LeBron James: The Rise of a Star (Paperback)

~ David Lee Morgan Jr. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–LeBron James truly has become a star. After appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated and having his high school basketball games broadcast on ESPN, he was the first pick of the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft, and actually had them in playoff contention. The book is a breezier read than Ryan Jones's King James (St. Martin's, 2003) and doesn't weigh readers down with scores and statistics. Through interviews with those who knew LeBron while he was growing up (poor but loved in Akron, OH), the author draws a portrait of a boy who almost always had that special spark that defines him in the NBA today. Two inserts of color photographs depict the athlete from toddlerhood to recent NBA draftee, and most show him with his recognizable smile–and truly having fun with his gift. Morgan doesn't gloss over the controversy that surrounded the player when he accepted gifts as an amateur, a violation of the high school rules. He just comes across as a typical teen who sometimes screws up, albeit one with a prodigious talent. Demand for all things LeBron James may soon overtake demand for all things Michael Jordan, just as LeBron's statistics are rivaling those of a young Michael.–Jamie Watson, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-12. The son of an unmarried, teenage mother, African American LeBron James overcame a culture of drugs, poverty, and violence in the Akron, Ohio, housing projects where he grew up to become a basketball superstar who signed more than $100 million dollars in promotional contracts before the end of his senior year in high school. Morgan, a sportswriter for the Akron Beacon Journal, offers readers an intimate look at James' life and incredible basketball career, following him to the moment when he became the number-one NBA draft pick. Morgan, who covered James' high-school career for the local newspaper, draws his material from interviews with family, friends, coaches, and teammates. The result is a well-rounded, personal portrait of the young superstar, which does an excellent job of depicting the intense pressure and scrutiny James and his family had to endure when he became basketball's hottest prospect. Sixty color photographs will entice sports fans to this inspiring, well-written biography. Ed Sullivan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Gray & Company Publishers (October 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886228744
• ISBN-13: 978-1886228740
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,763 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ohio's best sportswriter & basketball player in 1 book!!, December 27, 2003

By A Customer

I live in Dallas,Tx and when it comes to basketball I hear 2 things: 1- Dallas Mavericks; 2- Lebron James. I was fortunate to find this book in Dallas,Tx and I judge books by how long it takes to read. This book falls under the term used on Lebron - "CAN'T MISS". It was a non stop read that resulted in my wife yelling at me for not doing my chores over the weekend. My wife began an investigation as to what I was doing. She soon discovered that the book was too good not to read after viewing the pictures. I am proud to report that she read her first sports book at the tender age of 34. There is hope? Being a media magnate for years - I've been able to see more media and athletic talent than Terry Pluto & Jim Gray would ever dream of: you simply have Ohio's best sportswriter in David Morgan and Ohio's best basketball player in Lebron James in 1 book. That combination makes it an easy choice to buy the book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, December 26, 2003

By	Beth (OH, United States) - See all my reviews

This book was unbelievable. David Lee Morgan Jr. is a mastermind. He captured every angle of LeBron's young life. The book was a pageturner from the very beginning when LeBron held a basketball for the first time right up until the announcement for the number one pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Every time you turned the page something new and interesting immediately jumped out at you. The book also includes many color photos of LeBron which follow along with the storyline. If you're looking a book about LeBron James then this is the book for you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The personal touch does it, December 2, 2003

By	Karen G Arms, Ph.D., University of Connecticu... (Stamford, CT United States) - See all my reviews

Knowing and living around a star before they are a star provides insights and a sense of who a person really is better than can anyone who only becomes acquainted after stardom hits the public eye. That is what David Morgan has uniquely contributed to the understanding of who LeBron is. Morgan was personally selected by mom Gloria for the privilege of writing LeBron's story because she expected him to be fair to the family. He was also a known commodity because he was a local sportswriter and followed LeBron's career before he was King James. Morgan was given access to the stories of family members so that he could speak from their unique vantagepoints. He has done that very well, but he has also balanced those positions with perceptions of the people with whom they came in contact, which were not always the same. This book helps us begin to understand how such a talent could be developed from what society might consider the most adverse of circumstances to the maturity and grounding we have seen so far from this young athlete. The extent of the extended family influences are clearly evident and truly amazing. My hope is that David Morgan continues his relationship with the James family, that they continue to trust him with their confidences, and that he writes more to help us learn further about the importance of mentors and models in the growing years of our youngsters.