Farm Team (Library Binding)

by Will Weaver (Author) "Orange baseballs. A dozen orange balls flew between two lines of boys facing each other..." (more)
Key Phrases: orange baseball, town team, farm team, Coach Anderson, Aaron Goldberg, Tiny Tim (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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.

From Booklist
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.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Library Binding: 288 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (June 23, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060235896
• ISBN-13: 978-0060235895
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,099,217 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A hard working farm kid maximizes his opportunities ., May 21, 2001

By	William Mattimore (San Francisco, CA (Aptos Middle School)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Farm Team (Paperback)

In this book a familiar character returns in Billy Baggs. He has discovered his great skill in baseball however he can't play on the city team. Together he and his mom decide to make flyers and bring kids in from around the countryside. For one night kids can play baseball with each other for fun. On one of theses nights the coach from the town team comes over and Billy challenges the town team to a game. Using skill and ability the town team is defeated by Billy's squad of country players. I enjoyed reading this novel and certainly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good sports novel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Play Ball!, December 3, 2000

By	The Grinch (Follow the Yellow Brick Road) - See all my reviews

Come one, come all to explore the exciting sport of baseball in the fun filled novel Farm Team, by Will Weaver. This fiction novel takes place in the small town of Flint, Minnesota in the 1970's. Since Billy Baggs's father was thrown in jail for violent conduct, Billy is stuck doing all of the work on the farm over the summer. Because Billy is engaged entirely in chores and helping out his mother, he has very little time to play the game he loves most, baseball. After long hours of work, Billy's mother suggests making a baseball field in the cow pasture and inviting kids from all over the neighborhood to create a farm team. After many days of practicing, the team decides that they should try out their talent by playing the city team. Finally, when the day comes, fans from all over the city come to watch the down to the wire game. If you want to find out who comes up victorious, you will have to read the book.

This novel was written to show that all kids need to enjoy their childhood and not be occupied in labor. I believe that the author wants to entertain the reader by showing his love for the game of baseball. I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys the game of baseball, and wants a quick read. Be prepared, however, for some expressive and sometimes profane language. So step up to the plate and hit a grand slam home run with Farm Team. Until then, play ball!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Farm Team, March 22, 2002

A Kid's Review

This is a good book to read that is hard to put down.
Billy Baggs like to work on the farm and play baseball on the Town Team when Billys dad has to go to jail Billy doesn't have time to play baseball play in the town any more so him and some of the neiborehood farm kids make up their own team called the Farm Team.Then the big game comes when the farm team plays Billys old team the Town Team who will win the big game you will have to read and find out.
I think that this was a great book to read and I would reacommend this book to any one who likes to read sports books.
But before you read Farm Team you should read the first book which is called Stiking Out then go on and read the thrid book when you finish Farm Team the third book is called Hardball.