Centerfield Ballhawk

June 1, 1992
Gr 2-4- -Jose Mendez feels he has disappointed his father, a former minor league player, because he doesn't hit a baseball as well as he thinks he should. The boy fails to realize until the final chapters that he is a good outfielder and that is where the team needs him the most. Christopher's characters are well developed and support positive values of caring and self-worth. Jose's mother has died, and his father is raising his son and daughter. The child tries to do the right thing, but to his dismay, accidents do happen. The format in this easy-to-read chapter book is open and unintimidating; full-page, black-and-white drawings add to the appeal. -Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA

Starred review from April 15, 1992
Gr. 2-4. Christopher continues the saga of the Peach Street Mudders baseball team in his latest Springboard chapter book. Jose Mendez is a great center fielder, but his batting average is nowhere near the .375 that his father hit in the minor leagues. To make things worse, Jose's 11-year-old sister is hitting extremely well for her softball team. Afraid he's disappointing his dad when his hitting fails to improve, Jose is surprised when his father praises his fielding and promises to be more sensitive to his feelings. The play-by-play action is less dominant in this story than in previous books, but game descriptions will appeal to readers anyway, as will the familiar characters. Christopher also avoids the miraculous, delivering instead a believable and satisfying conclusion. ((Reviewed Apr. 15, 1992))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1992, American Library Association.)