Topic: Baseball

Digger the Dinosaur

Digger wants to play baseball with his friends, but he isn’t allowed to go out until he’s cleaned his room. Digger starts cleaning at top speed, but the faster he moves the messier his room gets. His big tail and big feet aren’t helping! Will Digger win the race to tidy his room and get to the game on time? 

As part of the My First I Can Read Series, Digger the Dinosaur is perfect for emergent readers. The story uses basic language, word repetition, sight words, and full-page illustrations. Each page has one to three simple sentences. To add humor, on most of the pages Digger misunderstands what someone is saying because of rhyming words. For example, Stego tells Digger to “put your coat on the hook.” However, Digger thinks Stego said “book.” These silly misunderstandings add suspense as well as make the story fun to read.  

A full-color illustration covers every page. The illustrations use dark blues and reds, but Digger appears in green. Readers will enjoy the simple illustrations that show Digger and his friend cleaning Digger’s bedroom which has many of the same items that you would find in a human home—coats, hats, and cats. 

Digger the Dinosaur will appeal to young readers who love dinosaurs. The story teaches the importance of cleaning up your mess. As part of the My First I Can Read Series, the story will help build reading confidence in emergent readers. Adults who want to encourage children to read should add Haggis and Tank Unleashed: Digging for Dinos by Jessica Young and Danny and the Dinosaur in the Big City by Syd Hoff to their reading list. 

 Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Who Was Roberto Clemente?

Growing up the youngest of seven children in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente had a talent for baseball. His incredible skill soon got him drafted into the big leagues where he spent 18 seasons playing right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who Was Roberto Clemente? tells the story of this remarkable athlete: a twelve-time All-Star, World Series MVP, and the first Latin American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Through this biography, children will learn about Roberto Clemente’s life in twelve, easy-to-read chapters. The book explains how Roberto’s early life living in Puerto Rico shaped him. Right from the start, readers will be amazed at Roberto’s dedication to baseball and his desire to help his community. However, when Roberto arrived in the United States, he faced many obstacles including segregation and loneliness. Despite this, Roberto persevered to become one of the greatest players in Pirates history. 

Who Was Roberto Clemente? focuses on Roberto’s baseball career as well as his dedication to the people of Puerto Rico. “Whenever he could, Roberto talked about Puerto Rico. He was enormously proud of his island home.” Despite his fame, Roberto continued to help others. He helped younger players improve their baseball skills, answered fan mail, and donated money to the Pittsburg children’s hospital. Throughout his life, Roberto was motivated to help others. So, it was no surprise when Roberto helped collect supplies after a hurricane hit Nicaragua. In order to make sure the supplies made it to the people who needed them most, Roberto decided to travel to Nicaragua. Unfortunately, he died when his airplane crashed into the sea.  

After his death, Roberto’s passion for helping others continued to inspire others. Roberto’s wife wanted to fulfill Roberto’s dream of opening Roberto Clemente Sports City in order to help young people improve their baseball skills. Because of the sports center, Roberto is still helping the youth of Puerto Rico even after his passing. Roberto continues to influence others because his experiences show that men from the Caribbean can succeed in baseball. “Roberto was not the first Latin American ballplayer to make it, but he was the best. He led by example. His hard work, courage, and generosity continue to impact Puerto Rico, baseball, and the world.”  

The book includes information that will help readers understand more about Roberto’s experiences. For example, one page gives information about Puerto Rico and another explains what spring training entails. To help readers understand the times that Roberto lived in, there is a timeline of Roberto’s life and a timeline of the world.  

Who Was Roberto Clemente? will delight all readers — not just baseball fans. Roberto shows the importance of perseverance, hard work, and kindness. Even though Roberto’s fame comes from his baseball career, readers will be encouraged by Roberto’s dedication to helping others. Even now, Roberto’s words encourage people to help others. “If you have a chance to accomplish something that makes things better for people coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on earth,” Roberto said. To learn more about Roberto, read Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories by Andrew Gutelle.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Roberto was young, his sister died. “She was burned in a kitchen accident and never recovered from her injuries.”  
  • When Roberto comes to America, he is exposed to segregation. Black players “were not allowed in the nice hotels. White players enjoyed trips to golf clubs and swimming pools; black players were not invited.” 
  • Roberto died while on an airplane. When the plane took off, “one engine made a loud bang. . . the airplane was over the ocean. It could not turn back. The airplane crashed in the sea.”  
  • Roberto witnessed an accident and “helped pull an injured person from a fiery car accident.” 
  • Roberto and his brother, Luis, were in a car accident. “Roberto hurt his neck and back. . . Luis passed away after the next day.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!

Vivy Cohen is determined. She’s had enough of playing catch in the park. She’s ready to pitch for a real baseball team.

But Vivy’s mom is worried about Vivy being the only girl on the team, and the only autistic kid. She wants Vivy to forget about pitching, but Vivy won’t give up. When her social skills teacher makes her write a letter to someone, Vivy knows exactly who to choose: her hero, Major League pitcher VJ Capello. Then two amazing things happen: A coach sees Vivy’s amazing knuckleball and invites her to join his team. And VJ starts writing back!

Now Vivy is a full-fledged pitcher, with a catcher as a new best friend and a steady stream of advice from VJ. But when a big accident puts her back on the bench, Vivy has to fight to stay on the team. 

Many readers will relate to Vivy, who often struggles with understanding other people. Because she is autistic, Vivy often feels stupid, worthless, and weird. Even though it is difficult for her to discuss her feelings, she tries to use positive communication skills. However, when Vivy joins the baseball team, one of the players, Kyle, often makes mean comments to her. Even though the comments are hurtful, Vivy doesn’t tell her coach or her parents. Unfortunately, VJ Capello is the only person she confides in, and despite his advice to tell an adult, Vivy refuses to do so. 

Much of the story revolves around baseball practice and games. In addition, the story also includes some interesting baseball facts. Vivy’s love of baseball is clear and her determination to play despite her mother’s protest is admirable. Through baseball, Vivy becomes more confident and is also able to make a friend. Despite the baseball action, some readers may have a difficult time navigating through Vivy’s inner dialogue. Readers will gain insight into autism and understand Vivy’s emotions, but sometimes Vivy’s feelings are described in great detail which makes the story drag. 

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! is a must-read for any reader who wants to understand autism. However, the story will also appeal to any reader who loves baseball as well as those who feel different. Through Vivy’s experiences, readers will learn the importance of perseverance. In addition, the story highlights the importance of talking to a trusted adult. However, one of the most impactful lessons is not to make assumptions about other people. At one point, Vivy’s dad reminds her, “Don’t assume things without talking to someone about it first.” A Boy Called Bat would be an excellent book to pair with Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! if you want to learn more about autism. However, if you want a winning baseball book, Soar by Joan Bauer hits it out of the park. 

Sexual Content  

  • Vivy’s brother reveals that he is dating another boy. Afterward, Vivy thinks, “I don’t think my parents are bigots. One of my dad’s friends from work is gay, and our rabbi is married to another woman.” Her inner dialogue goes on for half a page. 

Violence  

  • During practice, Kyle grabs Vivy’s ponytail, and “he tugged it. HARD.” Vivy starts yelling. “Everything was bad. I felt Kyle’s slimy hand on my hair long after he pulled away. It oozed from the tips of my hair down to the base of my spine.” The coach calms Vivy down. However, Vivy doesn’t tell him about Kyle’s bullying.” 
  • After practice, Vivy “finds a note in my duffel bag. . . It was written on yellow notebook paper in black Sharpie: GO AWAY, FREAK.” 
  • During a game, one of the players puts “a gigantic wad of already-been-chewed gum right in the middle of the webbing.” 
  • During a baseball game, Vivy is pitching when “the ball rocketed straight off the bat. Toward me. . . I froze. The big white boulder roared right toward my head, filling up my sight. . . It hit me in the forehead.” Vivy has to go to the hospital and has a concussion.  
  • After Vivy’s accident, she tells her parents, “There’s only ever been one person who got killed by a baseball. That was a hitter, not a pitcher. In 1920 Carl Mays hit Ray Chapman with a pitch and he died later that day.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • In her inner dialogue, Vivy often calls others names such as jerk, stupid, coward, buffoon, loser,  
  • When Vivy joins the baseball team, her teammate Kyle bullies her. At school, Kyle says, “I thought my father got a regular girl for our team, but it’s even worse. We have ourselves a monkey-girl. She can’t even eat a sandwich. Or talk like a real person.” Another boy from the team, joins the group and calls Kyle and his friends “losers.” 
  • Kyle calls the catcher on his team “shrimpy.” 
  • Klye makes fun of Vivy saying, “I’m Vivy and I can’t pitch to the big scary boy because I had mush for brains even before I got hit in the head.” Later, he continues to harass her by saying, “Hey, monkey-girl . . . I thought for sure you’d switch to softball. Or the Special Olympics.” 
  • In a letter to Vivy, VJ Capello writes: “There’s no excuse for such cruelty and I know too well how much it hurts. Even if the people hurling the insults are utter buffoons like Kyle. . .”  
  • After a bad game, Vivy thinks, “I totally sucked.” 
  • Heck is used five times. 
  • Freaking is used twice. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Vivy’s dad “always says that he has two religions—Reformed Judaism and baseball.” 
  • Vivy’s family is Jewish and occasionally she talks about a religious holiday. 

Dirt on Their Skirts: The Story of the Young Women who Won the World Championship

You had to be really, really good to play in the 1946 championship game between the Racine Belles and the Rockford Peaches. Sitting in the stands, Margaret thrills to every crack of the bat. Someday she hopes to join her heroes like Sophie “the Flash” Kurys and Betty “Moe” Trezza. As the ball hurtles toward the plate, Margaret can almost feel what it would be like to be in that batter’s position, arms tensed, bat held high. 

As we see this historic game in the annals of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League through the eyes of a fictional young girl, Dirt on Their Skirts is a potent reminder that women athletes have inspired young fans throughout the twentieth century. Based on written accounts and on the memories of the players themselves, this exciting story is for all those sandlot sluggers whose hearts beat a little faster whenever they hear the words, “Play ball!”  

Dirt on Their Skirts is told from the perspective of Margaret, a young girl who loves baseball. Readers will feel Margaret’s excitement when she and her family go to the World Championship baseball game. Readers will learn about some players in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. However, most of the book recounts the exciting World Championship game. Readers will get caught up in the play-by-play action, hold their breath wondering if someone will score, and cheer when the players make a great play.  

The book’s illustrations add to the game’s excitement because they focus on the players in action. The water-color illustrations focus on the baseball game as well as Margaret’s family during the game. This allows readers to see the determination on the players’ faces as well as the excitement of the crowd. Some of the pages are text-heavy and include four to nine sentences. Despite this, readers will get so caught up in the game, that they will want to finish the book in one sitting. However, readers who are unfamiliar with baseball may need help understanding the baseball terminology. 

Even though Dirt on Their Skirts is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. In addition, since Dirt on Their Skirts focuses solely on baseball, readers who are not already familiar with the game may need help understanding some of the baseball lingo. However, the book highlights the accomplishments of women in history and will leave readers believing that they too can achieve their dreams.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Hero Two Doors Down

This book is based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson. 

Stephen “Steve” Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York who cares about only one thing: the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio. Aside from an occasional run-in with his teacher, life is pretty simple for Steve. 

But then Steve hears a rumor that an African-American family is moving to his all-Jewish neighborhood. It’s 1948 and some of his neighbors are against it. Steve knows this is wrong. After all, his hero Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball the year before. 

Then it happens — Steve’s new neighbor is none other than Jackie Robinson! Steve is beyond excited about living two doors down from the Robinson family. He can’t wait to meet Jackie. This is going to be the best baseball season yet! How many kids ever get to become friends with their hero? 

Steve’s childhood is chronicled in the first five chapters of The Hero Two Doors Down. While this allows readers to understand Steve’s behavior, the story has a slow start. Much of the story focuses on Steve’s inner thoughts and lacks actions. Despite that, anyone who admires Jackie Robinson will enjoy the story.  

Since Jackie Robinson is the main character in The Hero Two Doors Down, readers might expect a story about baseball. However, there is little baseball action because the story focuses on Steve’s relationship with Jackie. This gives readers an inside look into Jackie’s personal life and highlights his positive attributes. Jackie’s influence changed Steve from an angry boy who used his fist to solve problems to a boy who understood that “punching someone who has verbally attacked you will only make things worse.” 

The Hero Two Doors Down illustrates important life lessons including the importance of self-control. At times the adults are preachy, but this makes the message impossible to miss. By reading the book, readers will learn positive ways to interact with others, even when they both disagree. Jackie helped Steve learn that “You’ll become your best self if you stay focused, set goals, and don’t let anyone stop you from making your dreams come true.” While the story lacks baseball action and has a slow pace, the book’s message makes it worth reading. Readers who want to learn more about Jackie Robinson should also read Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky. Readers looking for more baseball action can find it in The Contract Series by Derek Jeter and Prime-Time Pitcher by Matt Christopher. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Steve gets into trouble after school. He hears that his teacher, Miss Maliken, plans to make a home visit. Steve and his best friend, Sena, try to stop her. “Sena’s hand reached toward Miss Maliken, but I followed her lead. Together we pushed Miss Maliken, then watched in shock as she toppled over the hedge. The air filled with her screams. . . Women scrambled to help her.” Steve is suspended from school. 
  • Steve’s grandparents “fled Russia, along with two million other Jewish families, hoping to find freedom to practice their religion . . . In Russia, Jews were treated very badly. . . There was a lot of violence against them, and many men, women, and children were hurt or killed simply because they were Jewish.” 
  • Some players are upset that Jackie is playing baseball. “He’s been hit six times by pitchers and been insulted plenty just because he’s a black man in a previously all-white game.” Some of the players also tried to “slide into second base with their cleats pointing forward. It was dangerous and could lead to a serious injury for the second baseman.”  
  • When Jackie was in school, he joined a gang. He said, “We didn’t do anything really bad. . . stole some golf balls and sold them back to the golfers. . . took fruit from stands.”  
  • During a pick-up game, Steve drops a ball. Afterwards, “Several boys on our team ran over to me.” When they started calling Steve names, he “jumped up from the ground. . . and got in their faces. . .” Sena tried to drag Steve away, but Steve “pulled [his] arm away and jammed it into the belly of one of [his] attackers instead of retreating. The boy punched [him] hard in the gut. [He] dove into the other boys.” Sena and Steve finally run away. 
  • Steve has some anger issues and he “was sent to the principal’s office because [he] bloodied a classmate.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Some boys call Steve a sissy and a liar. 
  • Someone calls Steve a chicken. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Steve and his family are Jewish and occasionally pray, but no actual prayers are included. 
  • Steve’s family celebrates Hanukkah. On the first night, “when your father lights the first candle, he will say a special prayer asking for peace in Israel . . .” 
  • Jackie gives Steve a Christmas tree. Steve’s parents want to return the tree because “it is a symbol of a Christian holiday. Like Hanukkah, Christmas is part religious holiday and part tradition.” 
  • Steve’s favorite part of Hanukkah is “watching my father pray for peace, understanding, and friendship . . . I learned that whether you are Christian or Jewish, we both pray to God.” 

A Batboy’s Day

Follow an Anaheim Angels batboy as he goes through his routine of helping players and umpires before, during, and after a game. Readers will discover all of Michael Martinez’s batboy duties and learn why he shows up about six hours before the game. When the game starts, Martinez works hard to help the players. It’s not an easy job, but it’s full of fun! 

Young readers interested in baseball will find Martinez’s job interesting. They will see how the work is difficult but rewarding. Martinez gets to see many “exciting baseball moments” and many of the players are his friends. The book ends with one page explaining how to become a batboy (or batgirl); this page encourages readers to write a letter to a baseball team asking how they can help the team.  

As part of DK Readers: Level 2, A Batboy’s Day is written for readers who are beginning to read alone. The book includes a simple index and a few informational boxes full of fun facts. Each page has two to seven sentences written using longer sentence structure and increased vocabulary. Each page also includes one to two large pictures that show Martinez and some of the players in action.  

A Batboy’s Day may surprise readers because it shows how many tasks a batboy does on game day. While Martinez works hard, it is also fun. Since the book’s only focus is baseball, A Batboy’s Day is best suited for readers who love baseball. Young baseball fans will also enjoy the Little Rhino Series by Ryan Howard & Krystle Howard. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Rhino in Right Field

Nick wants to change his life. For twelve years, he’s done what his hard-working, immigrant parents want him to do. Now he’s looking for his own American dream and he thinks he’s found it. The local baseball team is having a batboy contest, and Nick wants to win.

But the contest is on a Saturday—the day Nick has to work in his father’s shop. There’s one other tiny—well, not so tiny—problem. A 2,000-pound rhinoceros named Tank. Nick and his friends play ball in the city zoo—and Tank lives just beyond the right field fence. Nick’s experience getting the ball out of Tank’s pen has left him frozen with fear whenever a fly ball comes his way. How’s a lousy fielder going to win the contest?

Nick practices every day with his best friend, Ace, and a new girl who has an impressive throwing arm! But that’s not enough—to get to the contest, Nick has to lie to his parents and blackmail his uncle. All while dodging the school bully, who’s determined to win even by playing dirty. Nick will need to keep his eye on the ball in this fast, funny story about a game that can throw you some curveballs—just like life! 

Nick, the protagonist in The Rhino in Right Field, is a likable and relatable protagonist, who deals with relatable conflicts. Like many middle-grade readers, Nick is frustrated with his mother who still treats him like a baby. Nick is also upset that his father makes him work in the family shop, every Saturday. His father’s uncompromising ways lead Nick to lie to his family in order to participate in a baseball contest. Even though Nick wins the contest, his joy is tampered because he can’t share the news with his parents. In the end, everyone in the family—Nick, his mother, and his father—sneak off to watch the same baseball game. While the scene is funny, Nick and his family come to a new understanding—that fun should also be a regular part of their life.

Although baseball plays a major part in the story, no actual baseball games are described. Despite this, The Rhino in Right Field is still engaging enough to please sports fans. Nick and his friends play baseball at the zoo, which adds interest and humor to the book. A batboy contest, a bully, and an unusual baseball-throwing girl help propel the story to an unexpected conclusion that shows the importance of hard work and having fun.  

Dekeyser takes readers back to the 1940s when both women and men played professional baseball.  However, the time period is a little fuzzy because there are few context clues as to the time period. The use of terms such as “holy cow” and “knucklehead” are clues that the story takes place in the past. In addition, Nick occasionally mentions the price of items. For example, Nick says a baseball cost ninety-eight cents which is three weeks’ worth of tip money. While these give clues that the story doesn’t take place in the present, readers likely will not be able to identify the time period.   

The Rhino in Right Field has many positive aspects that will appeal to middle-grade readers including a well-intentioned, humorous protagonist. While the supporting characters are not well-developed, they add suspense and interest. In addition, the book’s short chapters and fast pace keep the action hopping until the very end. Readers will also be introduced to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and can learn more about girls in baseball by reading Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages. Readers interested in more humorous middle-grade stories should also read The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick. 

Sexual Content  

  • Penny’s sister, Josie, played professional baseball. Penny says, “One lady told Josie that if she kept playing ball, she’d never be able to have babies.” 
  • After talking to Penny, Nick thinks “I’m not too swift on the female anatomy, though you can’t say I haven’t tried. One time I happened to find a cheesecake magazine in Uncle Spiro’s room, but I only got a peek at a leg and some garters before he walked in and hollered at me to get out of his room forever.”

Violence  

  • While in second grade, Pete, the school bully, “actually punched a kid for calling him Taki to his face.” Taki is a nickname for Pete’s Greek name which is Panagiotakis. 
  • Nick sees one of his classmates, Penny, crying. She wasn’t able to enter the contest because she is a girl. While at the contest, Pete yells, “How did that hairy monkey get in here, anyway? That’s right—go back to the zoo!” 
  • While at church, Pete tries to punch Nick. Pete “swung at me. . . My survival skills kicked in, and I ducked out of the way just in time. With nothing for his fist to land on, Pete was thrown off balance. He spun around on his heels, and when his face came into view again. . . I punched him right in the nose.” The punch caused a “trickle of blood” to drip from Pete’s nose. 
  • When the doorbell rings, Nick opens the door and sees Pete. “And before I knew it, he [Pete] hauled off and slugged me. I dropped to the floor like a sack of marbles. . . Then he stomped down the porch steps and out into the night.” After being hit, Nick’s “left eye was throbbing, and it was already hard to see out of it.” Nick’s mom puts a cold piece of liver on Nick’s eye and the swelling goes down. 
  • The zoo puts some animals in cages and they ride in a parade. A zookeeper has an elephant gun with him that has tranquilizers in it. The gun is never used.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • A secretary who works at the ballfield smokes. When her boss sees her with a cigarette, he says, “Miss Garble, how many times have I told you? That stuff’ll kill you.”  

Language  

  • Heck and darn are used occasionally. 
  • Dang is used a few times. For example, when Pete threatens Nick, Nick says something to him in Greek. When Pete replies, Nick explains, “But I wasn’t going to explain what I’d said, and I dang well knew Peter wouldn’t either.” 
  • Frequently, the kids call each other names such as chicken, idiot, punk, and weasel.  
  • Both the children and the adults frequently call people knuckleheads.  
  • Holy cow, holy moly, holy smokes, and similar exclamations are used frequently. 
  • Nick is mad at his uncle so he calls him a “shifty freeloader.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Nick and his family go to church. During service, Pete “kept giving [Nick] the stink eye which I hope is a sin if you do it in church.”  
  • While at church, Nick falls asleep. When he wakes up, his mother “gave [him] the stink eye, which probably isn’t a sin if your mother does it, even in church.” 
  • After the church service ends, Nick is impatient to leave. He thinks, “I’d already spent two hours in church. Not even God could expect me to hang around longer than that.” 
  • After church, a woman asks Nick’s uncle. Nick thinks, “I happened to know that Uncle Spiro was a shameless heathen who avoided church religiously.” 

Force Out

Joey and Zach have been best friends since forever. As two of the best players in their baseball league, they’ve always dreamed of playing together on the Center State select team, and they will do anything to help each other get there. 

So when Zach is forced to go on an extra-credit field trip that could ruin his chances of being picked for the all-star team, Joey comes up with a risky plan to bail him out. As long as no one finds out what they did, all will be fine. Then the unthinkable happens: They learn there’s only one spot left on the team. Suddenly Joey and Zach go from being best friends to fierce rivals, and Joey must figure out his next move. He has two options: play the biggest game of his life or use their secret to force Zach out. But is Joey really willing to put everything on the line to win? 

Since Joey and Zach have been best friends forever, they don’t even consider the possibility that they won’t be picked to be part of the Center State team. However, to make their dream come true, Joey and Zach come up with crazy schemes in order to force other players out. While Joey feels guilty for his bad actions, Zach never shows remorse. When it becomes clear that only one of them will advance, Zach begins to ignore Joey. In addition to their drama revolving around baseball, the two also have girl drama. Joey is trying to navigate his crush on Leah, but in a surprise twist, Zach steals her. In the end, all is forgiven and Joey and Zach are best friends again. However, readers will be left wondering why Joey would want to be friends with Zach. 

Many middle-grade readers will relate to Joey’s conflicts—friendship trouble, girl trouble, parent trouble, and baseball trouble. However, the story’s message is cloudy and the boys’ bad behavior is never punished. To make matters worse, Joey’s parents do not emulate positive attributes. Joey’s mom is a police officer who believes that bad people belong in jail because they can’t be rehabilitated. Because of her strong beliefs, she is often preachy and pushy. This leaves Joey’s father in a difficult position of trying to smooth over difficulties between Joey and his mom. Unfortunately, Joey’s family dynamics are not healthy and readers will easily understand why Joey was dishonest until the very end. 

Despite the story’s flaws, Force Out’s baseball action will entertain sports-loving readers. Baseball games are expertly interwoven into the story and the games highlight the pressure that many players are forced to endure. While Joey makes some bad decisions, he is eaten up by remorse and eventually tells the truth. Readers will relate to Joey who often struggles with problem-solving, yet he is still a good kid who tries his best. If you’re looking for a baseball book with a more positive message check out Change Up by Derek Jeter, Soar by Joan Bauer, and Heat by Mike Lupica 

Sexual Content  

  • While at the playground, Joey talks to Leah, whom he has a crush on. “. . . He dared to touch his lower leg against hers. She didn’t take it away, and the thrill of the contact poured through him like a molten liquid.” 
  • Joey and Leah go for a walk. When they return, a girl asks, “What took you so long? You didn’t stop to kiss, did you?” 
  • Zach says, “Girls like to be kissed.” The narrator explains: “Everyone knew Zach had kissed Sheila Tibioni in the entrance to the food court at the mall. She was in eighth grade. Zach did it on a dare and had grown famous for it.” 
  • After school, Joey leaves and Leah follows him. “Before Joey even knew what happened, she kissed him. As she moved toward him, he turned his head just a bit so their lips brushed before the kiss landed squarely on his cheek.” Then Joey runs away.

Violence  

  • Joey and Zach sneak out of the house late at night. They ride their bikes to a teacher’s house and put a clamp around his fuel line so he can’t get to school the next day. In order to do this, Joey puts Valium in a meatball and feeds it to the dog; the dog is uninjured but goes to sleep. The teacher is late to school and must cancel a field trip. 
  • Joey’s mother has a difficult time dealing with her brother Martin’s death. Joey’s dad explains that, as a kid, Martin was bullied by other kids. One day, the other kids were jumping off a bridge. “Martin had no business being up there. . . they were all jumping off the bridge into the river. He didn’t want to, but they tormented him. . . He jumped and then tried to change his mind and ended up hitting his head.”  
  • Zach thinks about putting human poop in a kid’s food. Zach hopes that this makes the kid sick enough that he can’t play baseball, and then Joey would be able to take his place.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Joey’s mom takes Valium for headaches. Joey steals one of her pills and puts it into meat so a dog would eat it. 

Language  

  • There is some name calling such as bonehead, butthead, dork, jerk, freak, and witch. 
  • Oh my God is used as an exclamation twice. 
  • Joeys says, “This is the crappiest day of my life.” 
  • Joey gets an email that says CRD. Joey tells his mom that it means “Caucasian rhythmic disorder, CRD. It’s because I can’t dance.” The book doesn’t say what CRD really means. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • During a game, Joey “prayed for all he was worth not to get pulled.” 
  • Before meals, Joey’s family says a blessing; however, no specific blessing is said in the book. 
  • When Joey and his family go to church, “The message he got there didn’t leave him feeling warm and fuzzy. There was a bit too much teeth gnashing, burning of chaff, and choked-off vines planted among weeds and thistles for Joey’s liking, and he found himself silently asking, ‘Where is the love?’” 
  • Before dinner, his mother prayed and “ended with a special addition, asking God to give Joey the strength of character he needed to do well.” 

Sliding Into Home

It’s not fair! Thirteen-year-old Joelle Cunningham is passionate about baseball. When her family moves to the small town of Greendale, Iowa, she quickly discovers that there are strict rules preventing her from playing on the school team.

At Hoover Middle School, only boys play baseball. Girls play softball. Joelle tries to tell everyone they’re not the same sport. But no one is listening. Not Coach Carlyle, the baseball coach, who doesn’t want her on his team, even though they’re at the bottom of the league. Not Ms. Fenner, the softball coach, who wants Joelle to use her big-league swing on the girls’ softball team. Not even Jason, her older brother, who is too busy at college to be of much help.

Through some creative problem-solving and surprising alliances, Joelle finds a solution to her dilemma that brings the disputing sides together . . . and baseball to the girls of Greendale. 

When Joelle discovers she can’t play on the baseball team because of a school policy, she is determined to find a way to change the rules. While Joelle’s parents are supportive, Joelle doesn’t rely on them to solve problems for her. Instead, she comes up with a plan and follows it through to the end. Readers will admire Joelle’s courage and determination. However, like some of the supporting characters, readers may wonder why Joelle doesn’t join the softball team instead. 

The majority of Sliding Into Home’s plot revolves around Joelle’s attempt to change the school policy so she can join the boys’ baseball team. When she realizes that the policy is not going to change, she switches gears in order to organize a girls’ baseball league. This plot thread is reinforced through a school project; Joelle and her classmates put on a trial where Goldilocks is accused of crimes. Through this project, Joelle learns that “Sometimes, in the courtroom and in life, all you can do is present your argument and see what happens. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. And sometimes it doesn’t seem fair.” 

Although Joelle is a well-developed character who displays personal growth, the supporting characters are one-dimensional and forgettable. Despite this, the easy-to-read text, fast-paced plot, and realistic dialogue will keep readers interested. However, readers who want play-by-play baseball action will be disappointed, since the story only describes one baseball game. Readers who want a well-rounded story that highlights the importance of standing up for yourself will enjoy Sliding Into Home. Baseball fans who want an entertaining story that weaves in important life lessons should also read Mascot by Anthony John. 

Sexual Content  

  • When Joelle wants to join the school’s baseball team, the principal says, “And what is it exactly that you like better about it? The boys?” Joelle is upset and thinks, “Did the principal think she was some stupid, boy-crazy girl?” 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Several times, a boy from school calls Joelle a “space case.”  
  • The kids at school, including Joelle, call others names such as losers, jerk, weird, and idiot.  
  • Darn is used once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen

For as long as she could remember, Jackie Mitchell’s father had told Jackie she could be good at whatever she wanted, as long as she worked at it. Jackie worked at baseball. She worked hard. And before long, Jackie could outplay anyone in her neighborhood—even the boys.

She had one pitch—a wicked, dropping curve ball. But no seventeen-year-old girl could pitch against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. It was unthinkable. Then on April 2, 1931, the New York Yankees stopped in Tennessee for an exhibition game against the Chattanooga Lookouts. And on that day Jackie Mitchell made baseball history.  

Take a step back into history to learn more about the only woman to ever pitch in a major league game. Jackie’s story comes to life in full color illustrations as well as engaging text. The illustrations use natural colors and historical details that show Jackie in action. In addition, some of the illustrations show Babe Ruth’s and the crowd’s reactions to Jackie’s pitching—first came sneers and laughter; then came surprise and outrage. Babe Ruth and others thought that women were “too delicate” to play baseball. Babe said, “It would kill them to play ball every day.” Unfortunately, after Jackie’s historic game against the Yankees, the baseball commissioner banned women from playing in the major and minor leagues. While Jackie never realized her dream of playing in the World Series, readers will appreciate her tenacity and her skills. 

Even though Mighty Jackie is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. The book uses complex sentences and difficult vocabulary. However, the text’s dialogue and baseball action break up the historical information allowing the plot to move at a fast pace. When Jackie throws a strike, the words are printed in larger, fun font to highlight her achievement.  

Mighty Jackie’s story will inspire ballplayers as it shines a light on the true story of Jackie Mitchell. The Strike-Out Queen proves that women can achieve any goal if they work hard. Older readers will appreciate Jackie’s bravery and how she refused to let society define her. To learn more about historic women who overcame obstacles to achieve their dreams read She Persisted in Sports by Chelsea Clinton and Miss Mary Reporting by Sue Macy. 

 Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • When Jackie played a game for the Chattanooga Lookouts, “a reporter wrote that you might as well have ‘a trained seal behind the plate’ as have a woman standing there.” 
  • When Jackie pitched against Babe Ruth, her first two pitches were balls. “The crowd was hooting and jeering. Babe was snickering with them.”  
  • When Jackie struck out Babe Ruth, he “glared at the umpire and threw the bat down in disgust.”  

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Derek Jeter: Yankee Great

Playmakers introduces young readers to their current heroes on and off the field. Derek Jeter: Yankee Great summarizes Derek Jeter’s life and career to date and draws attention to accomplishments beyond his athletic skill as well as career highlights thus far. 

Derek Jeter: Yankee Great begins by showing how Derek broke Lou Gehrig’s hitting record and became one of the Yankees’ starting shortstops. While the story focuses on Derek’s baseball skills, it also showcases Derek’s positive attitude. For example, the Yankees’ owner said Derek has “got an infectious smile, and he’s so handsome and well-behaved. He’s just a fine young man who does everything right.”  

Derek’s dream of playing for the Yankees began when he was eight years old. However, his dream became true because he worked hard and set high expectations for himself. Derek said, “I think we should all set goals in life and set them high. I did that, and my parents encouraged me to do it, which is one of the main reasons I am where I am today,”  

The transition from high school to playing for the minor leagues was difficult for Derek. After games, he would “wind up crying in my hotel room night after night because I was playing so poorly.” Derek persevered and eventually was moved up to the major leagues, where he became team captain. Derek’s teammates respected him for his baseball skills as well as his positive attitude, his reliability, and his leadership.  

Most people know Derek as a great baseball player, but he “has become a hero for what he has done off the field.” Derek created the Turn 2 Foundation, which helps kids have healthy lifestyles. Derek believes that “If you have more than you need, share it with someone else.”  

Derek Jeter: Yankee Great allows readers to discover Derek’s baseball statistics as well as his depth of character. Because of his work ethic and positive attitude, Derek is an excellent role model who encourages readers to focus on their goals in order to make their dreams a reality. Derek shows how his dream came true, and this knowledge will help readers obtain their goals as well.  

Readers will appreciate the book’s easy-to-read format which includes oversized font, easy vocabulary, and short chapters. Each two-page spread has a large illustration of Derek in action as well as informative sidebars. In addition, the back of the book includes more fun facts and a one-page glossary. Derek Jeter: Yankee Great will be a hit with any reader who loves baseball. By learning more about Derek Jeter, young readers will be inspired to work hard in order to see their dreams become reality. Baseball fans who want to learn more about baseball superstars should also read Out of the Ballpark by Alex Rodriguez and Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

You Throw Like a Girl

Gabby’s summer vacation isn’t shaping up to be that great. Her dad was just deployed overseas, and Gabby is staying at her grandmother’s house with her mom and baby sister until he returns.

The one bright spot is that Gabby plans to sign up for the local softball league—her greatest love and a passion that she shares with her dad who was a pitcher in college. But when Gabby goes to sign up for the summer league, she discovers there isn’t enough interest to justify a girls’ team this year. And to top it off, a horrible miscommunication ends with Gabby signing up to participate in the Miss Popcorn Festival—the annual pageant that Gabby’s mom dominated when she was younger.

Besides not having any interest in pageant life, Gabby made a promise to her dad that she would play softball for the summer. Since her pitching skills rival any boy her age, Gabby creates a master plan: disguise herself as a boy and sign up for the boys’ baseball team instead—while also trying to win the pageant to make Mom happy. Can Gabby juggle perfecting her pageant walk and perfecting her fastball? Or will this plan strike out? 

Told from Gabby’s point of view, You Throw Like a Girl revolves around Gabby’s deception. This creates suspense because there is always the possibility that others will find out her secret. Through much of the story, Gabby tries to justify her behavior. For example, Gabby wonders, “Maybe I had lied to people and fooled them, but was it so wrong when the reason was for someone else?” Gabby’s lies begin to pile up, but she never considers how her deceit will affect those around her. After one of the pageant contestants threatens to reveal Gabby’s secret, Abby finally confesses her wrongdoings. Despite this, Gabby doesn’t show regret or much personal growth. 

You Throw Like a Girl has a simple plot that makes the story easy to read and understand. In addition, the story has a positive message: “It’s a lot better to be yourself than someone you’re not.” Gabby’s experiences also explore the theme of friendship through the supporting characters Owen and Erin. While Owen and Erin are good friends, Gabby is not because she is too focused on herself and lacks empathy. In addition, when Gabby’s secret is finally revealed, everyone forgives her quickly and she receives no punishment, which is unrealistic and downplays Gabby’s bad behavior.  

Despite the story’s flaws, many middle-grade readers will enjoy You Throw Like a Girl because of the funny situations Gabby experiences. Readers will also relate to Gabby’s conflict with her mother and her desire to please her parents. Through it all, Gabby’s family is shown in a positive light and the adults display healthy communication. Readers who are drawn to the story because of the cute cover of Gabby pitching may be disappointed by the lack of baseball action. However, readers who are looking for a lighthearted story that doesn’t delve into heavy issues will find You Throw Like a Girl entertaining.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Heck is used four times. 
  • Darn is used twice. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • One of the baseball players’ father picks Gabby up for a game. He thinks about introducing himself to Gabby’s mothers, but she talks him out of it. Gabby, “said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t decide to get out of the van.” 
  • When she is dressed like a boy, Gabby goes into the girl’s bathroom. Two little girls scream and Gabby “prayed their parents weren’t outside and about to come racing in to find out what was wrong.” 

Shoeless Joe & Me

When Joe Stoshack (“Stosh”) hears about Shoeless Joe Jackson — and the gambling scandal that destroyed the star player’s career — he knows what he has to do. If he travels back in time with a 1919 baseball card in his hand, he just might be able to prevent the infamous Black Sox Scandal from ever taking place. And if he could do that, Shoeless Joe Jackson would finally take his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

But can Stosh prevent that tempting envelope full of money from making its way to Shoeless Joe’s hotel room before the big game? 

Shoeless Joe & Me describes historical baseball events in an interesting story that baseball fans will love. Readers will not only learn about Shoeless Joe and the Red Sox scandal of 1919, but they will also get a glimpse of Shoeless Joe’s everyday life. Shoeless Joe hated that people believed he was stupid because he couldn’t read or write; however, this didn’t stop Shoeless Joe from living his baseball dream. Even though Shoeless Joe’s dream came to an end when he was banned from baseball because of his part in the scandal, Shoeless Joe & Me presents evidence that proves that Shoeless Joe was not part of the gambling scheme. In addition, the back of the book encourages readers to write letters asking that Shoeless Joe be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

The story is told from Stosh’s point of view. Many readers will relate to Stosh, who loves baseball and travels back in time to help a friend. While in the past, his behavior is not always likable. Stosh is impulsive and doesn’t think about his words or actions. Plus, he’s not always respectful of others. Despite this, Stosh’s motivation for traveling to 1919 is honorable – he’s hoping to save Shoeless Joe from being banned from baseball. 

One negative aspect of the book is that Stosh and some of the adults show unsportsmanlike behavior. Stosh yells at an umpire for making a bad call. In addition, when one of his teammates misses catching a ball, Stosh yells, “C’mon, Barton! What do you think you’ve got a glove for?” After a game, the losing team’s “players and parents were all over Mr. Kane [the umpire], screaming at him, cursing him out, threatening him, and telling him that he was blind as a bat.” 

Scattered throughout the book are historical news clippings and pictures, such as an advertisement that Shoeless Joe posed for. Not all of the pictures are historical, but the back of the book explains which photographs aren’t the actual people described in the book. In addition, the back of the book includes other facts and myths regarding Shoeless Joe. 

Baseball fans and history fans alike will enjoy Shoeless Joe & Me because the story gives a new perspective of the Red Sox scandal. Many people know about the Red Sox scandal but Shoeless Joe & Me focuses on one player’s version of the events which allows readers to understand how the gamblers impacted everyone—players, coaches, and fans. For more engaging baseball stories that will be a hit with readers, check out The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David A. Kelly, and Out Of Left Field by Ellen Klages. 

Sexual Content  

  • When Stosh is stuck in a closet, he unscrews the backing and enters another hotel room. “A woman, about twenty-five, was standing in front of me. She was totally naked.” When she screamed, a man appeared and “waved the bat around menacingly.” The man yells, “Just say the word, Katie, and Ah’ll split his head like a melon!” Stosh ends up befriending the man and woman. 

Violence  

  • When a group of gamblers discover Stosh spying on them, two men grab him. After they interrogate Stosh, the thugs take him to a hotel and lock him in a closet. 
  • A teammate, Chick Gandil, tries to convince Shoeless Joe to purposely lose the World Series. “Joe took a swing at Chick with Black Betsy [Joe’s bat]. Gandil bailed out like it was a high, inside fastball. The bat missed his head by less than an inch.” Chick throws money on the bed and leaves. 
  • When Eddie Cicotte pitches badly, he is taken out of the game. “The Cincinnati fans hooted and threw fruit at him.”  
  • After losing the first World Series game, Gleason (another player) and Gandil were laughing. “Even though Gandil was about six inches taller and fifty pounds heavier, Gleason suddenly leaped toward the first baseman and wrapped his hands around his throat.” The two are broken apart, but then “Ray Schalk, the catcher, attacked Eddie Cicotte and had to be pulled off him.”  
  • While leaving the World Series, two men grab Stosh. “Another guy grabbed my arms and twisted them behind my back. It hurt, and I was scared.” The men drag Stosh to a billiard parlor where he meets two thugs, Abe and Billy, and their boss, gambler Rothstein. 
  • Stosh is pushed onto a chair by the thugs. Abe and Billy “wrapped the rope around me again and again until I was just about covered to my chest, arms, and legs. Then they pulled tight and knotted it in several places.” Stosh is interrogated. “Billy pulled a revolver out of his belt and started sliding bullets into it.” Stosh jumps back to his current time period before he can be shot. The scene is described over five pages.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When explaining the Red Sox scandal, Stosh’s mom says, “But gambling is like cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. It can be addictive. Some people – like your father — start doing it and they can’t stop.”  
  • Several times, adults smoke cigars and cigarettes.  
  • When Stosh goes back in time, he appears in a basement. When he peeks through a hole in the wall, he sees three men counting cash. Stosh thinks, “I didn’t think these guys were drug dealers. I wasn’t even sure if there were drugs in 1919. They must be crooks. . .” 
  • When Stosh goes to the World Series, “near the ticket booths, six men wearing army uniforms were standing in a group, drinking whiskey. . . Everyone, it seemed, was holding a bottle in their hand. A lot of them looked like they were already drunk.”  
  • Wilber, a thirteen-year-old boy, smokes cigarettes.  
  • After getting sick, Stosh takes Tamiflu. While in the past, he gave Tamiflu to a boy, which saved the boy’s life. 

Language  

  • When Stosh dresses in 1919 clothes, he protests because “I’ll look like a doofus.” 
  • Heck is used several times. 

Supernatural 

  • Stosh holds a baseball card and thinks about going into the past. “It wasn’t long until I began to feel the tingling sensation in my finger. . . I closed my eyes and thought about Cincinnati in early October 1919. . . The tingling moved from my fingertips to my hands and then up my arms. . . And then, like a movie screen fading into white, I felt my body slipping away.” 

Rivals

Cooperstown! Josh is thrilled when his hard training pays off in a big way and his team, the Titans, makes it to a national tournament. The tournament is in Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. But more is on the line for Josh than just a trophy. Winning would mean everything to his dad—who is now Josh’s coach. Winning could mean a major endorsement deal for the Titans and the attention of big league scouts! 

After a dirty play and a brutal injury threaten to sideline Josh, he spies suspicious activity at the tournament. He tries to tell his friend Jaden about what he’s seen, but she’s too busy spending time with the L.A. Comets’ star player, Mickey Mullen Junior. Jaden says she’s doing research for the newspaper . . . but is she?  

Rivals’ fast-paced plot is centered around Josh, who clearly loves baseball, and his family. Because of this, Josh is willing to put himself in danger if it benefits his team or his family. For instance, when a speeding pitch smashes Josh’s eye, he does not want to sit out the rest of the game. When Josh’s parents disagree on the best course of action, they let Josh make the final decision, which is to finish the game. After the game, Josh goes to the hospital where he has to have surgery to repair the bone around his eye. Josh’s reason for continuing to play despite the dangers is admirable. However, his family’s reaction is disappointing. Josh’s father seems to care more about winning than about his son’s well-being. 

While the story revolves around baseball, mystery is added when Josh discovers a possible link between another team’s coach, Mickey Mullen, and an umpire who routinely makes bad calls that favor Mickey’s team. Now Josh has a rival—both on the field and off—as he swings for the fences in a game that quickly becomes more dangerous. 

Josh and his friends, Benji and Jaden, investigate in order to try to find proof that the umpire is being paid to make sure that Mickey’s team wins. When the kids finally find proof of the cheating conspiracy and share their evidence, the adults are unwilling to believe them. In the end, Mickey gets away with rigging the games. This thread of the story shows how cheating is wrong, but it gives an unclear message because no one is punished.  

Sports-loving readers will enjoy Rivals because of the realistic baseball action and the cheating mystery. It also addresses how not making it to the big leagues, does not make a sports player a failure. This example is shown when some people say Josh’s father is a failure because he only played in the minor leagues. But Josh’s father says, “Someone who does his best, goes as far as he can, and isn’t ashamed or frightened of the things he didn’t do? That’s a winner.”  

Sexual Content  

  • Benji thinks he’s a lady’s man. When Josh’s mom compliments Benji’s manners, he says “See? I’m like a magnet for women.” Josh groans, but Benji replies, “You can’t turn it on and off—you’re either suave or you’re not.” 
  • Benji sees Jaden and Mickey about to kiss. Benji says, “I’m telling you. You don’t look at each other standing there like that all smiling and everything when some serious kissing isn’t just around the next bend. Trust me. I know about these things.”  

Violence  

  • During a game, the pitcher intentionally throws a beanball at Josh. “The pitch struck him in the face. Josh saw stars and felt his body spin for just a split second before everything went fuzzy.” Josh finishes the game with a swollen eye. Afterwards, he is admitted to the hospital and has surgery to fix the injury. 
  • After a series of bad calls, a coach “ran right at the umpire. The coaches from both teams swarmed home plate, grappling with the head-coach-gone-crazy and fending him off the umpire. . . The umpire didn’t back down. In fact, he went after the Tallahassee coach — who was being restrained — and nearly got a punch off before two of the Comets’ assistant coaches got hold of him and dragged him away.” 
  • Josh spies on Myron, a movie star’s bodyguard. When Myron finds out, he confronts Josh. “Myron reached out with a long arm and snatched a handful of Josh’s T-shirt. He yanked him forward. . . Josh tried to pull away . . but Myron’s grip only tightened and Josh could feel the collar of his T-shirt cutting into his skin.” Myron takes Josh on a ride and threatens to destroy the boy’s family if he talks. 
  • Benji, Jaden, and Josh spy on Seevers, an umpire who they think is being paid to cheat. When the umpire sees the kids, he points a shotgun at them. “Josh didn’t think, he jumped, and when his feet hit the ground, they took off like three jackrabbits running for cover. The blast of the shotgun only made him run faster. He felt the hot rush of pellets swooshing overhead and hissing on through the night.”  
  • In order to get away from Seevers, the kids take a boat. Seevers follows them. “A shotgun blast roared and a spray of pellets thrashed on the side of the boathouse. Benji flew to the bottom of the boat.”  
  • The kids land the boat on a hotel’s lawn, where a party is taking place. Myron grabs Josh. “Josh felt Myron’s other hand grip him by the collarbone and probe beneath the bone for a jujitsu pressure point, Josh saw stars when Myron hit the nerve and he crumpled to the grass, paralyzed with pain.”  
  • To help his friend get free from Myron, Benji grabs a hot sauce bottle and squirts Myron in the eyes. “Myron screamed and pawed at his eyes. . . spinning and tripping and going down hard on the grass.” A reporter jumps in and threatens Myron: “Let him go or you’ll all be front-page news.” The kids are safe. This scene is described over 14 pages.  
  • During the championship game, Benji runs towards home plate. When the catcher turned to tag Benji, he “dipped his shoulder and plowed straight through the catcher. His shoulder caught the catcher in the chest and he drove upward. The catcher flew into the air, twisting as he fell.” The catcher drops the ball and Benji is safe. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The book makes several references to a steroid scandal from the first book of the series, Baseball Great. 
  • In the past, Josh’s father had a “Novocain shot directly into his shoulder joint.” 
  • While in the hospital, Josh is given an IV and pain medication. 
  • Jaden approaches a couple and asks for a ride to New York. The woman asks her, “Are you on drugs?” 
  • An adult smokes menthol cigarettes. 
  • Josh sees two men at a restaurant drinking beer. Later, one of the men is at home “cradling a whisky bottle against the fur on his naked chest.” 
  • Jayden calls someone a “phony cheating rat.”  

Language  

  • Occasionally, the characters call each other names including goofball, screwball, fathead, meathead, and various other names. 
  • Benji calls a shuttle driver a “crazy old bat.” In reply, the woman calls Benji and Josh brats. 
  • Heck, crap, and crappy are used occasionally.  
  • Darn is several times. 
  • When an umpire calls a player out, the coach yells, “You’re blind! You’re a moron! You’re a crook!” 
  • Benji calls Mickey Jullens, a rival player, “mullet head, maggot-face Mullens.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While in the hospital, Josh’s parents need to decide what treatment Josh should receive. When discussing the options, Josh gives his opinion. His mom says that “God made parents” to decide what’s best for their children. 

The Tiger Troubles

Someone is blackmailing the Detroit Tigers’ famous slugger, Tony! They’ve stolen his favorite trophy, and unless he fills a tiger-shaped bag with signed baseballs, he’ll never see the trophy again. Luckily, all-star sleuths Mike and Kate are ready to pounce on the case. Can they track down the thief in time to save Tony’s treasure? 

Mike and Kate are eager to explore the Detroit ballpark and find the many fun tigers throughout the park. When the kids see Tony hide a tiger stuffed animal, they can’t help but investigate. Soon, they’re on a mission to find and follow the tiger stuffed animal in the hopes that it will lead them to the blackmailer. While Mike and Kate investigate, they use their powers of observation and knowledge of the baseball park to find the blackmailer. 

Readers will love exploring the Detroit ballpark with Mike and Kate. The entertaining book is easy to read because it uses short sentences and dialogue to keep readers interested. Black-and-white illustrations appear every three to five pages. Most of the illustrations are a full page and they help readers visualize the characters and understand the plot. The book ends with “Dugout Notes” which define baseball sayings and give more information on the Detroit ballpark. Even though The Tiger Trouble is the eleventh book in the series, the books do not build on each other so they can be read out of order. 

Sports-loving readers will enjoy The Tiger Trouble because of the baseball-related mystery. When Mike and Katie discover the culprit, they learn that the person was blackmailing Tony in order to help others. However, Tony tells the blackmailer, “You meant well, but taking my trophy and blackmailing me is still wrong, even if you’re doing it for a good reason.” In the end, Tony Maloney forgives the blackmailer and comes up with a unique way to solve the problem. With its blend of mystery, baseball, and positive role models, the Ballpark Series hits it out of the park. Readers who want to explore other baseball-related books should check out The Zach and Zoe Mystery Series by Mike Lupica and The Ballgame with No One at Bat by Steve Brezenoff. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Babe Ruth Saves Baseball!

Batter up! It’s 1919 and baseball is in trouble! All across the country, people are throwing down their bats and giving up America’s national pastime. It’s up to Babe Ruth to win back fans and save baseball! Can he do it, or will he strike out? 

Babe Ruth Saves Baseball chronicles Babe Ruth’s early baseball career, beginning with his time pitching for the Boston Red Sox. His first home run was against the New York Yankees! Babe kept track of his home runs and so did the fans. Then, in 1919 some of the White Sox players cheated in the World Series. When fans found out about the cheating, “people were shocked. Many fans stopped going to the ball fields.” But in 1920 Babe went to play for the New York Yankees and he kept hitting home runs. Eventually, so many people wanted to see Babe hit a home run that the Yankees needed a bigger stadium! 

Babe Ruth Saves Baseball is part of the Step into Reading Level Three Series, which targets readers in first grade through third grade. With three short chapters, Step Three books are both longer and slightly more difficult than Step Two books. Each page has three to seven sentences and a large illustration. This level includes some more challenging vocabulary and concepts, though the meanings are made clear through context and illustrations. 

Young readers interested in baseball will love finding out more about Babe Ruth. Beginning readers will love the colorful illustrations that show Babe Ruth in action. The illustrations show the fans’ excitement through their exaggerated and silly facial expressions. In the end, Babe’s determination paid off when he hit the first home run ever at Yankee Stadium. Babe’s career shows how Babe saved baseball by working hard and treating the fans with kindness. Readers can learn more about Babe Ruth by reading the fictional story The Pinstripe Ghost by David A. Kelly. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories

Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and Hank Aaron—five amazing baseball legends. From the first black man to play major league ball to the longest hitting streak ever, these are some of the game’s most inspiring stories. Find out what unforgettable feats won each player a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Baseball fans who want to meet some of the players who helped shape baseball should put Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories on their must-read list. Each chapter focuses on one player’s career, his accomplishments, and how the player changed baseball. The stories are motivational and most of them show how a player had to overcome obstacles along the way. While the book has a lot of baseball statistics, they are balanced with personal stories about the players. Some readers might be surprised by the pressure each player faced. For example, when Henry Aaron became the home run champion, he said, “I just thank God it’s over. I feel I can relax now. I just want to have a great season.” 

As part of the Step Into Reading 4 books, Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories is intended for readers in grades 2 – 4 who are proficient readers. The book includes large black-and-white pictures of the players as well as full-color illustrations that show the players in action. Illustrations appear every 1 to 3 pages and some pictures fill an entire page. The book’s oversized text, large illustrations, and short chapters will appeal to younger readers.  

Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories brings baseball history to life in an appealing format. Since the non-fiction book is all about baseball, it is best suited for readers who already know and love the sport. One chapter focuses on Babe Ruth; readers can learn more about him by also reading Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David A. Kelly. Readers curious about Jackie Robinson should also read Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky and Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story of Sportswriter Mary Garber  by Sue Macy.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • During a game, Babe Ruth “trots out to the left field to warm up, the fans hurl lemons at him. ‘Get off the field, old-timer!’ they shout.” 
  • When Jackie Robinson played baseball, he had to deal with prejudice. “Some opposing players shout curses at him from the bench, while others threaten to strike if Jackie takes the field. . . Pitchers hurl fastballs dangerously close to his head. Runners slide with the spikes of their shoes aimed at his legs.” 
  • Jackie also had to deal with segregation and “hate mail. Some letters even threaten his life.” 
  • After an earthquake struck Nicaragua, Roberto Clemente got on an airplane heading to Nicaragua to distribute supplies. “Clemente’s plane takes off. Moments later one of the engines explodes and catches fire. The plane plunges into the ocean.” Roberto’s body is never found.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton

When Edith Houghton was born, in 1912, girls didn’t play baseball. But Edith grew up watching her big brothers and neighbors play ball in the park across the street, and she joined them whenever she could. They didn’t mind, because she was good. So good that when she was just ten years old, she tried out for a professional baseball team, the Philadelphia Bobbies, and was named starting shortstop. She was the smallest on the field, but soon reporters were talking about “The Kid” and her incredible talent. Her skill and lifelong love of the game led her halfway around the world. Her journey made it clear that baseball is everyone’s sport—boys and girls, young and old—and that hard work and passion can open doors that seem forever closed, even for a kid.  

Reading about Edith’s life is immensely fun not only because she’s inspirational, but also because her life was full of adventure. Edith wasn’t content watching others play baseball. Instead, she was out in the field, playing with the boys, which eventually gave her the skills to try out for the Bobbies.   

The Kid from Diamond Street brings Edith’s story to life and includes quotes that help bring Edith’s personality to life. The book uses chockablock illustrations that take readers back to the 1920s. Young readers will enjoy studying the lively illustrations, which are full of historical details. They include baseball scenes as well as scenes of the Bobbies sailing on a ship, playing a prank, and eating with chopsticks. The book ends with additional historical information, plus sepia pictures of Edith.   

Even though The Kid from Diamond Street is a picture book, it is intended to be read aloud to young readers. Each page has four to six complex sentences that include difficult vocabulary. Because of the text-heavy pages, squirmy young readers may have a difficult time sitting through the entire story.  

Readers young and old will appreciate learning about Edith’s contribution to baseball history. Edith’s love of baseball shines through on every page and her baseball career highlights the importance of living your dream. Readers who want to learn more about women’s contributions to baseball should also read  Players in Pigtails by Shana Corey and Catching the Moon by Crystal Hubbard. To add some fictional fun to young readers’ lists, check out Ellie Steps Up to the Plate by Callie Barkley and Baseball Ballerina by Kathryn Cristaldi. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None

Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way

On April 8, 1974, America watched as Hank Aaron stepped up to the plate and hit home run number 715! With that hit, he surpassed Babe Ruth’s legendary baseball record and realized a lifelong dream. This is the story of how Hank Aaron became a great ballplayer and an inspiration to us all. 

When Hank was born, his mother wanted him to “make a difference in the world.” Meanwhile, his father wanted him to “know the joy of playing baseball in open grassy fields.” While no one knew it at the time, Hank would fulfill both of his parents’ expectations. Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way begins with Hank’s early childhood. The story describes how Hank’s family was poor, but there was still plenty of love and an open field for playing baseball. When Hank was in school, he was inspired by Jackie Robinson. Like Jackie Robinson, Hank faced discrimination because of the color of his skin.  

Before blacks were allowed in the major leagues, Hank was determined to play. When Hank received hate mail, he “decided to fight the best way he could. He swore that each angry letter would add a home run to his record.” The closer Hank got to beating Babe Ruth’s record, the more fans cheered for him and Hank received “almost a million letters to offer him support.” In the end, despite facing many obstacles, Hank did something remarkable—he beat Babe Ruth’s home run record.   

Even though Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way is a picture book, the story will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than for a child to read it independently. Many of the pages are text-heavy with five to thirteen complex sentences. Each two-page spread has one page for the text and one full-page illustration. The realistic illustrations use browns and other primary colors that mostly feature Hank at baseball games. 

Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way is a motivational biography that focuses on Hank’s ability to overcome obstacles. Hank’s remarkable talent and resilience will motivate young readers to reach for their dreams. Since Hank’s story includes examples of discrimination, young readers may need help understanding why people hated Hank because he was black. Readers who want to learn more about Hank Aaron should also read Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories by Andrew Gutelle. For more motivational non-fiction baseball books, readers should also read Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream by Crystal Hubbard and Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Hank Aaron started to play on the Braves’ team, “some people resented Hank’s success because of the color of his skin. He began to get one or two unsigned letters each week filled with insults and nasty names.” 
  • One illustration shows letters in the background. The letters are all negative and one reads “Retire or die!” Another letter says, “Quit or youe [sic] dead.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Hank beat Babe Ruth’s home run record. “That night, when he was alone at last, Hank got down on his knees, closed his eyes, and thanked God for pulling him through.”  

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance

Lupe Wong wants to be the first female pitcher in the Major Leagues.   

She’s also championed causes her whole young life. Some worthy . . . like expanding the options for race on school tests beyond just a few bubbles. And some not so much . . . like complaining to the BBC about the length between Doctor Who seasons.

Lupe needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who’s Chinacan/Mexinese just like her. So when the horror that is square dancing rears its head in gym? Obviously, she’s not gonna let that slide.  

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance examines middle school drama by focusing on Lupe’s struggles. Middle-grade readers will empathize with Lupe as she tries to navigate the complexities of a middle school’s social hierarchy. Even though Lupe doesn’t mean to make enemies, she often does because she doesn’t always think about the consequences of her actions. For instance, Lupe gets upset and makes hurtful comments to her best friend, Andy. In response, Andy begins hanging out with the popular soccer girls and stops talking to Lupe. The two eventually work out their differences, and Lupe learns that she needs to “try to listen to people more instead of worrying about myself and my own goals.” 

Lupe’s family life is an integral part of the story. Lupe misses her father, who died in an accident. She also questions her father’s decision to quit playing baseball to care for his family. Lupe is desperate to meet Fu Li Hernandez because he reminds Lupe of her father, and many of Lupe’s actions are based on her need to earn straight A’s in order to meet Fu Li Hernandez. However, Lupe Wong Won’t Dance doesn’t include any baseball action other than one short practice and when Lupe finally meets Fu Li Hernandez. Still, meeting Fu Li Hernandez makes Lupe realize, “My dad was no quitter. Fu Li’s smile was like Dad’s the first time I whistled. The same smile when I finger-painted my entire face and body. . . And it’s the same smile he had when I hit my first baseball.”  

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance uses humor and middle school drama to highlight the importance of being inclusive. While the story explores the discrimination of the past, it does so in a nonjudgmental way that reminds readers that it’s important to take this advice: “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” Another important lesson the story imparts is the importance of self-acceptance. As Lupe’s friend says, “I shouldn’t change just so people will like me.” 

Lupe’s story is perfect for middle schoolers, especially those who often feel out of place. Lupe Wong Won’t Dance acknowledges that others can be cruel while challenging readers to overcome their difficulties. In the end, the story encourages readers to be kind and inclusive to others, even those who are different than you. For more middle school reads featuring a protagonist who feels out of place, read Out of Place by Jennifer Blecher, Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros, and A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi. 

Sexual Content  

  • In order to get out of square dancing, Lupe researches the song “Cotton-Eyed Joe” and discovers the song’s origins. A YouTube video explains that the song refers “to a man making his rounds with the ladies. . . Why are his eyes white as cotton?. . . if one listens carefully to the words, poor ol’ Cotton-Eyed Joe’s eyes were whited out by chlamydia or syphilis—”  
  • After watching the YouTube video, Lupe looks up chlamydia and discovers it’s “a widespread, often asymptomatic sexually transmitted disease caused by chlamydia trachomatis” and syphilis is “a sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochete bacterium treponema pallidum.” 
  • Lupe’s mom asks her if she’s gay. Lupe replies, “I don’t know. I’m only twelve. I thought I’d figure it out in a few years.” 
  • On an online forum discussing students being forced to learn how to square dance, someone writes, “Outrageous! Should we bring back petticoats and chastity belts?”  

Violence  

  • When Lupe was in second grade, she saw her classmate Zola picking her nose. Lupe began calling Zola “the Green Goblin” and the name stuck. “She eventually found out I was the one who started the Green Goblin nickname and hasn’t spoken a word to me since.” 
  • While practicing her pitching, Lupe’s brother Paolo “takes me out at the knees. The wind is knocked out of me a little. He hoisted me back up by the waist of my jeans, giving me a wedgie.”  
  • When Paolo learned how to square dance, he was partnered with a popular girl. And at the time, his mom was making the kids take “Crock-Pot leftovers for lunch” which caused Paolo to fart a lot. “It’s hard to hide a fart when you do-si-do and spin around. . . between hand sweats and farting. . . she told everyone. . . It’s taken two years for everyone to stop calling me Flutterbutt.” 
  • In the PE locker room, Lupe finds her locker decorated in shaving cream that reads Guadapoopy. When Coach Solden sees it, she goes to wipe it off the locker. “Coach spins back around and one foot slips on remnant shaving cream. Her foot flies up in the air, and she tries to catch herself with one arm. She falls to the floor with a thump and a small crack. Lips pursed together, noises burble from her mouth that sound like cusswords in an alien language.” The coach broke her arm in the fall. 
  • Lupe’s mom tells her about Coach Becky Solden’s square dancing experience. “One by one, as a joke, the boys approached her and then passed her by for other girls. She was the only girl left. . . Just like the rest, [Bruce] walked up to her, but he stopped and bowed. . . Just before Becky touched his hand, Bruce jumped back and ran towards the boys’ locker room screaming. . . For the entire two weeks, we danced, every time a boy danced with Becky, he made monkey noises under his breath. . . Even some of the girls made monkey noises and pretended to scratch their armpits.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When researching the song Cotton-Eyed Joe, one article says “he could have gotten his cloudy eyes from alcohol poisoning.”  

Language  

  • Variations of crap are used frequently. 
  • Heck is used occasionally.  
  • There is frequent name-calling such as jerk, dorks, doofus, idiot, nimrod, whiner, klutz, and others. 
  • When Lupe shows the school principal pictures of a “cropped, magged-up version” of an eye, the principal says, “Oh, gawd.” 
  • Samantha, a mean girl, calls Lupe “Guadaloopy.” Samantha also calls Lupe’s friend Andy, “Anda-loser.” In return, Lupe calls Samantha “Sam-o-nella.” 
  • During PE, Samantha whispers loudly, “Word is [Lupe’s] parents found her at the dump. That’s why she smells like a blowout diaper.” 
  • Lupe comments on “Skanky Potato Head.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Before dinner, Lupe’s family prays. Her brother says, “Thank you God, for all that we have. Bless this interesting food to our bodies. And please help Lupe with her cleanliness so she can be next to you . . .” 
  • Before dinner, Paolo prays, “God, thank you for our grandparents who can cook. . . And thank you for giving Mr. Montgomery pinkeye so my algebra test is postponed. And help Lupe through puberty and bless this food.”  
  • Lupe thinks about her father. During Qingming, “the Chinese version of Dia de los Muertos . . . Grandma Wong takes us to the cemetery to burn paper things that represent what she thinks Dad needs in the afterlife. This year she burned a paper house and fake money. [Lupe] snuck in a paper baseball and bat.” 

Baseball Genius

Twelve-year-old Jalen DeLuca is an aspiring baseball player who dreams of playing in the Major Leagues. He knows he can jump-start his career by playing for the travel team Rockton Little League Rockets, but he runs into a massive problem: his father can’t afford the travel team expenses. Desperate to find the money, Jalen attempts to sell some stolen baseballs from famous Yankee ballplayer James Yager. However, when Yager catches Jalen with the baseballs their worlds collide. More importantly, they realize that they need each other when Yager learns that Jalen is more than just a misfit criminal—he’s a baseball genius. 

Just like Jalen, James Yager is in a tough situation. His job is on the line because of his poor performance, and he needs a miracle to prove that he deserves his spot on the Yankees roster. Luckily, Jalen’s ability to perfectly predict pitches from opposing pitchers offers a glimpse of hope, and he embarks on a riveting adventure to save not only his chances of playing baseball but Yager’s entire career. With many people counting on him, Jalen feels the pressure as he struggles to balance the travel team, friendships, his father’s business, and Yager’s career. Can Jalen’s genius save his family, friends, and Yager? 

Told from Jalen’s perspective, the story portrays the complex circumstances in Jalen’s life and explores how Jalen views and feels about these events. As a result, Jalen comes across as a realistic character with authentic joys, anxieties, and dreams. Many readers will relate to how Jalen reacts to the pressure of helping his family, friends, and Yager. Jalen’s brave demeanor leads him to frequently help others, trust the people he loves, and believe that things will work out in the end. They will also admire Jalen’s fortitude in the face of overwhelming adversities. After getting caught stealing, Jalen knows that “Even though he was alone, imprisoned in the Yankees manager’s office, he knew everything was going to work out.” 

Baseball Genius balances the interconnected plotlines within Jalen’s life and gives each storyline proper development with a distinct solution. The constant twists and turns will keep the pages turning and readers will enjoy the quirky side characters who surround Jalen. The story also features several action-packed baseball sequences, where readers will experience detailed play-by-play scenes of actual baseball games, complete with real-life players and settings. For example, during a Yankees game against the White Sox, Jalen watched as “Hutt struck out in four, and then Joe Ros knocked one in the 5-6 hole on his first pitch, putting runners on first and third. Quintana had thrown a total of eighteen pitches.” 

While Baseball Genius has an intriguing plot, it struggles to develop the many characters. Outside of Jalen, most of the supporting characters are flat and don’t show a massive shift in perspective or feelings. As a result, the story’s lesson of trusting in your talents at times feels half-baked and incomplete. Luckily, Baseball Genius’ action-packed narrative overshadows this flaw and presents an engaging story that will capture even the imagination of non-sports fans. With this combination of exciting baseball scenes and page-turning cliffhangers, Baseball Genius is a must-read for sports fanatics. 

Sexual Content 

  • After Jalen successfully predicts the next pitch from a Yankee baseball pitcher, Cat, Jalen’s friend, “kissed [Jalen’s] cheek” in celebration. 

Violence 

  • When Jalen grabs Cat by the arm to talk to her, she “dug her heels in and cuffed him in the back of the head.” Jalen wanted to talk with Cat privately because she was upset with him over his new baseball skills. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Throughout the story, Jalen’s father says the Italian curse word “mannaggia,” which translates to “darn” in English. 
  • Chris, a school bully, calls Jalen “mutt,” which means “biracial, half white and half black.” 
  • Yager says, “Holy crow” once. Yager also mutters, “Good God” during a stressful moment. 
  • Yager calls the radio sports analyzers “idiots” because they believe that his career is dying.  
  • Jalen calls Chris a “jerk” and a “rat” once. 
  • Chris calls Jalen a “sandwich” because Jalen’s dad has to make sandwiches for the baseball team to pay for Jalen’s travel team expenses. 
  • Chris calls Jalen the “Calamari Kid” after news spreads that Jalen’s dad’s calamari gave Yager good luck in his baseball game. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • Yager helps Jalen’s father out during a busy time at the diner. Afterwards, his father asks, “Jalen, did you bring me an angel from above?” 
  • The travel-ball coach, Coach Gambles, explains to his players that “those of you who are new to this team need to understand that what I say is like the word of God.” 
  • When Jalen’s late for baseball practice, “Jalen flung the door open and took off, praying Coach Gamble’s watch was slow.” 
  • Jalen’s friend describes his feelings when entering Yankee Stadium as if “[he] died and went to heaven.”

Magical Imperfect

Etan is a twelve-year-old boy whose life is full of silence, earthquakes, and a bit of magic. He lives in a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar. The ground beneath his feet is constantly shaking, threatening to upend everything he knows. But despite the danger, Etan finds solace in the game of baseball, a sport that has been a part of his life since he was old enough to hold a bat.

However, Etan’s world is turned upside down when his mother is admitted to a mental institution. He suddenly finds himself unable to express his thoughts and feelings because his words are trapped inside his head. Without the ability to communicate, Etan feels isolated from the other kids his age since he is unable to reach out and connect with them.

But there is one person who understands him better than anyone else: his grandfather. Raised in a close-knit community of immigrants, Etan’s grandfather knows the value of acceptance and understanding. He doesn’t judge Etan for his silence, but instead offers him the comfort and support he needs to navigate this difficult time.

Not everyone in the community is as kind-hearted as Etan’s grandfather. When a local shopkeeper asks Etan to run an errand for him, this sets off a chain of events that will change Etan’s life forever. While running the errand, Ethan Meets Malia Agbayani, whom the boys at school have nicknamed “the creature.” At first, Etan is hesitant to approach her, but when he finally does, he discovers a kindred spirit. Despite her nickname, Malia’s voice is like music to Etan’s ears. She sees the world in a unique way, and her perspective helps Etan to find his own voice. As they spend time together, Etan realizes that outside of his community, there is a world full of people who are different but just as valuable. With this newfound understanding, Etan’s world begins to open in ways he never thought possible.

Etan is a truly endearing main character that will captivate the reader’s imagination. His journey through the obstacle of selective mutism is truly inspiring, as he learns how to overcome his personal struggles and create new friendships. As the reader follows his journey, they are taken on a fascinating exploration of his family’s rich Jewish history, with all of its intricate traditions and customs. Through Etan’s eyes, the reader is transported to a world full of magic and wonder, where anything is possible if you believe in yourself. With each passing chapter, the reader will feel more and more invested in Etan’s story, eagerly anticipating what will happen next and how he will continue to grow as a person.

Readers will also be captivated not only by the wisdom and mysticism displayed by Etan’s grandfather but also by the rich cultural context he provides. Through his tales from his homeland in Prague, the grandfather shares his deep knowledge of the Jewish religion and the Hebrew language. Moreover, his character serves as a powerful reminder that everyone has the ability to create magic in the world – all that is required is a strong belief and a heart full of love. The reader cannot help but be inspired by the grandfather’s teachings, and they will come away with a renewed appreciation for the beauty and diversity of world cultures.

The Magical Imperfect is a heartwarming tale that emphasizes the value of embracing diversity and the true meaning of unity. The author beautifully showcases the power of empathy and compassion, and how they have the ability to bring people together. Through vivid descriptions and relatable characters, The Magical Imperfect teaches us that our differences should be celebrated rather than feared and that we should strive to build bridges of understanding and respect. Overall, this book is an excellent reminder of the importance of kindness and acceptance in our increasingly diverse world. This is a rich, rewarding, and deeply moving story that is sure to touch the hearts of readers of all ages.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language 

  • None

Supernatural

  • Malia, Etan’s friend, introduces Etan to a spot that is full of magic. “These are the Sitting Stones. This is where the trees listen the most. The pool is magical . . . But this water is magic.”
  • During an earthquake, Ethan gets a small cut on his arm. His grandfather sees the cut and decides to show him the power of the clay. Grandfather pulls Ethan close “presses down his two clay fingers on the cut on my arm . . . The cut is gone. I search with my fingers, trace my skin up and down, and back and forth . . . Then it feels like the world starts to spin cold and warm all at once. . .” Ethan’s grandfather explains, “Your body, Etan, it’s experienced something from another time, an ancient thing giving its power to something new right now.”
  • Etan and Malia visit the Sitting Stones and he begins to wonder if the clay inside the pool could heal. He wonders if it would help heal Malia’s eczema issues.
  • Another object that is considered magical is a small green stone that Etan is given. The stone helps give him the strength to find words to speak. His grandfather explains,  “This, he says, is a bareket, an emerald, an ancient, powerful stone, like from the breastplate of Aaron . . . When you feel afraid to speak, hold the stone in your hand, tight tight tight, and it will bring you courage.” 
  • In order to heal Malia’s eczema, Etan and Malia combine his grandfather’s clay and the clay from the Sitting Stones pool. Ethan puts “clay on two fingers, dab it onto her face, around her eye. I [Ethan] pray, think of the trees, the pool, my green bareket, somewhere in the water . . . When most of the clay is off my hands, Malia starts humming, her voice like light. ‘Look!’ she cries. Her red, swollen arms are smooth, clear, like the red was never there.” To both of their amazement, the clay makes the redness disappear. 

Spiritual Content 

  • Etan’s family holds religion near and dear to their heart. His grandfather is a Jewish immigrant that uses his religion and the magic associated with it to teach Etan different lessons about life. He often reminds Etan how important it is to remember his heritage and the different objects that help represent them. When Etan’s grandfather leaves his workshop early, it is usually for a specific religious activity, like lighting the Shabbat Candles. “When he leaves extra early so he can be home to light the Shabbat candles. The candles, he says, they make us Jews.”
  • Etan’s grandfather has a small box full of valuables from his life in Prague. He believes that the objects within hold a magical power that each represents a different thing. The object most talked about in the book is the clay. “This is the last of the clay taken from the Vlata River by your ancestor, the Maharal himself . . . It’s the clay of the golem; it once made a terrible monster that defended the Jewish people in their time of great need.”
  • There are mentions of aspects of the Jewish religion throughout the text, but it isn’t until Etan begins to pray when using the clay on Malia, that there is a full string of Hebrew language used. “Baruch ata Adonaim Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.” This is the prayer that they say for bread at Shabbat.

Fast Pitch

Twelve-year-old Shenice Lockwood is the captain of her 12U softball team, the Fulton Firebirds, and she has only one goal this season: to win the DYSA 12U World Championship title. Not only would a championship reaffirm the obvious talent of her teammates, but it would also send a bigger, more important message to the softball world. That message would be that her all-black softball team belonged in their all-white league and deserved recognition and respect. 

However, when Shenice learns that her great grandpa JonJon’s baseball career was ruined by a crime he didn’t commit, she seeks the help of her Uncle Jack to uncover the truth of her family’s past. Faced with the pressure and the impossible decision between clearing her family’s name or leading her team to victory, Shenice must make a fateful choice that will forever change the game of softball.

From the start, readers will fall in love with the spunky, energetic Shenice Lockwood, who tells this story in her own humorous, yet authentic manner. Many readers will find Shenice’s heart to lead, love, and serve admirable. Her actions and decisions reveal a protagonist who’s determined to seek the truth and fight for equality. Whether it’s leading her teammates on a championship run, clearing an incident that put her great grandfather JonJon in jail, or admitting her feelings for her best friend Scoob, Shenice portrays the realistic struggles of a twelve-year-old girl amidst a topsy-turvy life.

Alongside Shenice, the book features several exciting side characters that push Shenice toward action and reflection. Whether it’s Shenice’s Uncle Jack, her hot-headed best friend Britt-Marie Hogan, or her teammates, Shenice’s interactions with these characters will keep the readers engaged with their quippy dialogue, profound revelations, and heartfelt conversations. Although Shenice doesn’t display drastic character growth, her view of softball does change, and she learns that some things, like winning a championship trophy, aren’t so important in the grand scheme of things. One of her teammates highlights this lesson by telling Shenice that “I did want to win, even just to make my dad proud. But what you were doing felt super important. And I think he would’ve been proud of me helping with that, too.”

Of course, the sport of softball plays a major role in the book, and readers will enjoy the frequent, fast-paced game scenes that break up the surrounding plotline. Thanks to the realistic plays, descriptions, and lingo, readers will feel completely immersed in the game of softball. The story also uses these game sequences as an important motivator for Shenice by reminding her of her great grandpa JonJon and her vow to clear his name.

By exploring the fractured relationship between the white and black communities, Fast Pitch addresses deeper topics such as discrimination in sports and the present-day struggles of the black community. Throughout its short eighteen chapters, the story captures the problem of inequality from a very mature perspective. Shenice’s troublesome experiences teach her to not ignore the past but to “dust [herself] off and get [her] head back in the game” despite the difficulties and hardships. As a result, she learns to overcome the various ways of discrimination in her life, like hurtful insults and Confederate flags. She chooses to pave her own future through the inclusion, recognition, and love for others on her softball team. Overall, Fast Pitch is more than just a softball story — it’s a tale that emphasizes the importance of love, family, and equality through a young girl’s quest to win a championship trophy.

Sexual Content

  • Shenice Lockwood’s parents listen to their favorite song and then, “they’re just smoochin’ away like nobody else lives here.”
  • Shenice develops feelings for a friend named Scoob. Her “face gets warm” and “palms go damp” when she’s around him.
  • On multiple occasions, Shenice says something about Scoob and how he makes her feel. For example, she wonders, “has he always had that cute mole under his eye . . . which for some reason is making my heart beat faster [and] which sparks all these swirly-tummy feelings?”

Violence

  • Shenice relays a memory where a girl slid into her ankle during a game. When Shenice tried to block home plate during a close play, the girl slid into her and “ripped through my tall socks and took out two large (for a nine-year-old, at least) chunks of my flesh. There was blood everywhere.” Her ankle is fractured.
  • Shenice slices her arm open on a shard of wood sticking out from a damaged door. She falls unconscious and finds herself in the hospital for treatment. “My right shoulder hits something that causes a snap, and then there’s a searing pain in my left forearm.”

Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • When surprised, Shenice exclaims, “oh my god.” She does this several times. 
  • Shenice tells her best friend to “shut up.” 
  • Once, Shenice utters, “dang it,” in frustration.
  • One of Shenice’s teammates calls an opposing team’s girl an “apple-haired she-devil.”
  • “Idiot” is used once.
  • Once, the coach calls an opposing team “bigots.”
  • Several characters in Shenice’s team create creative nicknames for others, like “sour green-with-too-much-envy white dude.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • Shenice’s mom begins one breakfast with a prayer: “Let’s say grace and get to eating before Li’l Man inhales the table.”
  • Shenice’s mom says “A-MEN” to affirm that Shenice’s grandparents are watching Shenice up from heaven.
  • Shenice acknowledges that “divine intervention” has helped everything fall into place.
  • Shenice visits her Uncle Jack at the hospital. Shenice “did something I don’t typically do: I prayed.”
  • Shenice believes that her great grandpa JonJon and great uncle Jack are “together again in whatever nice place we go after we’re not in our Earth bodies anymore.”

Mascot

Since the car accident, Noah Savino has been confined to his wheelchair. His past life as an average seventh grader has been turned upside down, and he struggles to find solace away from baseball. It doesn’t help that physical therapy is terrible, his mom seems extra stressed, and his old friend, Logan Montgomery, has turned into his new personal bully. To make matters worse, his father also passed away in a car accident that paralyzed him.

Everything changes, including his perspective on life, when Noah meets the new kid, Ruben Hardesty, a.k.a “Dee-Dub.” For the first time in his life, Noah finds someone different from others, and this blossoming friendship with Dee-Dub places Noah’s life on a roller coaster of emotion where he discovers that he’s more than just a kid in a wheelchair. Eventually, Noah learns that his past doesn’t dictate his future. He isn’t just a mascot rooting on the sidelines; he’s the ballplayer on the baseball diamond that can change both his and others’ lives. 

Throughout the book, readers will experience the typical life of a seventh-grade boy through the eyes of Noah Savino, a sassy but lovable character. Although his quick sarcasm and stubborn attitude can be irritating initially, readers will slowly discover the complex emotions hidden within Noah’s character. His growth from a boy stuck in the gloom of the past to a lovable friend with a heart for others is admirable and inspiring, and Noah’s story highlights that good can come from bad things — although not necessarily in the most straightforward manner. 

Noah’s character development is supported by a fantastic cast of side characters who showcase how the powers of friendship, love, and forgiveness can positively impact both the giver and the receiver. Readers will enjoy how each of the characters’ stories weaves together. Whether it’s strengthening his friendship with Dee-Dub, acknowledging his feelings for Alyssa, or being friendly to his overly competitive partner in physical therapy, Noah learns and grows because of each of the people in his life. Noah even learns to forgive his bully, Logan, after a heartfelt conversation. “For the first time in months, I bump [Logan’s] fist right back, and he smiles like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.”

Readers will relate to Noah because he recognizes that bad things happen in people’s lives. However, the story offers an important lesson about moving forward and focusing on the future. Although Mascot has its share of awkward moments, readers will fall in love with the emotional richness of the characters and how their everyday activities are enhanced by each other. For those who enjoy a fast-paced, moving saga littered with baseball references, Antony John’s Mascot is the perfect book for you. For more inspiring baseball action, read Soar by Joan Bauer and Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee.

Sexual Content

  • Noah Savino is repeatedly caught staring at his classmate, Alyssa Choo’s, boobs. She responds to the three instances with anger and immediate action, like “[sliding] onto the chair across the aisle from me and [folding] her arms across her chest.”
  • For several pages, Noah and Makayla Dillion discuss whether their parents are “sucking face.”
  • One of Makayla’s books mentions the character Gabriella kissing a boy, and “she seems to be enjoying it.”
  • Noah and Alyssa briefly touch hands. When she leaves, Noah notices the “empty space where she was touching me” and that “his skin tingles.”
  • After speaking with Alyssa, Noah notes that her voice was “a little quieter and breathier than before, makes me feel kind of tingly.”
  • At the end of the book, Noah and Alyssa exchange a kiss, where Noah notes that “she even stays in place as I turn my head, so that for an instant our lips brush together.”

Violence

  • During a contest, Alyssa purposely hits Logan Montgomery’s leg and Dee-Dub Hardesty’s stomach with a baseball. Logan “just watches as it lands a yard in front of him, ricochets off the ground, shoots up, and cracks against the outside of his left knee.”
  • Mr. Riggieri, Noah’s neighbor across the street, jokingly threatens to murder the three kids if they don’t help him clean. He says that they must help “or I’ll track you all down and murder you in your sleep.”

Drugs and Alcohol

  • Because of her pitching power, Noah once joked that Alyssa takes “steroids.”

Language

  • Noah’s mom says “for Pete’s sake” when Noah questions her about her upcoming dinner date.
  • Heck is used as an exclamation several times.
  • Noah says, “Geez. You’re like freaking Einstein.”
  • Noah calls a kid a “moron.”

Supernatural

  • During a baseball game, Noah believes his deceased father is “where he is now — on the sidelines, invisible but somehow present.”

Spiritual Content

  • None
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