Reginald plays the violin. Papa calls it a fiddle. Papa is the coach for the Duke's, the worst team in the Negro leagues. He is upset that all the good players are going over to play in the white league, like Jackie Robinson did last year. So, it is 1948. Papa does not want Reginald to be fiddlin' around, so he makes him the team's bat boy. But a funny thing happened while the batters were going up. The more Reginald played on his violin, the better the team got. He played Mozart and Bach. He played fast and he played slowly. The Dukes won their first game in a very long time. Then, it was time for them to play the Monarchs. Even though Reginald played the whole game, the Dukes still lost to the Monarchs by 1 point. Reginald thought that Papa was upset. Shoot, no! They had given the best team in the league a run for their money, and that was good enough for Papa. Somehow, Reginald had become his father's team lucky charm, and that's no fiddlin' around. ( )

Its about a little boy whos in love with music but his papa is a die hard baseball coach. One day the dad makes the boy join his team to be the batboy. Nothing seems to go right for the little boys first game so he sits back and plays his violin. Soon the Duke's baseball team will go on a three week winning streak after being one of the worst teams in the league. After they lose the championship, the little boy thought the dad would be mad at him but the dad actually began to support the boys decision to play music instead of baseball. Its a great story about how although the dad was a big athlete the boy just wanted to play music and the dad finally accepts and supports his sons interest. ( )

I really enjoy how heartfelt this book is. Not only does is speak of a time of diversity between racial groups but it shows the story of a son finally getting the attention of his father he needs. It also shows how sometimes the things that make us happy are really sitting right in front of us. I think the book timed it perfectly with having the father agree with the son's value at the very end. It really shows his knew interest in his son's playing by the way he stands up for him and agrees with him. My only critique would be to give a little more flow into the players liking his music instead of it just being as soon as he starts. I do not find this as realistic. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. ( )

This story like Eddie, Harold's little brother, encourages that kids do what they love. This young boy Reginald as described in the book is a fantastic violin player. The beginning his father wants him to get out of the house more and become the bat boy of his team, but allows im to play his violin between innings. To his fathers delight, Reginalds violin playing actually helps the team to win a lot of games especially after being in last place. After Losing the final game to the best team the boy is afraid his father will not like his playing but the father reminds him no matter what he'll always love his son and support what he does. ( )

Author Gavin Curtis tells the story of young boy, Reginald and his short stint as a batboy on his father's baseball team, the Dukes. Set during the backdrop of the Negro league and the pre- civil rights era when baseball and everything else was still segregated, Curtis gives a strong first person perspective of life during that period. We see Reginald's father instill the value that everyone has something to gather in society, whether it be music, sports, or some other avenue. Reginald's uplifting spirit and penchant for music help lift the rest of team towards victory. He instills the music in every at bat. Many young children would value and take from this story as they look up to their father figures in life. ( )