Batting Order by Mike Lupica - ESSENTIAL

Batting Order by Mike Lupica, 293 pages.  Simon and Schuster, 2019.  $18.

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Matt loves baseball, even though he is the smallest boy on his team.  Plus, when he is hitting balls and running bases, no one cares about his stuttering.  The biggest kid on his team, Ben, may have a home run swing, but it rarely connects.  Matt knows that Ben needs help, but as he reaches out, Matt finds out there is much more to Ben’s story than he ever knew. Just like maneuvering life around his stutter is sometimes like a minefield, Ben’s life is a bit of a minefield too – but both roadblocks are worth overcoming.

Lupica very neatly wraps in Matt’s story about his stuttering, including his work with his therapist, into his baseball story in a very believable and engaging way.  Ben’s story on and off the field contains great baseball and life lessons. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS