Parents' Guide to

Heat

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Engaging story about a pitching prodigy.

Book Mike Lupica Sports 2006
Heat Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 10+

Based on 8 parent reviews

A/R Mom
A/R Mom Adult
June 2, 2011
age 10+

The Heat is a great Lesson Too!

My son read this book for his a/r goal at school. He had a couple of issues himself at school about being nervous before a performance and made up a little white lie and got caught. This was a great book to show how little white lies can grow and hurt peoples feelings even if you don't intend that to be the end result.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
grammyteacher
grammyteacher Parent of 2-year-old
May 1, 2011
age 10+
I'm a teacher and use frequently with boys who are reluctant readers and like baseball...it works!
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Michael, an unusually talented 12-year-old pitcher on his Little League team, has a lot going on at home that only his best friend Manny and the kindly lady upstairs in his apartment building, Mrs. C., know about. Born in Cuba, Michael lost his mother to cancer when he was very young. His father brought Michael and his brother Carlos to America with the hope of seeing Michael pitch in the Little League World Series. Now his father is dead too, and and he and Carlos are trying to keep it a secret until Carlos, just months shy of his 18th birthday, can legally assume custody of Michael. But Children's Services are getting suspicious, and a rival coach and player have accused Michael of being older than he claims, causing him to be suspended until he can find proof. Something needs to go right -- and soon.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8):
Kids say (13):

Even with all life's hardships and heartbreak, this book reaffirms that it's still a beautiful world. It sounds like a classic setup at first: poor, orphaned, but surprisingly cheerful and well-adjusted boy triumphs -- with the help of family love and good friends -- over insurmountable odds, including the devious, mean rich coach of the rival team and his spoiled son. It's a cliché from start to finish, right? So why doesn't it feel that way?

Partly, it's because sportswriter Mike Lupica's muscular prose shines on the ballfield. Partly, it's because the author knows that a truly satisfying ending has nothing to do with winning a ballgame. And, partly, it's because clichés get used a lot because they work. It's precisely the familiarity, the predictability, and the lack of realism that make this so affecting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Michael's situation. What would you do in his place? Why did he treat Ellie the way he did? Why does his pitching talent cause others to do so much for him?

  • Also, were Justin's and his father's actions in any way justified?

Book Details

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