Don’t we all hope to turn our awkward adolescences into wildly successful careers and inspiring children’s books? NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has made it happen with his new semi-autobiographical novel, Sasquatch in the Paint (Disney-Hyperion, $17). Abdul-Jabbar will be at Politics and Prose to sign copies on Monday, September 30 at 4 p.m.

The book centers on eighth grade “science geek” Theo Rollins, who has grown half a foot over the summer and is now being recruited to play basketball at school. Unfortunately, Theo does not yet have coordination over his long limbs, and is teasingly nicknamed “Sasquatch” as he works on his skills. Between teammate pressure, a looming science club competition and a false theft accusation, Sasquatch in the Paint has all the makings of a coming-of-age middle school drama.

Authorship is familiar ground for Abdul-Jabbar, who has written eight books for adults and kids on subjects like the Harlem Renaissance, WWII soldiers, and his time spent on an Apache Indian reservation. Sasquatch is the Paint is the first in Abdul-Jabbar’s new “Streetball Crew” children’s series, and was co-written with one of his writing partners, Raymond Obstfeld. “The book is inspired more or less by my own experiences … it’s all about how kids have expectations of each other, and sometimes it’s not based on reality, and you have to go and figure out what you want to do with your life,” Abdul-Jabbar said in an interview for BookExpo America.

In addition to his writing portfolio, Abdul-Jabbar played in the NBA for 20 years and was MVP a record of six times and an All-Star a record of 19 times. He has also appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, was named a U.S. global cultural ambassador by Hillary Clinton, and beat a cancer diagnosis. Take that, eighth grade jerks!

This event is a signing only for Sasquatch in the Paint, and books must only be purchased at Politics and Prose. No posed photos may be taken (photos from the line are permitted) and the line will form outside, rain or shine.