Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 THE KID FROM AKRON CHAPTER 2 SUDDENLY A STAR CHAPTER 3 TITLE TIME 4 10 18 CHAPTER 4 DRIBBLING BUT NEVER STAYING SILENT 22 AFTERWORD 28 ATHLETE SNAPSHOT 29 SOURCE NOTES 29 GLOSSARY 30 FURTHER INFORMATION 31 INDEX 32
4 CHAPTER 1 THE KID FROM AKRON On December 30 1984 Gloria James gave birth to a baby boy in Akron Ohio She named him LeBron Only 16 years old Gloria knew that raising a child of her own would be a challenge I'm off to work I love you all Luckily Gloria could count on help from her own mother Freda James Howard had raised Gloria and her two brothers The family lived on what Freda earned as a hairstylist There wasn't much money to go around But there was always a lot of love
December 25 1987 What are we going to do When LeBron was three Freda passed away from a heart attack Gloria and her brothers knew they couldn't afford to keep living in the house without Freda's salary It's gonna be all right baby Gloria and LeBron were often unhoused They slept at friends houses or wherever they could find a warm bed Because they moved around so much LeBron often missed school
