All Star

March 31, 2014
In all sports stories, there are only two outcomes: the hero comes through in the ninth or he doesn’t. But Lonergan (Flower & Fade, Joe & Azat) has found a twist on the tale of Carl Carter, a high school baseball phenom in tiny, rural Elizabeth, Vt. Set against the 1998 of flawed heroes Mark McGwire and Bill Clinton, Carl’s arrogant demeanor and dissolute friendship with bad-side-of-the tracks pal Esden is cruising for a major takedown. Plenty of trite icebergs for Carl’s ocean liner are foreshadowed on every page—drinking and driving, diving into swimming holes—but his big mistake comes is more difficult to anticipate. And his learning moment stems from his awareness of the special place of the athlete rather than his discovery of it. Lonergan’s story hits all the right notes of smalltown life and athletic struggle, with loose, energetic, manga-inspired art. The only flaw is that the art is sometimes too loose—characters are difficult to tell apart, and cartoony anatomy is sometimes jarring in a story that paints a realistic picture of youthful hubris and redemption.

June 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-High school baseball star Carl Carter has everything going for him, from girls to friends to a full-ride college scholarship. All he needs to do is finish out his senior year. One afternoon, instead of going home with his brother to chop wood for their father, Carl heads out with a friend and ends up making one wrong decision after another-the kind of errors that can't be left behind on the baseball field. Lonergan offers a simple coming-of-age story that teens will find relatable-especially student athletes. Drawn in simple black-and-white sketches, the detailed artwork depicts the timeless tale of an entitled athlete who takes his talent and all of its benefits for granted. Though the references to 1998 popular culture, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the Mark McGwire/Sammy Sosa home run competition, may go over the heads of some teens, the significance of these events give an added layer to this graphic novel for mature readers.-Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
Grades 9-12 Carl Carter has it made. He is the star of his high-school baseball team and has a full college scholarship. But after a night of drinking with his best friend, Esden, they decide to break into a convenience store and end up getting caught by the cops. Carl only gets a slap on the wrist, but Esden gets suspended. Carl wants to do the right thing, but almost everyone else wants him to just look out for himself and think about his own future. Set in the summer of 1998a time of allegations against President Clinton and revelations of Mark McGwire's steroid usethis is a wonderfully well-rounded, character-driven story about fairness and self-interest. Lonergan's black inking and colorless illustrations seem simple but are packed with raw emotion that's evident in every face and expression. Lonergan's excellent panel variation works well during the many action shots of baseball, from the fast pitches and power hits, to the catches and dives. This is an amazing book that both teens and adults will lovedefinitely a home run.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)