Customer Reviews

Never Blame the Umpire

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4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
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Never Blame the Umpire by Gene Fehler is a tearjerker of a story. I read the inside flap when I checked it out and knew that there was going to be some form of tragedy in the family. However, when I finally knew what the tragedy was, I could barely keep reading.

Kate and her brother Ken are in the midst of baseball season, enjoying the sport. As the story opens, Kate is upset because her parents missed their first game. When she and Ken arrive home they can tell their dad has been crying and their mom has gone to bed early because she is sick. Yet, life seems normal the next day and things carry on. Kate senses from time to time that there may be more going on, especially when her mom calls her and tells her to come home from her friend's house so they can go on a family picnic together. During this picnic Kate and Ken are told that their mother has terminal cancer.

Fehler writes this book from a Christian perspective, sharing Bible verses and creating a friend for Kate who also shares her faith. Kate's mom is able to find comfort in God and, despite knowing she is leaving her family behind, is able to accept what is to come.

I appreciated the religious views shared in this book. I liked that Kate and her friends also were able to talk about religion and find comfort in God's word, as did Kate's mom. I also enjoyed how Fehler was able to bring religion and faith into his writing without it sounding too preachy. Kate attending a summer writing school during the time period of her mom's illness and death. She was able to find great solace in her writing as a way of expressing her feelings - another part of this story I enjoyed.
Kate's mom is able to talk to Kate about her dying and her own acceptance of God's will by using an analogy - comparing an umpire to God. While we may not agree with an umpire's call, they are in charge of the game, and we have to live with the decision he has made. So, too, with God, who makes the decisions about certain things in our life. We don't have to like some of the things that are in God's plan, but we must also find a way to live with them.
While the ending is tragic, Fehler allows Kate and her family to look forward to the future here on earth, and also in heaven where they will be reunited. I don't usually cry during books, no matter how sad, but this one was hard to read without shedding a tear. Such a sad, yet hopeful story.

Kate, 11 is a very athletic girl who enjoys baseball and tennis. She is also quite adept at writing poetry. Her close-knit family goes to bat for her and she, in turn would step up to the plate for them. Her brother Ken, 12 plays on the same team Kate does.

The story opens with Kate and Ken playing in the final inning of a neighborhood baseball game. At this crucial moment in the game, Kate realizes that their parents are absent. This is out of character for them as they have never missed any of Kate or Ken's games.

Once Kate and Ken arrive home, their father's grim face tells them that something terrible has happened. When they ask about their mother, all their father will tell them is that she has gone to bed, even though it was only 8:30. His simple explanation is that she is not feeling well and says nothing more until the next morning. Their mother has terminal cancer.

Once again, the family pitches in. Kate, Ken and their father rally round to do everything they can to make life as pleasant as they can. The children know their mother is dying and their sole goal is to make life as pleasant and comfortable as they can for her. They resume their normal routine which includes watching a movie and eating popcorn on Fridays. One Friday, Ken becomes overcome when a character in a comedy dies and from that point on refuses to sit with the family for Friday movies.

Luckily, Kate has more support in a kind teacher who helps her hone her writing skills. Once he becomes aware of Kate's troubles, he, too steps up to the plate for her in a way that is very heartwarming.

This is an excellent book about loss, grieving/bereavement and family support. Readers of all ages will get a lot out of this book and it is an ideal teaching tool and subject for reading groups, discussion groups and even bereavement groups. This very intense book might make you cry, but no doubt you will be glad that you read it. It is strong without being maudlin and it is hard-hitting and very realistic.

I would highly recommend this book to everybody.

A Young Adult book that deals with a heavy subject in a wonderful way, but that doesn't make it any easier to read. In this book, Katie is set to have a great summer. She is on the baseball team with her brother and her mom and dad are coming to their games. It opens at a game where she makes the winning play, except her mom and dad aren't there to see it. When she gets home something seems seriously wrong, but she figures she must be mistaken. Eventually Mom and Dad take Katie and Ken to the beach for the day to break the bad news... Mom is really sick.

Death and dying are not easy subjects, especially for a 12 year old girl with her whole life in front of her. How will Katie handle this summer with her mom, will she push God away or allow Him to come closer. This was not an easy book to read, but it was so good.

(Sarah's review)
My 13 year old daughter Sarah read it and she thinks it was really good (and sad) and she read it in 1 day! But it was hard for her not to tell me about it. She thinks it is something for all young girls to remember that God is always with you and will be there for us when bad stuff happens. Life goes on that way. But hey never blame the umpire (and God!) You see the umpire is like God, of course the umpire will mess up even though God doesn't. But the umpire is in control of the game. So let's say your team lost, of course you will get mad but you knew it was a fair game.

This is a very moving book written for young people but it is a book that everybody could benefit from reading. Immediately ones heart goes out to Kate and, although not stated initially, one senses that Kate's mother is facing a serious medical challenge. By page 16 or 17, although not yet stated, one knows something serious is wrong with Kate's Mother. At that point, the book kind of grabs hold and does not let go. Very moving book.

This is a book for all to read. It is especially valuable for young people confronted with one of life's tragedies, the likelihood of which probably never occurred to them. But, it is also of value to adults who understand better then the invincible young that we are all only one play away from being pulled out of the game of life. This is a book that can help those in need and those who will be in need --- For one thing is certain, all parents will depart and though it is most difficult and tragic for the very young, it is difficult for the older grown children as well. After all, we only get one of each.

Grab your Kleenex's because this one is a tear jerker. I cried through most of it! lol

It's such a thoughtful book. I was surprised because I really wasn't expecting it to be so heart-felt. It is extremely well written.

It is mean for 9-12 year old's, but I think it could easily be read by all ages and would be a good read aloud book (if you can stop crying long enough to read it lol). That being said it is such a tough subject that not all kids will appreciate it. Never Blame the Umpire touches on the hard subject of death and cancer. It does it well and it really deals with the struggles that we go through with why is life so unfair, and where God fits in to the issues.

I read this book from the middle school library where I volunteer. I bought it for my granddaughters, one of whom likes to write poetry.
The main character in the book writes poetry, deals with a family death from cancer, and her mother's advice to never blame the umpire.
Oh, she also plays baseball, thus the comparison of God with the game umpire. Very thought provoking, wonderful book.Never Blame the Umpire

MY THOUGHTS:

This story is intended for ages 9-12. Its about Kate, a 12 year old girl who is having the best summer of her life, playing baseball, studying creative writing, hanging out with best friends - until tragedy unexpectedly strikes. Life takes on a completely different meaning when she finds out her mother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. How will she ever come to terms with this revelation?

Another kindle freebie I downloaded thinking even though its a kid's book, I might actually enjoy it ~ wrong. I don't consider myself religious, maybe I lean towards more of an agnostic. Remarkably, I do tolerate most Christian Fiction, as long as the author doesn't shove it down my throat. Unfortunately, in this particular book the religion takes front stage, when I'd much prefer it to be subtle, implied and in the background.

BOOK DISCUSSION:

Though the plot and storyline interested me, this book suffered from too much GOD Talk for me to truly kick back and enjoy it. Instead, it made me feel a bit uptight. Even if spirituality is your "thing" I still found flaws within the book. For example, Kate, the narrator is twelve years old, but her voice is that of someone much younger. The tone the author used was simple, flat and matter of fact. The story itself lacked tangible details and descriptive adjectives. The word choice was far too simple, told in such a manner as if an adult was speaking to a child. I wasn't able to relate to the main character Kate, on the emotional level I would have liked too, the book just scratched the surface of her character. I felt it could have delved much deeper into her soul. Sorry, I really wanted to like this one, but it was a total disappointment to me. On a positive note, the author did provide some nice poetry and some great tips on how to start writing, but the best part about the book for me was it was FREE.

This is a very well-written book telling a summer story about a young girl's life when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. The story follows the young girl and her family of four and all the family dynamics from the mother's diagnosis of cancer to the mother's funeral. The story is told from the viewpoint of the young girl and is a timely, gripping story of dealing with loss of a loved one. The story is good, the characters believable and the book deals well with a difficult subject... how to keep your faith when you don't like what is happening to people you love. Family values, friendship, creativity and God are all woven into the fabric of this story. This is a very uplifting book. Great for young adults, this book also encourages creative thinking, enforces Christian faith and is a good story for anyone of any age to read. Tear alert! If you cry at sad stories, keep a book of kleenex near while reading.

Received this book because I won it on Goodreads, and am I thankful. This is a good read.

The story concerns an eleven year old girl and her family of a father, mother and younger brother. Things are going well, at least ok for her and then she faces a tragedy in her family. They are a religious family and a sports family, as well.

The rest of the book concerns how she first is mad at God and then how through her sports and her poetry and her family life and friends, she finally comes to the realization that you can "Never blame the Umpire."

A joyful read for youth.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

Never Blame the Umpire is a book primarily about kids but it's for everyone, not just kids. Kate is an adolescent of middle school age who has a wide range of interests that included baseball, just as the title implies. She is also lucky to be part of a close-knit family, supportive, loving, and sharing. Everything is going so well for her.

She and her brother Ken, a year older, play on the same baseball team. On the day the book begins, they are in the final inning of a game and losing by a run. Kate is focused on the game but also realizes that her mom and dad are conspicuously absent from the stands--they never miss a game. She realizes that she's not exactly the star of the team, not the worst player but not the best either. On this day Kate comes through with the game-winning hit. Things go downhill from there.

When Kate and Ken get home following the game, their father greets them with a long face. The kids realize immediately that all is not well. "Where is Mom?" they ask. "She went to bed," they are told. At 8:30? "She's not feeling well," their father explains, and asks them not to disturb her. The next day the children are given the bad news: their mother has cancer and nothing can be done to save or extend her life.

The family does all they can to make the most of the few months Kate's mother has left. Kate and Ken go to school, play ball, go on family picnics, and have outings with friends. Life is as normal as they can make it. The family continues their Friday evening ritual of popcorn and a DVD, but Ken excuses himself in the middle of a movie. Although a comedy, someone in the film dies and that is just a bit too close to home for Ken. He'd rather not risk another similar scene and declines to participate on succeeding Fridays.

At school, Mr. Gallagher is teaching Kate and her classmates how to write poetry and free verse. He encourages them to write about things both real and imaginary. When he learns of the problems in Kate's life, he's very understanding and compassionate. Some of her writings provide an outlet for Kate's frustrations. School and schoolmates also provide needed support and diversion.

When not involved in family time, they all struggle with the pending loss of their mother. Why is God allowing this to happen? Couldn't he do something? Isn't he all-powerful? Kate's mother is very philosophical and does her best to help her family accept and cope with her fate. Never Blame the Umpire addresses these problems directly without getting maudlin. It poignantly shows how a strong family can survive even the worst of situations. While this book is not a tearjerker, the reader is likely to get dewy-eyed. At least it had that effect on me, but I loved Never Blame the Umpire.
Warriors