Nikki on the Line

Eighth grader Nikki plays on an elite basketball team with her longtime best friend, Adria. Although Nikki is a strong shooter, a teammate’s parent makes her question herself, and her declining confidence affects her game. Her friendship with Adria shifts as Adria spends more time with a new teammate. At school, Nikki befriends Booker, who is adopted; both are uncomfortable with a science assignment about inherited family traits, since Nikki’s father was a sperm donor. At home, Nikki cares for her younger brother after her mother cancels his after-school care to afford team fees.