Derrick Rose

This entry in the Basketball Heroes Making a Difference series profiles one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. The quick biographical section talks about how, as one of the smaller players on the rough courts of his childhood Chicago neighborhood, Rose learned his electrifying contortion acts to avoid midair maulings, and he also figured out that passing was just as important as scoring. The main focus, though, is on his charitable work, and it describes his efforts close to home (raising money to renovate the courts in his home neighborhood and acting as a role model for disadvantaged kids) and farther afield (pledging money to help with the relief efforts after the 2010 Haiti and 2011 Japan earthquakes). Plentiful photos of the MVP both on and off the court and an easy-reading layout help ensure that this book’s message of giving back swishes home.