Bryan Chick

This read snuggles up somewhere between chapter books and middle grade with a humorous tone, while swinging in a little drama and, for all things, baseball.

Tommy is ready for middle grade and has a plan to join the best and most awesome group, the sports society. But to be a part of that crowd, he actually has to be prove his worth, and he's only played rec baseball up until that point. Tryouts for the real baseball team are serious business, which is why he's shocked when his friend Pel, show more who only loves video games, is forced by his mother to try out, too. With only a few open slots on the team, it's going to be hard for both to make it. Which could pose a problem.

Baseball sits at the center of this tale as it follows Tommy's and Pel's adventures through the tryouts and the aftermath of the final results. Fans of the sport will enjoy the tryout scenes as this does take the time to really sink into the game. The hopes, frustrations, determination, highs and lows come across with familiarity, and the terminology slides in naturally. There's even a love for sunflower seeds and nicknames, which adds a nice touch. All of this hits with humor and drama reminding of The Wimpy Kid and does a good job at setting the stage for the series.

This tale works well both for chapter book readers, who are edging toward longer reads, and for middle graders, who still enjoy the easier side. The font is larger and mixes in different styles, making in easy on the eyes while incorporating a little fun. It does weigh in at over 250 pages, but the text style and plentiful illustrations keep it from becoming overwhelming. The atmosphere hits on the first page with some fart humor, slides into fears of a 'turd tank', and continues on from there, leaning this one more toward the lower age group. Even the vocabulary fits well to this mid-age group and will delight more reluctant readers, too.

Baseball and sport fans are sure to appreciate and relate to the sport side, while the humor and sticky, middle grade situations are sure to delight other readers as well. I received a DRC and enjoyed the baseball angle and smiles. show less

This book was a bit Stranger Things and a bit Willy Wonka. I was proofing it for consideration of having a 7 year old read it and determined pretty early on that it was not appropriate. There are many secrets kept from parents (by instruction of other adults) and kids running off in the middle of the night. It also felt like the author rushed through the ending of the book while trying to set up for a follow-on book.

Overall it was not a bad book in general, but it seems to be set in a time show more that doesn’t exist anymore and may give kids ideas for activities that are no longer considered safe. show less

Leaving aside all ethical questions and concerns about zoos as an institution, I read this to my son, aged 4, and we both really enjoyed it. I think the ideal reader would be 8 or 9 years old, though, because there were a few moments that were too violent and some others that were too complex for a 4 year old.

The broad concept, of a conspiracy involving animals and people, and the feature of magic unfolding slowly in a story for kids, really work well.

I was captivated by the book in the beginning, but a few of the ins and outs became slightly tedious to me. If I were a 4th or 5th grader, I'm sure it would not be true.