Would you ever lose your friend over a bet? Paul Volponi novel, Rucker Park Setup, is narrated by a boy named Mackey and friends. Mackey main point in this book is to win the basketball tournament at Rucker Park. Rucker park is a place where some basketball’s greatest pro players go up against street legends. J.R. is Mackey best friends there dreams was to win the tournament and make it to the big league.

Towards the beginning of the book Mackey best friend J.R. get stab in front of Mackey inside of Rucker Park. Stove J.R. dad is trying to make Mackey tell him who killed his son. Fat Anthony( basketball coach) planned out the killing and he told Mackey if he doesn't tell anyone he would give him $500, guess what Mackey took the money and keepeth his mouth shut. The tournament starts and Mackey is not feeling it because he feels guilty of what happen, games pass… Mackey meets Fat Anthony’s team in the Rucker park Championships.

Stove is the ref and Mackey is scared that stove would find out he that Fat Anthony bought him to not tell. Mackey is off is game and he keeps looking over at Fat Anthony and Stove is getting suspicious. Mackey wishes he done something so his friend would still be alive and be playing next to him. At you would find out that Mackey comes clean to the cops and stoves always loved him no matter what happened.

If you want to find out who the killer is you should buy it. I recommended this book to teenage boys who are into sports. This book would make you double read a line because it's so unbelievable. So on your spare of time go out and buy Rucker Park Setup and you would see what life really is. This book also won the VOYA'S, Perfect Tens 2007 , YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2008.