 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series
- By John Feinstein
- Genre: Mystery
Common Sense Media says
Mystery and ethics in sports journalism.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is some discussion of drinking, drunkenness, and rehab, and the story revolves around a possible drunk driving accident in which a mother is killed. There's also a bit of mild swearing.
What's the story?
Teen reporters Stevie and Susan Carol are covering the World Series when they meet the perfect story -- an aging minor-leaguer, widower, and single dad, called up to the majors just in time to pitch in the Series. But his story about how his wife died doesn't ring true, and since he is about to sign a deal for his life story, it seems worth investigating. With everyone involved telling lies, and whatever the truth is seeming destined to destroy a family, where does journalism end and privacy begin?
Is it any good?
Unlike others in this series, this isn't really about sports. There's a bit of sports action (which will be a bit hard to follow for anyone who doesn't know baseball pretty well), but it's mostly window dressing for a non-sports mystery with a strong ethical component. The story raises a host of interesting questions, some with a clear authorial opinion, some more ambiguous. How can we know the truth when everyone is lying? Is it ever a good thing to cover up the truth? What are the rights of famous people, journalists, and the reading public? Is fame worth the price?
This series does for bright kids who love to write what the Tom Swift series did for bright kids who love science: provides a delightful fantasy of brilliant and talented kids operating with nearly complete freedom in the adult world and beating adults at their own game. Add in mystery, sports action, and in this case an ethical dilemma, and you get a winning formula that's fun and provokes both thought and daydreams.
From the Book:
He turned and saw a player standing at the locker. He had a bottle of champagne in his hands but clearly wasn't involved in the celebration. After seven games Stevie thought he knew all the Nationals players. But he was drawing a blank on both the face and the number, which was 56.
Apparently, the player noticed the blank look on Stevie's face, because he stuck his hand out and said, "Norbert Doyle. You've never heard of me because I've never done anything."
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about journalistic ethics. When, if
ever, is it right to look into and expose someone's personal life? Do
famous people have different rights than ordinary people? Should they?
Do they have more or fewer rights?Does Stevie make the right decision
here? Why or why not?Is fame worth the loss of privacy? Would you want
to be famous? What do you think it would be like? What are the upsides
and downsides?
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- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 9 years old
April 14, 2010
AGE
Older kids will have a blast
decent book but you shouldn't read if your not at least 8 3/4
What other families should know:
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| Author: | John Feinstein |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Mystery |
| Publisher: | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Publication date: | August 11, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 308 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 9 - 9 |
| Read alone: | 10 - 10 |
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