First published 2002
The kids on this little league team come from all walks of life. Different ages, races, and both boys and girls step up to the plate together. At first, they struggle to work as a unit. Some players hog the spotlight while others hang back. Conflicts arise over playing time and positions. The coach pushes them to dig deeper, explaining that natural talent alone won't win games. The players must learn to support each other through strikeouts and errors. They discover that respecting opponents and officials matters as much as crossing home plate. As the season progresses, individual egos give way to collective effort. The team faces its biggest challenge when they must choose between winning at any cost or playing the right way. Through sweat and determination, these young athletes find out what makes champions.
Genres: family, coming-of-age, sports
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, underdog
14 pages · Hardcover · Golden Books