Batting Order

From acclaimed author of the Home Team Mike Lupica comes a brand-new novel about the heart and soul of baseball.

On or off the field, Matt and Ben couldn't be more different. Ben Roberson is an all-or-nothing player: he's big, he's bold, and he's brash. Ben's swing can hit a ball right out of the park--but that's if he can get a hit at all.

Matt Baker is small, and shy, and his stutter has him avoiding the spotlight--even if he's the best all-rounder on the team. But while Matt knows he's got the chops, a part of him has always envied "Big Ben" and his attention-grabbing charm.

So it's a total shock when Ben asks Matt to help him work on his swing. Because Ben can't put the ball into play, and his showboating comes at the expense of the team. And even though Matt's trying to help, Ben doesn't seem to take him seriously, especially when it means toning things down.

The end of the season is fast approaching--is there enough time for Ben to realize bigger isn't always better? For Matt to understand that sometimes, being the bigger person means standing up for yourself?

Or will they have to accept defeat?

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 05/28/2019
ISBN: 9781534421554
Pages: 304
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.60w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2019
Publishers Weekly 04/01/2019

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 502361 / Batting Order
Reading Level: 4.7 / Interest Level: Middle Grade / Point Value: 8