New Kid
By Joe Applegate,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gripping sports story about a boy's struggle for identity.
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What's the Story?
A father is mysteriously on the run, dragging along his teen son, who has to change his name with every move. Young Brock (formerly Tommy), knows his dad loves him but struggles to find his true self, this time in a high school in upstate New York. There the baseball coach spots his talent as a pitcher. Brock's dad agrees to let him play for the town's traveling team but shows up to snatch him away at the worst possible moment.
Is It Any Good?
Bestselling author Tim Green, who writes frequently about sports, spins an engrossing tale for young baseball players, male and female, with a climax that ends on the last pitch. The writing in NEW KID is mostly sharp but sometimes dips into sentiments worthy of a needlepoint pillow.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about playing sports. Does it sometimes amplify the tension between fitting in and standing out?
Do you like reading novels about sports? What are some of your favorites?
Brock, who's constantly uprooted, makes friends with characters in books. Have you ever felt close to a book character? Which one or ones?
Book Details
- Author: Tim Green
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harper
- Publication date: March 4, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: October 9, 2019
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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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