by Mike Lupica
CMSW, paperback, 220 pages
MHL nominee
I loved this! What a wonderful story. Michael (Miguel to his family) Arroyo is an amazing 12-year old pitcher on a baseball team that hopes to make the Little League playoffs. When an opposing team's coach challenges Michael's true age, the baptism certificate from Cuba won't be enough. But Michael and his 17 year old brother have been hiding their father's death from everyone except Mrs. Cora for three months.
I loved the characters, the plot development, and the happy ending. The baseball stuff was good - I actually like baseball - but not overkill (IMHO). This is probably my favorite Lupica book so far! I definitely enjoyed the subplot with El Grande and Ellie!
Showing posts with label Lupica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lupica. Show all posts
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Miracle of 49th Street by Mike Lupica
Audiobook on 5 CDs, Hennepin County Library
This was so much like "Between Sundays" by Karen Kingsbury that I found myself laughing at the cliche'. A mom dies, leaving a child who has never known his / her pro athlete parent. The child informs the parent, who goes through denial, exploration, and becomes a loving and devoted parent to the child he never knew existed. Right.
Only this story bugged me even more than Kingsbury's version because Molly (the child) is such a brat. Again, maybe the reader's voice swayed my opinion (though she did a splendid job!) but I just wanted to smack Molly upside the head. And how many superstar athletes with a reputation for self-centeredness would keep a housekeeper who mommed them to death? And then spend excessive quantities of time and attention on a 12-year-old who showed up out of the blue. Whatever.
When I've recommended this book to kids, I've done it on the strength of Lupica's reputation as a sports writer and the image of the girl with the basketball on the cover. This book will NOT appeal to my typical sports fans. It's definitely a relationship story (with a bratty, immature girl as the main character). Yuk.
Okay, what did I like??? The housekeeper Mattie rocks. She is the best part of this whole story!
This was so much like "Between Sundays" by Karen Kingsbury that I found myself laughing at the cliche'. A mom dies, leaving a child who has never known his / her pro athlete parent. The child informs the parent, who goes through denial, exploration, and becomes a loving and devoted parent to the child he never knew existed. Right.
Only this story bugged me even more than Kingsbury's version because Molly (the child) is such a brat. Again, maybe the reader's voice swayed my opinion (though she did a splendid job!) but I just wanted to smack Molly upside the head. And how many superstar athletes with a reputation for self-centeredness would keep a housekeeper who mommed them to death? And then spend excessive quantities of time and attention on a 12-year-old who showed up out of the blue. Whatever.
When I've recommended this book to kids, I've done it on the strength of Lupica's reputation as a sports writer and the image of the girl with the basketball on the cover. This book will NOT appeal to my typical sports fans. It's definitely a relationship story (with a bratty, immature girl as the main character). Yuk.
Okay, what did I like??? The housekeeper Mattie rocks. She is the best part of this whole story!
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