The Only Game

May 25, 2015
Seventh grader Jack Callahan is his team's star pitcher and shortstop, so everyone is shocked when he quits baseball during the lead-up to the Little League World Series. "My heart's not in it," he tells his disappointed parents, before spilling the real reason he's abandoning the team: "Baseball won't bring my brother back." Lupica thoughtfully explores Jack's belief that he could have saved his daredevil older brother, Brad, who died the previous year in a dirt-bike accident. While Callahan sorts out his life and the events of the past year, he slowly finds a new crowd of friends at school who show him a life beyond baseball. Nobbs reads with a strong narrative voice that has good emphasis, timing, and tone, especially when delivering the weight of emotionally tense scenes. But when it comes to providing the voices for the colorful slew of other characters, Nobbs's narration is either flat or overly caricatured. Ages 8â12. A Simon & Schuster hardcover.

February 9, 2015
Lupica (Game Changers) launches the Home Team series with a novel that meshes themes of baseball, friendship, and facing oneâs fears. Seventh-grader Jack Callahan is his teamâs star pitcher and shortstop, so everyone is shocked when he quits baseball during the lead-up to the Little League World Series. âMy heartâs not in it,â he tells his disappointed parents, before spilling the real reason heâs abandoning the team: âBaseball wonât bring my brother back.â Lupica thoughtfully explores Jackâs belief that he could have saved his daredevil older brother, Brad, who died the previous year in a dirt-bike accident. Cassie, an ace softball pitcher, reaches out to Jack, offering no-nonsense counsel about his misplaced guilt while subtly encouraging his return to the diamond. Jack, in turn, helps a much-teased classmate by coaching him in self-confidence and baseball. Lupica again proves his aptitude for lacing lightning-speed sports action with credible insight into playersâ thoughts and emotions. This, along with Cassieâs pivotal role, should give the novel a wide reach and appeal. Ages 8â12. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM.