
$18.99 $13.29
Non-Member Book Price $18.99

An annual membership will be billed at $48/year.

Discount applies to first-time members only. Already a member? Log in here.

View full details

Description

"A gift!" --#1 New York Times-bestselling author Jason Reynolds

"Absolutely vibrating with energy and heart . . . a masterful middle-grade novel." --Newbery Honoree Jasmine Warga

Shake's dream of making the varsity basketball team is in peril when he gets injured. Can he rebound and make his way back onto the court--and back to feeling like himself? For fans of Kwame Alexander and Jason Reynolds.

Beautifully designed with illustrations.

Malik Page--though unless you're his mama, call him "Shake"--dreams of making the Marshall Grove varsity basketball squad as an eighth grader. Then he'll be on his way to joining the ranks of Chicago legends like his pops and late Uncle Kenny. But when Shake fractures his ankle in a championship game, he's sidelined for the first time since his first dribble.

As his world is turned upside down, Shake feels like there's ginger ale bubbling in his chest and sweat slicking on his palms. With a best friend who's getting more distant by the day, a growing silence between him and his dad, and varsity tryouts fast approaching, Shake will have to cross up every obstacle to find a way back onto the court--and back to being himself. Thankfully in Marshall Grove, the sky is always full of hope.

Perfect for readers who love:
ā— Sports Stories (though non-sports fans, you'll love this one too!)
ā— Short, Quick Reads
ā— Hopeful Depictions of Anxiety and Mental Health
ā— A Main Character Who Exudes Swagger
ā— Humor and Heart

"Readers, make permanent room on your shelves--and in your hearts-- for this witty and poignant novel." --National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo

"Stunning.
This book is powerful." --Newbery Medalist Tae Keller

"Witty, electric and profound, Randall's verse dribbles, twists and weaves highlighting the complicated inner world of a middle-school boy with nuance and care." --National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride

About the Author

Julian Randall is a Living Queer Black poet from Chicago. His poetry and essays are published in New York Times Magazine, POETRY, and Vibe. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. Julian holds an MFA in Poetry from Ole Miss. His first book, Refuse, won the Cave Canem Poetry Prize and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. Julian has previously worked as a youth mentor, teaching writing workshops to children on house arrest. He is the author of the Pilar Ramirez duology, The Chainbreakers, and Shook.
juliandavidrandall.com

Critical Reviews

"In Shook, Randall does what the poet does best, which is to trick the heart into feeling by using sleight of language. In this case, basketball is metaphorized, transformed from a tale of physical injury and disappointment into one that explores what it means to try to fix the fractured bits of our emotional lives, regardless of age. A gift!" --#1 New York Times-bestselling author Jason Reynolds

ā˜… "Highly recommended for fans of Kwame Alexander's The Crossover." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"Absolutely vibrating with energy and heart, Shook is a masterful middle-grade novel." --Newbery Honoree Jasmine Warga

"Readers, make permanent room on your shelves--and in your hearts--for this witty and poignant novel." --National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo

"Stunning. Heart on the page and poetry that feels alive--this book is powerful." --Newbery Medalist Tae Keller

"Witty, electric and profound, Randall's verse dribbles, twists and weaves highlighting the complicated inner world of a middle-school boy with nuance and care." --National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride

ā˜… "Vividly explores the complexities of being vulnerable and different ways of showing up in relationships." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Confronting mental health stigma and emphasizing the value of seeking and accepting help, this astute narrative thoughtfully handles issues of identity." --Publishers Weekly

Publishing Information

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pub date: 2026-08-04
Length: 256 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.