"Twelve-year-old Ben is a shy, quiet New York City kid. His best friend, Jake, lives a few floors below his apartment, and they both go to a prestigious private school. Ben's life isn't perfect, but he feels at home. When his dad takes a job in London, everything changes. His parents separate, and Ben's mom moves them back to her hometown in Austin, Texas. Ben's simple life has suddenly become complicated. He misses his apartment and Jake, and his dad. Then he meets Mabley, and there is now a bright spot to Ben's day. But when his mom starts working at his new school and making friends with his teacher Mr. Tomski, Ben finds himself at the center of all the problems the adults around him can't resolve -- and some of his own, too. Every lunchtime, he escapes to the old basketball court, where he shoots hoops with the groundskeeper. He dreams of moving to London, but then his mom makes him join the basketball team, where Mabley's best friend, Pete, is the star player. And everything becomes complicated again. After being pushed around, looking for his place, Ben will have to learn how to stand his ground."--.
