About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is navigating the messy transition between childhood play and adolescent feelings, or when they are struggling to find a place where they truly belong. Kristy Thomas decides to form a rag-tag softball team for the neighborhood kids who aren't quite 'pro' enough for the local league. Through the inclusion of Jackie Rodowsky, a clumsy but enthusiastic player, the story explores themes of patience, empathy, and the importance of team spirit over winning. It also captures the fluttery, often confusing experience of a first crush. It is a perfect choice for middle-grade readers who value community and are beginning to explore their own growing social identities. Parents will appreciate how it models inclusive leadership and helps normalize the awkwardness of early attraction in a safe, wholesome way.
