The only game
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Booklist Review
Best friends Jack and Gus have dreamed of their chance at the Little League World Series for years, so when Jack quits the seventh-grade team after the first practice, everyone is astonished. Down their star player, the Rays including Gus turn on Jack, who finds friends in the funny, overweight Teddy Bear Madden and Cassie Bennett, the confident star of the girls' softball team. These new alliances help Jack confront the true reason he gave up the sport he loves, and a loving family environment helps Jack get back into the swing of things. Though the supportive nature of Jack's family and friends verges on saccharine, and the seventh-graders are often too wise for their years, many will find comfort in a story where community and friendships reign supreme. Readers will benefit from having a knowledge of baseball, as detailed plays feature in a narrative otherwise devoted to personal growth, grieving, and achieving your dreams. A natural choice for Matt Christopher and Tim Green fans.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2015 Booklist
Publisher's Weekly Review
Seventh grader Jack Callahan is his team's star pitcher and shortstop, so everyone is shocked when he quits baseball during the lead-up to the Little League World Series. "My heart's not in it," he tells his disappointed parents, before spilling the real reason he's abandoning the team: "Baseball won't bring my brother back." Lupica thoughtfully explores Jack's belief that he could have saved his daredevil older brother, Brad, who died the previous year in a dirt-bike accident. While Callahan sorts out his life and the events of the past year, he slowly finds a new crowd of friends at school who show him a life beyond baseball. Nobbs reads with a strong narrative voice that has good emphasis, timing, and tone, especially when delivering the weight of emotionally tense scenes. But when it comes to providing the voices for the colorful slew of other characters, Nobbs's narration is either flat or overly caricatured. Ages 8-12. A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Much to his parents' surprise, Jack Callahan decides to quit baseball, even though he's the best player on his team. His best friend, Gus, doesn't understand what is going on with Jack either. Jack just hasn't been the same since his older brother was killed in an accident. He doesn't stray far from the game though. Instead he finds himself working with star softball player Cassie Bennett and extends his friendship to a boy named Teddy who is picked on for his weight. His time with these two kids eventually leads Jack back to playing baseball but also helps him understand the value of friendship and helping others. Though conversations are stiff at times, Keith Nobbs's ability to express characters' feelings will make listeners care about the characters. Steeped in details about baseball, this is more for the true fan who doesn't mind play-by-play action. VERDICT Best for baseball fans, this novel will also be enjoyed by those that appreciate stories about the importance of friendship.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Everyone is shocked when seventh grader Jack Callahan quits his baseball team. Jack spends time helping coach new friends, softball standout Cassie and baseball-challenged Teddy. These friendships allow him to deal with his brother's fatal accident. Lupica's game-time segments come later in the novel, allowing an emotional story of loss, friendship, and love of baseball to unfold. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Book Review
In the opener of a four-book series about kids in the baseball-loving town of Walton, 12-year-old Jack Callahan struggles to square his personal sorrows with his deep love of the game.Gifted baseball player Jack and buddy Gus, whose family roots in the Dominican Republic partly inform his aspiration to the Little League championships in Williamsport, have played since T-ball. Jack's sudden announcement on tryout day that he won't be playing this season angers Gus and bewilders his own parents. But the town's softball superstar, classmate Cassie, steps up to offer simple, straightforward friendship to Jack. She persuades Jack to keep connected with the game by helping her dad coach her team. A new friendship with another classmate, Teddy, allows Jack to reveal that he blames himself for his risk-taking older brother's accidental death the summer before. Adults are admirable: Coaches emphasize sportsmanship; parents set aside their own troubles to support their children. The baseball narrative is terrificLupica recaps these fictional games with brisk, exciting clarity. The friendship story is solid, kind and reassuring, and even if most of the young characters demonstrate unlikely maturity rather than depth, readers will only notice the qualities that are best in them. A lovely nod to Derek Jeter rounds out a winner of a sports novel. (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Reviews
Best friends Jack and Gus have dreamed of their chance at the Little League World Series for years, so when Jack quits the seventh-grade team after the first practice, everyone is astonished. Down their star player, the Rays—including Gus—turn on Jack, who finds friends in the funny, overweight "Teddy Bear" Madden and Cassie Bennett, the confident star of the girls' softball team. These new alliances help Jack confront the true reason he gave up the sport he loves, and a loving family environment helps Jack get back into the swing of things. Though the supportive nature of Jack's family and friends verges on saccharine, and the seventh-graders are often too wise for their years, many will find comfort in a story where community and friendships reign supreme. Readers will benefit from having a knowledge of baseball, as detailed plays feature in a narrative otherwise devoted to personal growth, grieving, and achieving your dreams. A natural choice for Matt Christopher and Tim Green fans. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.
Publishers Weekly Reviews
Lupica (Game Changers) launches the Home Team series with a novel that meshes themes of baseball, friendship, and facing one's fears. Seventh-grader Jack Callahan is his team's star pitcher and shortstop, so everyone is shocked when he quits baseball during the lead-up to the Little League World Series. "My heart's not in it," he tells his disappointed parents, before spilling the real reason he's abandoning the team: "Baseball won't bring my brother back." Lupica thoughtfully explores Jack's belief that he could have saved his daredevil older brother, Brad, who died the previous year in a dirt-bike accident. Cassie, an ace softball pitcher, reaches out to Jack, offering no-nonsense counsel about his misplaced guilt while subtly encouraging his return to the diamond. Jack, in turn, helps a much-teased classmate by coaching him in self-confidence and baseball. Lupica again proves his aptitude for lacing lightning-speed sports action with credible insight into players' thoughts and emotions. This, along with Cassie's pivotal role, should give the novel a wide reach and appeal. Ages 8–12. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM. (Feb.)
[Page ]. Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLCPW Annex Reviews
Lupica (Game Changers) launches the Home Team series with a novel that meshes themes of baseball, friendship, and facing one's fears. Seventh-grader Jack Callahan is his team's star pitcher and shortstop, so everyone is shocked when he quits baseball during the lead-up to the Little League World Series. "My heart's not in it," he tells his disappointed parents, before spilling the real reason he's abandoning the team: "Baseball won't bring my brother back." Lupica thoughtfully explores Jack's belief that he could have saved his daredevil older brother, Brad, who died the previous year in a dirt-bike accident. Cassie, an ace softball pitcher, reaches out to Jack, offering no-nonsense counsel about his misplaced guilt while subtly encouraging his return to the diamond. Jack, in turn, helps a much-teased classmate by coaching him in self-confidence and baseball. Lupica again proves his aptitude for lacing lightning-speed sports action with credible insight into players' thoughts and emotions. This, along with Cassie's pivotal role, should give the novel a wide reach and appeal. Ages 8–12. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM. (Feb.)
[Page ]. Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLCSchool Library Journal Reviews
Gr 4–6— On the official opening day of baseball in his small town, Jack Callahan, superlative seventh grade shortstop and arguably the best pitcher in town, surprisingly quits at the end of an outstanding first practice. Jack and his best friend Gus had expected to be strong contenders in the Atlantic League with aspirations of playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Believing that an earlier tragedy involving his older brother Brad was all his fault, Jack takes a break from the only game he ever loved. This hiatus is short-lived, and he soon finds himself back at the diamond coaching girls softball. Slowly, he makes it back to his own team. Loyalty, friendship, courage, and teamwork are key components in the novel. Jack and his teammates have a falling out after Jack's decision to quit the team before the season even starts. This leads to new friendships with Cassie, a strong female character, and Teddy, an overweight, friendly guy whom Jack protects from bullying. Various acts of courage are displayed by Cassie, Teddy, and Jack. Lupica lays the foundation for a great sports series where friendship carries the characters through tribulations. Middle-grade readers will easily identify with the four friends. Although the story is sports related, this is more than a baseball book and will appeal to a wide variety of readers. A must-buy.—Glynis Jean Wray, Ocean County Library, Toms River, NJ
[Page 124]. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.