Ben and Emma's Big Hit

by Gavin Newsom

First published 2021

Ben sees the baseball diamond clearly. The geometric lines make perfect sense. The pitcher's mound rises like a small hill in the center. But when Ben opens a book, nothing works the way it should. Letters twist around in his mind. Sounds refuse to connect properly. Words become meaningless jumbles because Ben has dyslexia. Reading feels impossible until Ben discovers something important. He can approach books the same way he approaches baseball. Practice matters. Persistence pays off. Each attempt teaches him something new. Ben learns that his brain works differently, not incorrectly. With determination and the right strategies, he can tackle any challenge. This story shows how one boy transforms his biggest struggle into his greatest strength.

Genres: family-life, contemporary, disability

Vibes: emotional, inspirational, thought-provoking

Tropes: found-family, overcoming-challenges

40 pages · Hardcover · Philomel Books

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