About This Book
Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the heavy burden of family legacy or facing a life-altering choice between personal ambition and loyalty to their roots. This high-stakes contemporary novel explores the reality of life in Cuba through the eyes of Julio, a talented young baseball player whose father defected to the United States years ago. It addresses the emotional complexity of feeling abandoned by a parent while simultaneously idolizing their success. Parents will find this a valuable tool for discussing the nuances of freedom, the ethics of defection, and the weight of political systems on individual lives. While the baseball action is thrilling, the heart of the story lies in Julio's internal struggle to define his own identity apart from his father's shadow. It is a realistic, mature look at the sacrifices required to pursue a dream, making it an excellent choice for readers aged 12 and up who enjoy sports but crave deep emotional resonance.
