Families who loved Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent should reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to redefine themselves after a major disappointment, injury, or loss of a long-term goal. It is an essential read for the child who feels like their life is over because their plan A did not work out. The story follows Peter, a freshman who has to hide the truth of a career ending elbow injury from his best friend while secretly falling in love with photography and a girl named Angel. Beyond sports, the book handles a grandfather's declining health with incredible grace. While the book is framed around baseball and photography, its core is about the resilience required to pivot when life throws a curveball. It is written with the wit and emotional honesty characteristic of Jordan Sonnenblick, making it highly accessible for middle and high schoolers. Parents will appreciate the way it models healthy communication and the painful but necessary process of letting go of an old identity to make room for a new one.
