Bull Catcher [Hardcover]

Alden R. Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

In his diary, high-school baseball player Neil ""Bull"" Larsen re-evaluates his friendships, takes a close look at his family and girlfriend, and considers if there is anything more to life than baseball."

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up. "On the seventh day God made baseball." For Neil "Bull" Larsen and his best friend, Jeff Hanson, baseball has been their life for as long as they can remember, hence their pet saying. For his senior project, Bull decides to chronicle his high school baseball career by filling in the details of the diary he has been keeping. The teen, by choice, lives with his widowed grandfather while his business-executive single mom imparts advice from her home in California. While baseball is the major focus of this story, Bull also faces the challenges common to adolescents including dealings with family, friends, the opposite sex, and school. He comes to grips with the death of a friend who became a rival due to their interest in the same girl, and with the fact that despite his talent, a life-long dream of professional baseball might be in reach for Jeff but not for him. Carter pens a sure hit for baseball fans as plenty of riveting game action is detailed. Though a few fairly mild curse words are present, all-in-all this is a gentle coming-of-age story that, while not a gripping page-turner, results in an enjoyable read.?Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-10. Unlike many sports novels, Bull Catcher does more than pump up its readers for a do-or-die game against the crosstown rivals. Carter takes a deeper look at sports, competition, and what it takes to succeed. Neil "Bull" Larsen and his best friend, Jeff Hanson, see everything through the prism of baseball. They play the game almost year-round, constantly pushing themselves to play at a higher level. In high school, Jeff single-mindedly pursues the college scholarship he hopes will lead to a pro career, while Bull begins to realize the game doesn't give him everything he wants and starts to explore life off the field. In the end, although Jeff wins a scholarship and Bull doesn't, it is clear which boy has the brighter future. Jeff's characterization is a little flat and the author's hand is a bit heavy when it comes to describing Jeff's passion for baseball. But in Bull, Carter has created a likable (though far from perfect) young man whose experiences on and off the field have readied him for the real world. Randy Meyer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590509586
• ISBN-13: 978-0590509589
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,223,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alden Carter's thirty-year career includes publication of novels for young adults and adults, nonfiction books on a wide range of topics, and picture books for and about special needs children. Among numerous awards, his novels have been named six times to the American Library Association's list of Best Books of the Year. His adult novel of the Civil War, Bright Starry Banner, was awarded the prestigious John Esten Cooke Fiction Award. A popular speaker, he has given over 600 presentations in schools and at conferences for writers and educators. A former teacher and naval officer, he lives in Marshfield, Wisconsin, with his wife, Carol. They have two adult children: Brian, an architect, and Siri, a college student.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For any young, sportsman, this book stirs the imagination, November 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bull Catcher (Hardcover)

My 10 year old son and I read this book together over a period of 2 weeks. My son hates to read but loves sports so this was my opportunity to encourage a partnership between something he didn't like and something he loves. This book brought a new interest into his life. It is superbly written with just the right amount of humor, parental annoyance, not-to-hot love life & tragedy. Bulls everyday life as well as his baseball career kept us wanting more after each chapter. My son has requested a copy for Christmas which is a milestone in itself. And when we were through reading Bull Catcher my son said "I'm going to miss Bull", well so will I.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Baseball Memories, June 29, 2007

By 

A. Luciano (Lowell, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bull Catcher (Paperback)

For as long as he can remember, two things have been in Neil's life--baseball and his best friend Jeff. Jeff is the only person who loves baseball more than Neil does, and the relationship between the two of them has always revolved around the game. Now Neil is a senior in high school. If he doesn't get picked up by a college team, this may be his last year to play baseball.

Neil decides to do a paper about his baseball experience for his senior project. He has kept records of his games and statistics all through high school and as he starts to put together his paper he looks back through these notes and begins to remember the things that were happening in his life not only on the baseball field but off it as well.

He remembers dealing with his mother, who had him when she was in college and left him to live with his grandparents. He remembers convincing Phuong, the new kid, to try out for the team as a pitcher, and he remembers having to be the one to coach Phuong through the experience.

Most of all, though, Neil remembers Sandi, the girl he lusted after for as long as he could remember. Now that it is his senior year of high school, will Neil finally be able to let her go and maybe start a real relationship with Bev, the girl who obviously likes him a lot? Will he be able to come to terms with the fact that baseball might not be a part of his future?

I liked that this book was about baseball but it was still interesting to someone who isn't very into the game. The relationships among the characters were more important to this story than the baseball itself. I also liked the complexity of Neil's life and the fact that he didn't spend his time whining about things, but made the best of what he had.

I didn't like the way Neil was so focused on Sandi for so many years and then he immediately focused on Jenna while she was around. It seemed really stupid of him to go for these girls he new he didn't have a chance of getting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bull Catcher a great book for teenages, November 17, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Bull Catcher (Paperback)

Bull Catcheris a book about a teenager named Neil and his friends Jeff and Billy.The book follows them all through high school.This book is good for ages eleven through fifteen.The book is good becasue it has a great story line.It is also good because it tells about baseball and show how hard it is to get a athletic scholarship to any major school.Also this book deals with serious issues and isn't suitable for so young ages.