As a former baseball mom, this book brought me right back to the days that my oldest son played baseball. He played since he was 5, started pitching at 8 and never looked back until he burned out from playing. I have never had a book like this that make me feel both sad and nostalgic at the same time. For Laz to decide to play for the team or protect his brother was a hard choice that no one should ever have to make. Giving up your dream for your family shows integrity. I was very happy with the ending. This was a fast pace read, read it in 3 hours. I was immersed in the gameplay, bringing me right back to the days I was the score-keeper for my son's team. I miss those days and Mr. Deuker brought me right back there. Thank you! ( )

Lazarus is a fantastic baseball player in the part of Seattle where most people lived in poverty. This is the classic underdog story. Lazarus was born too early, lives in a rough part of town, and has a rough life. However, he is able to stay positive. When Lazarus' school shut down sports, he is given an opportunity to play for one of the best teams in the state. The only issue with this opportunity is that he would have to leave his friends and family behind. The idea of moving made Laz worried about his brother more because he has been hanging out with the local drug dealer. This book has the interesting comparison of growing up in poverty to moving to a host family with an “easy life” in a wealthy suburb. This is a predictable read.
The characters seemed young for some of the mature themes in this title drugs, sex, pornography, and gangs. The short chapters would make this a good read for reluctant readers who would read a sports novel. ( )