About This Book
Reach for this book when your active child is suddenly sidelined by injury or illness and is struggling with the frustration of being 'stuck.' It is a perfect choice for the young athlete who may feel that creative pursuits like poetry are not for them, as it bridges the gap between the baseball diamond and the writer's notebook. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Boland is a star baseball player who finds his world shrinking when a bout of mononucleosis keeps him housebound. To pass the time, he begins experimenting with poetry, discovering that structured verse provides a surprisingly powerful way to process his grief over his mother's death and his evolving relationship with his father. This verse novel is accessible, witty, and deeply resonant for middle schoolers navigating the transition from childhood hobbies to more complex identities. It normalized the idea that being 'tough' and being 'expressive' are not mutually exclusive.
