Joe Stoshack is a 13 year old boy who loves to play baseball. At the beginning of this story, Joe is not feeling well, but has to pitch in the game. He gets hit in the head by the baseball. When he wakes up, it is about 2-3 weeks later, and he is in the hospital.
His coach, Flip, feels pretty bad that he made Joe pitch when he wasn’t feeling well. Flip is pleased that Joe is going to get better. He then tells the tale of Ray Chapman, a player for the Cleveland Indians, who wasn’t so lucky. In 1920, Ray died as a result of being hit in the head by a baseball. Baseball players didn’t wear helmets back then. Joe, who can time travel through baseball cards, decides to go back in time to try and save Ray’s life.
Will Joe be able to save Ray Chapman? Will Joe change baseball history? Read the story to find out. An engaging read for readers in grades 5-7. Readers may also want to check out other books in this series.
This is a magical tale about an orphaned boy named Peter who is being trained as a soldier, brave and true by his guardian Vilna Lutz, who saw Peter’s father die in battle, and mother and sister die in childbirth. Sent to buy fish at the market one day, Peter defies his guardian and uses his coin on a fortune teller instead, where he is able to have one question and one question only answered. His question concerns his sister. It’s just that he’s been having dreams about having held her as a baby. Does she still live? The answer he receives makes no sense. Yes, the fortune teller replies. Your sister lives. The elephant will lead you to her. Peter is confused. Vilna Lutz has always said that she is dead. And, there are no elephants. In the same storyteller style used in The Tale of Desperaux, and the beautiful language we’ve come to expect from Kate DiCamillo, this fable about truth, love, belonging and unexpected adventure is recommended for children ages 8-12. Black and white illustrations by Yoko Tanaka add to the atmosphere and character of the story. This book is set to be published in September 2009.
