Customer Reviews

Coaching IRA

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

Someone told me about this book and thought it would be great reading for my kids who play Jewish youth group basketball. It was! I really enjoyed Coaching Ira. Shandler cleverly weaves all the nuances of American Jewish culture together in this cute and funny book. It's great how the author plays with the theme of community: the community that his USYers form as a team and the community of Langston, the town in which these kids live. The characters speak like normal kids would speak - something you don't get out of a lot of books and TV shows these days - and you really feel yourself winning and losing with the team. The introduction of Ethiopian-Jewish all-star Abraham was a great plot point that turns the whole book around and educates the reader about a little-known group of Jewish people. The only flaw of the book - a little too short. I was hoping for just a little more story and for some of the issues to not be resolved so quickly. You gotta keep us in suspense! Overall, terrific messages and a story that suburbanites - Jewish or not - can relate to. Will there be a sequel?

I heard Shandler speak at a convention in San Francisco in March. He's a down-to-earth, approachable guy and I enjoyed hearing about the origins and inspiration of his book. Coaching Ira ain't Hemingway, but it is a funny, quick, enjoyable read that I finished on two short plane trips. I especially liked the exciting conclusion -- a championship game between the USY team and the Orthodox champion. Despite the intensity of the moment, humor was dropped in throughout. Would make a great movie, with someone like Friends' David Schwimmer in the lead role!

Didn't quite know what to expect with a "Jewish basketball novel", but Shandler makes it work. Reminded me of my own days playing in the Jewish youth league. The snapshots of teenage life in suburbia are dead on and the characters are, well, caricatured, but very well-developed. Funny, entertaining and a quick read.

This book is a great read, and is both highly entertaining and very funny. It really captures the essences of being a teenager (especially the Chicken House chapter...read the book to see what I'm talking about!) and playing competitive sports. The characters are, for the most part, highly realistic and well developed. I never played USY basketball (in fact, I'm not sure that I even heard of it when I was in high school - maybe they don't have it here in Texas), but after reading Coaching Ira, I sure wish I did!

This book rocks!!!
What a great story and an easy, enjoyable read. Whether you like sports or not, you'll enjoy it. Plus, a great gift for that sports fan.

This book is a must read. For a person that does not get a chance to read many books, this book was an easy and enjoyable read. In fact, once I started I could not put the book down. The author, Adam Shandler, writes a wonderful story which presents a lesson to be learned and shares it in a humorous fashion. I recommend this book 100% to anyone that wants to who enjoys reading about sports (basketball) and who would like to experience a great laugh.

This is an incredible book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was well-written, funny, and very enjoyable. It is appealing to all sports fans and youth group attendees. The characters were well-developed and likable. Adam Shandler is an amazing writer. I can't wait to see more of his books on the stands!

This is an incredible book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was well-written, funny, and very enjoyable. It is appealing to all sports fans and youth group attendees. The characters were well-developed and likable. Adam Shandler is an amazing writer. I can't wait to see more of his books on the stands!

You can't find many of these! As a kid who grew up in NJ involved in these Jewish sports leagues, I can tell you that this guy nailed it.

Would make a great gift book for middle school/high school kids too. Humor and a good story. My son read it in a weekend and was looking for something similar to read - what? recommendations?

This book has a cute idea and some clever quips, but it is unfortunate proof that anyone can be a published author. Before tackling another writing project, the author should find an editor, or at least a software program to correct his spelling, grammar, and syntax. The book is almost unreadable.