From Publishers Weekly
Weaver (Striking Out) combines wickedly sharp wit with a love of baseball and intimate knowledge of farm life to yield an emotionally satisfying tale. With a classic triumph-of-the-underdogs theme, simplistic resolution (all anyone needs to iron out his problems, it seems, is to play a little baseball) and cinematic climax, Weaver seems to be writing with Hollywood in mind-Lake Wobegon meets Field of Dreams. But the story is peopled with such acutely observed characters and, after its foreboding opening, infused with such joyous optimism that its well-worn ground poses few problems. In northern Minnesota, Billy Baggs, 14, has to forgo playing baseball to work the family dairy farm after his father, Abner, lands in jail. Determined to have fun despite-or rather because of-grim Abner's absence, mother Mavis circulates flyers inviting one and all to Friday night baseball, to be played on the diamond she and Billy make in a cow pasture. Almost magically the game unites the locals and raises their self-esteem, from migrant Mexican farmworkers to a slatternly teenage mother to Billy himself. In a good old-fashioned ending, our hero bests his nemesis (the town team's star player), earns Abner's grudging respect and wins the admiration of the girl who makes his heart sing. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Gr. 7^-12. Billy Baggs is a painfully shy 14-year-old farm boy with a passion and talent for baseball. When Billy's antisocial father is sentenced to three months in jail for demolishing a used-car lot with his Caterpillar tractor, Billy, who must assume the responsibility for the family dairy farm, sees his dreams of playing City League summer baseball disappear overnight. Billy's mother, Mavis, organizes a ragtag farm team baseball league, which includes Mexican migrant workers, the girls next door, and even the family dog. The farm team proves surprisingly good and eventually challenges the city team to a game. This fast-moving, engaging novel will appeal not only to baseball fans, but also to anyone who enjoys the satisfaction of seeing the underdog triumph. Although there are a few stereotypes, among them, an overly protective Jewish mother, most of the characters are believable and well developed, and the action scenes, especially the baseball episodes, are particularly compelling. A sequel to
Striking Out (1993), this will be welcomed by teens who already know Billy Baggs, but it easily stands on its own considerable merit.
Debbie Carton
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
