
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a significant family loss or if you find your family unit drifting apart in the wake of grief. Set in the 1970s, it follows Peter Lee as he navigates the heavy silence of his home after his older brother's death. His mother is incapacitated by clinical depression and his father has become emotionally distant. Peter's attempt to join a Little League team is more than just a love for sports; it is a desperate, hopeful bid to reconnect with his father and revive his mother's spirit. It is a poignant, realistic look at how families fracture and slowly mend through shared passions and perseverance.
The book deals directly with the death of a sibling and parental depression. The approach is secular and deeply realistic, showing the messy, non-linear nature of grief. The resolution is hopeful but grounded; the family isn't 'cured,' but they are functional and communicating again.
A middle-grade reader (ages 9 to 12) who appreciates sports stories but is ready for deeper emotional themes. It is particularly resonant for a child who feels they are 'carrying' the emotional weight of their parents.
Parents should be prepared to discuss the mother's depression, which is depicted as a physical inability to leave her bed. There is a scene where Peter and his family experience racial prejudice. Parents may want to be prepared to discuss the history of anti-Asian sentiment in the US during the 1970s. A parent might see their child withdrawing or trying too hard to 'fix' the adults in the room. This book is a response to a child asking why things can't just go back to the way they were before a tragedy.
Younger readers will focus on the baseball action and the 'mean' coach/teammate tropes. Older readers will pick up on the nuance of the father's internal struggle and the historical gender roles being challenged by Peter's sister, Elaine.
Unlike many grief books that focus solely on the individual child, this is a masterclass in depicting the family system. It uniquely uses the structure of a sports season to pace the psychological recovery of an entire household. """
In 1972 Pittsburgh, Peter Lee's family is falling apart following the death of his older brother, Ba-Ba, in a car accident. His mother is bedridden with depression, and his father is a stoic, traditional Chinese immigrant who has buried his emotions. Peter decides to play Little League baseball, the sport his brother loved, hoping it will bridge the gap between him and his father. The story follows the season as Peter navigates team dynamics, his father's unexpected role as a coach, and the slow, painful process of his mother emerging from her room.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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