
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a change in their physical abilities or needs to find a new way to pursue a passion after a setback. It is a heartfelt story about Jeremiah, a boy whose heart transplant means he can no longer play the sport he loves: baseball. Instead of giving up, he finds a new path as a coach, helping a struggling team and a town reeling from a sports scandal. This story beautifully explores resilience and the idea that our identities are not defined by what we can't do, but by the heart we bring to what we can do. It is ideal for middle schoolers, offering a hopeful model for navigating chronic illness and life's unfair curves.
The book deals directly with chronic illness, organ transplantation, and the death of a peer. The approach is realistic and secular, focusing on the medical realities of Jeremiah's life without being clinical. The resolution is deeply hopeful and emphasizes the importance of community support.
A middle school student who has faced a medical diagnosis or injury that sidelined them from a favorite activity, or any child who feels like an observer rather than a participant.
Parents should be aware of the sub-plot involving a player's death due to a heart issue, which may be sensitive for children with similar health concerns. The book also depicts Jeremiah's experiences with organ transplantation, including waiting for a donor and his post-operative recovery. If your child has experienced similar medical challenges, be prepared to discuss their feelings and answer questions about the process. A parent might notice their child withdrawing from a social circle because they can no longer participate in the primary activity, such as sports or dance, due to physical limitations.
Younger readers will focus on the baseball action and Jeremiah's cool factor as a coach. Older readers will appreciate the nuances of the town's scandal and the complex ethics of sportsmanship.
Unlike many sports books that focus on the 'big game' win, Soar focuses on the intellectual and emotional side of sports: coaching, strategy, and the integrity of the game. """
Jeremiah is a foster kid who was adopted by a loving father and has survived a heart transplant. His life's passion is baseball, but medical restrictions prevent him from playing. When he moves to a new town, Hillcrest, he finds a community in mourning after a coaching scandal and the death of a young player. Jeremiah steps up not as a player, but as a coach for the middle school team, using his deep knowledge of the game to heal the team and himself.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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