I don't know about anyone else, but sports are not my thing. As librarians, we have to be well-versed in many different types of books so I picked up a Mike Lupica book called "Heat." I have to admit the first chapter or two I thought I was in for a long, dull read. I didn't think there was any way I could get through a sports book, especially baseball oriented. I was pleasantly surprised though.
"Heat" is about a Cuban-American boy. Without official papers he has to be careful not to attract the attention of the "official persons" that could take him away from his family or deport him. The only problem is that he also happens to be a fantastic pitcher and his team is poised to make a run for the big game. He attracts plenty of attention and not always for good reasons.
The game scenes are very detailed and vocabulary specific, but even so I got caught up in them and couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. The characters were intriguing without being overdone. It also captured the fear and concern that children have when authority figures hold power over them and possibly not in a positive way. I think kids who love baseball will be caught up in the suspense of the games and the quest for the ultimate trophy. Even readers who don't understand all of the baseball lingo will get caught up in the story.
That sounds fun. I really need to start branching out in the books I read, too. I'll add this one to my list. Thanks for sharing!
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