Strike Zone, Mike Lupica
Strike Zone, Mike Lupica
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Strike Zone

Author: Mike Lupica

Narrator: Anthony Rey Perez

Unabridged: 5 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/10/2019


Synopsis

A timely and heartfelt follow-up to #1 New York Times bestseller Heat, about a young baseball prodigy and his immigrant family living in today's America.

Twelve-year-old star Little League pitcher Nick Garcia has a dream. Several in fact. He dreams he'll win this season's MVP and the chance to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. He dreams he'll meet his hero, Yankee's pitcher Michael Arroyo. He dreams they'll find a cure for Lupus so he sister won't have to suffer. But mostly, he dreams one day his family can stop living in fear of the government. For one kid, it's almost too much to bear. Luckily, Nick has his two best friends Ben and Diego to keep him balanced. But when Nick notices a mysterious man lurking on his street corner, he senses a threat. Suddenly, his worst fears are realized, and just when it seems there's no one they can trust, an unexpected hero emerges and changes everything.

Praise for Strike Zone:

*"Lupica skillfully addresses the timely and complicated topic of living as the child of undocumented immigrants and the uncertainty facing many American families....This exceptional baseball novel delivers both lively sports action and critical subject matter." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

--"Lupica's action sequences are thrilling and fast-paced....[a] solid purchase where Mike Lupica and the Yankees are popular." --School Library Journal

--"As he did in Heat, Lupica skillfully juggles the baseball drama with the larger social issues that swirl around it, vividly putting a human face on the immigration crisis." --Booklist

--"Strike Zone brings the game of baseball to life, but moreover, it addresses immigration, a current issue in U.S. culture and politics. Teens will choose to read Strike Zone as a "sports book" but will root for Nick both on and off the field. The Garcia family's desire to become legal U.S. citizens is well woven into this fast-paced story." --VOYA

About The Author

Mike Lupica is a prominent sports journalist and the New York Times-bestselling author of more than forty works of fiction and non-fiction. A longtime friend to Robert B. Parker, he was selected by the Parker estate to continue the Sunny Randall series.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Erin on January 20, 2022

I'm not a big baseball fan - but I was riveted by this middle grade sports novel. Twelve year old, Nick Garcia, is the star pitcher on his baseball team, The Blazers. If his team does well this summer and they win the championship and he gets the MVP award he would get to throw out the first pitch a......more

Goodreads review by Leigh Anne on September 27, 2020

Lupica weaves baseball and immigration seamlessly. Although I felt it preachy at times, I don't think kids will pick up on that. Kids who like to write about their baseball games need to read this as a mentor text to see how to write a scene without dragging out the game.......more

Goodreads review by Andres on May 11, 2020

I think the theme the of this book is whatever dream you want to succeed then don't stop,keep reaching for them.Just like 12 year old nick Garcia who wanted to pitch in the big leagues......more

Goodreads review by Will on January 23, 2020

I think the theme is that you can never give up on hope no matter the odds......more

Goodreads review by Abby on November 26, 2019

It was a really good book about dreams coming true......more