Stephen Curry: The Official Graphic Novel

Gr 3-7–Eleven-year-olds Maya, a fearless athlete, and friend Jesse, a nerdy sports statistics nut, are at Madison Square Garden for a Golden State Warriors game when they both receive mysterious texts about an unmarked door that leads to a secret elevator. Soon they are admitted to the throne room of the Sports Superheroes, a secret society of athletes, each a legend in their own sport, protecting the joy of competition from cheating, greed, and injustice. The kids have been tapped to nominate a player for the next generation of superheroes. Much of the story consists of their case for superstar Warriors point guard Curry, his understated college career, difficulty with injuries early in his pro years, and ultimate triumph as perhaps the game’s greatest shooter. In addition to highlighting the athletic achievements of Curry and his team, the narrative sketches out his childhood, family life, marriage to high school acquaintance Ayesha Alexander, and the family’s philanthropic work. While the superhero premise is shaky, the framing of the Curry material is highly engaging. Scott’s illustrations are colorful and vibrant and have an airbrushed quality reminiscent of graffiti art. As seen, there is no sourcing or other back matter. Less useful for research, this could nonetheless be a fun introduction for new fans or a victory lap for the faithful.