How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
Review Detail
Perfect Game
Featured
Kids Fiction
2525
A Perfect Baseball Book
Overall rating
5.0
Plot/Characters/Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Isaac is a great pitcher, but his father thinks he can be even better. "Practice doesn't make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect," is his mantra. In order to make the Thunderbolts team, he thinks he needs to pitch a perfect game, and is visibly dismayed when he doesn't. His coach asks if he knows anything about basketball, and asks if he will come and help with a team he coaches. This turns out to be a Special Olympics team. Isaac isn't thrilled about working with "retards", but the coach's daughter, Maya, quickly discourages from using this derogatory term and shows him the dedication to the game that the players exhibit. Isaac and Maya play on the team and help the others to make plays. One of the boys, Kevin, has been reluctant to work with the team, although he is quite a good shot. He warms to Isaac, and the two work on getting Kevin ready to play with the others. On the baseball front, Isaac's dad is still pressuring him to pitch perfect games, but Isaac is learning from both his baseball and basketball experiences that helping the team to win is really what is important.
Good Points
As with all of Fred Bowen's books, this had lots of details about games and tables of statistics that I don't quite understand, but that my readers love. Interwoven with this is the more serious topic of Isaac's unrealistic drive and his slow acceptance of the players on the Special Olympics team. This portrayal is almost painfully realistic-- as often as teachers and parents tell children not to use the term "retard", they still do. Seeing Isaac use this term out of ignorance and then learn why it is hurtful is more helpful than all the lectures adults can deliver. Bowen also writes strong female characters, and includes helpful information at the end of the book both about historical perfect games, Fragile X syndrome, and the Special Olympics.
Comments
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
Powered by JReviews
How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
FEATURED GIVEAWAYS
It’s Live!! Cover Reveal: A Light in the Sky by Shina Reynolds + Giveaway (International)
Today we're excited to celebrate the cover reveal for A Light in the Sky by Shina Reynolds, releasing early 2020 from Wink Road Press! Before we get to the cover, here's a note from the author: ...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Chat with Geoffrey Saign (Guardian - The Choice), Excerpt, Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to chat with Geoffrey Saign author of Guardian - The Choice Recently, Guardian, The Choice won the 2019 Outstanding YA Fiction IAN BOTY (Book of The Year) Award in the ...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Chat with Tracey Laviolette (Bloodborne Awakened), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to chat with Tracey Laviolette author of Bloodborne Awakened Read on for more about Tracey and her book, plus an giveaway! Meet Trace...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Chat with E.E. Knight (Novice Dragoneer), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to chat with E.E. Knight author of Novice Dragoneer Read on for more about E.E. and his book, plus an giveaway! Meet E.E. Knight! E. ...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Chat with Denis Markell (The Ghost In Apartment 2R), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to chat with Denis Markell author of The Ghost In Apartment 2R Read on for more about Denis and his book, plus an giveaway! Meet Deni...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Of The Week: Author Chat with Julie Eshbaugh (Crown Of Oblivion), Plus Giveaway!
Welcome to our weekly special feature post, Author Of The Week !! Each week we will be interviewing a different YA author and highlighting their upcoming release! We will also be hosting a givea...
Posted in News & Updates
Latest Book Listings Added
Welcome to Bohring-home to 453 people, 2,053 alligators, and one...
“Fast, funny, frightening—and filled with shocks and surprises. These books...
In this charming debut about first love and second...
This action-packed graphic novel based on the New York...
Seventeen-year-old Rose Hemmersbach aspires to break out of small town...
Latest Member Reviews
"ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is an intensely challenging and thought-provoking read with some magical realism elements...."
"BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY is an engaging contemporary YA that presents some issues very well. The writing is in a..."
"INTO THE CROOKED PLACE is an engaging YA fantasy that follows five characters on a quest of aligned goals- even..."
"REVERIE is a captivating and unique YA fantasy without adequate comparisons. The book follows Kane, a teenage boy who was..."
"THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT is an engaging YA contemporary with strong underlying messages about racism and social activism. With..."
"THE POSSIBILITY OF WHALES is a middle grade contemporary story that deals with a lot. Natalia Rose (Nat) is almost..."
"SHATTER THE SKY follows, Maren, who has been raised in a small mountain town. She and her girlfriend, Kaia, have..."
"HURRICANE SEASON is a powerful middle grade novel that deals with some really important issues. Finola (nicknamed Fig) is in..."
"Capetta and McCarthy have crafted a fantastic novel weaving the legend of King Arthur with the majesty of space in..."
"Avery and Bett are very different girls. Avery lives with her architect father in New York City, loves to write,..."
"Feedback I thought this was an interesting concept. The clocks themselves really control the time. There are days where..."
"I’m in two minds about this novella. While there was a part of me that was intrigued by the general..."