Stumptown Kid [Hardcover]

Carol Gorman (Author), Ron J. Findley (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

This dramatic and moving story set in the days of the Negro Leagues illustrates the true meanings of friendship, prejudice, and heroism.
Twelve-year-old Charlie Nebraska wants two things he can't get: to make the local Wildcats Baseball team and to have life to return to the way it was before his father died two years earlier in the Korean War.
Then Charlie meets Luther Peale, a stranger who quietly and mysteriously arrives in the small town of Holden, Iowa, and sets up camp near the river. Luther is a former Negro Baseball League player, and Charlie loves baseball. The two strike up a friendship and Luther agrees to coach Charlie's fledgling neighborhood baseball team for a game against the Wildcats.
But many of Holden's white residents are suspicious of Luther because of his skin color. And when Charlie inadvertently reveals a secret of Luther's, violence erupts in the town and both Luther and Charlie are drawn into serious danger.
Authors Carol Gorman and Ron Findley have created two highly memorable, emotionally complex characters in this dramatic story that illustrates the meanings of friendship, prejudice, and heroism.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Themes of honesty, loyalty, and heroism are imbedded in this powerful, fast-paced story set in a small Iowa town in 1952. Charlie Nebras, 11, misses his father, who died in the Korean War; dislikes his mother's domineering, prejudiced boyfriend, Vern; and loves baseball but is cut from the premier Wildcats team. Into his life walks Luther Peale, a former Negro Leagues player who is on the run after a wild pitch accidentally killed a drunk, white batter. Luther serves up baseball expertise and kindness, and Charlie becomes his friend, inviting the young man home for dinner and helping him find a job. When Luther agrees to coach Charlie's "Stumptown" team in a game against the Wildcats, wary white parents and townspeople become more accepting. His fugitive past is revealed, however, and a harrowing chase pits Charlie and Luther against the vengeful, murderous brother of the dead batter. Charlie is a feisty, lonely kid who fiercely defends Luther and recognizes Vern's sinister deceit. Devoted to her son and his happiness, his mother gradually realizes the truth about her boyfriend, who aids Luther's attacker. Luther is compassionate, knowledgeable, and resourceful. He and Charlie become mutually supportive and protective as they confront racism and revenge. Readers will enjoy this winning mix of sports, suspense, and heroism, and delight in the baseball wit and wisdom.–Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. The authors incorporate tried-and-true elements into a competent, if unexceptional, historical novel. Still grieving over the death of his father in the Korean War, young Charlie latches onto Luther Peale, a former Negro League pitcher, who is laying low after he accidentally pitched a ball that killed a player in another state. As Luther's coaching turns Charlie and some friends into a team good enough to take on the local champs, Charlie sees his quiet friend's presence opening up racial divisions in town; encounters a bully (who has been abused); watches his best buddy drift away; behaves badly toward the salesman who is courting his remarkably patient mother; and blurts out Luther's secret. The climax arrives with the advent of the slain player's murderous brother. Matt Christopher fans may want more baseball action, but kids looking for a lightweight read will find a cast easily broken down into heroes and villains, and all the side plots tidily resolved by the end. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Jr (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561453374
• ISBN-13: 978-1561453375
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,778,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stumptown Kid, May 1, 2005

By 

L. Barbour "LRB" (Bloomington, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stumptown Kid (Hardcover)

Stumptown Kid is a well written late elementary school age level book. It would be a beneficial book to read to a class at the beginning of a school year, because of the issues that are dealt with as part of the story line. Both issues of bullies and the judging of others by the color of their skin or by where they may live are part of the young boy's life in this story. This book could be used as a springboard to a valuable class discussion. The story is written around the theme of baseball, which adds to the intrigue of the book. There is also a strand of mystery that keeps readers captivated throughout the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CGE Student Review, June 1, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Stumptown Kid (Paperback)

Here's a great new book hot of the shelf by Carol Gorman. It's called Stumptown Kid. This book is about a kid growing up when segregation was in the U S A. It's also Realistic Fiction because it happened during a real time and real place but not real people or characters per say. Another book by Carol Gorman is Dork in Disguise.
Carol Gorman also writes in a unique writing style known as first person and Realistic Fiction. The main characters in Stumptown Kid are Charlie Nebraska and Luther Peale. Personally my favorite character is Charlie because if he doesn't do what ever he is trying to do he'll try and try again until he gets it done. Charlie Nebraska is an eleven year old kid in Stump County, Illinois whose father died in South Korea. Charlie's mom takes care of him now. When Charlie goes to baseball try outs he meets a mysterious man named Luther Peal who has a dark past hidden beneath his smiling face. I would recommend this book to people who like to read books about baseball and growing up. I liked Stumptown Kid because it was a griping, exciting baseball filled thrill ride of the year.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, February 2, 2009

By 

Traci O'Brien (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stumptown Kid (Paperback)

My 10 year old son read this book and loved it! He only read it to get points for school, but became enthralled...so much in fact that he finished it in one weekend! He would excitedly tell me all about the story as he was reading it and couldn't wait to see what happened next. He is not much of a reader so for this to capture his attention and interest, it has to be a great book! Would recommend to any parent for their child.