Common Sense Media Review
Action-packed, emotional dad-son baseball story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 10 kid reviews
Kids say this book is celebrated for its engaging storytelling and emotional depth, particularly in the relationship between a father and son centered around baseball. While many praise its ability to keep readers hooked, some critique the portrayal of the father as a poor role model, and there are mixed feelings about the depiction of sports elements.
- engaging story
- father-son relationship
- strong hooks
- mixed reviews
- poor role model
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When shortstop Hutch is moved to second base on his team to make room for more talented, but arrogant, new player Darryl, he rolls with the punches for the good of the team. But when he sees his own father, who never seems to have any time for or interest in him, coaching Darryl, he can't handle it, and endangers both what's left of his relationship with his dad, and his team's chances in the championship.
Is It Any Good?
Most good sports books are exciting, suspenseful, and action-packed, and this one is too -- the many game and practice scenes are fast-paced and lovingly described. Here's what some of the best baseball books are: lyrical, almost poetic, in their attempt to capture that indefinable feeling that makes baseball different from any other sport. This one is too -- Lupica's sharp and rhythmic prose brilliantly captures the passion, joy, intelligence, and beauty of the summertime sport.
Here's what most of those other books are not: moving, powerfully emotional, as much concerned with the characters as with the sports action. But this one is. There's really only one other writer who can pack this much emotion and sheer intelligence into sports fiction for kids: Bruce Brooks, and he hasn't had a new novel in years. Lupica deftly uses Hutch's rivalry with Darryl to lay bare Hutch's troubled relationship with his distant and disappointed father, who has given up on life and wants Hutch to do the same. This is what you hope for when you recommend a sports book to reluctant readers: action that will keep them riveted to the page in a story will help deepen their understanding of the game, of people, and of life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Hutch's dad. Why is he the way he is?
Why did losing his baseball dream hit him so hard?
Why can't he connect with his son? Also, why does Hutch love the game so much?
Have you ever felt that way about a sport?
Book Details
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