by R. D. Rosen
First published 2013
Dave Miller steps onto the dusty diamond for another practice with the Wildcats, his eight-year-old son Tommy among the players scattered across the infield. What starts as volunteer coaching becomes something more complicated when parents begin questioning his decisions and Tommy struggles to live up to expectations both on and off the field. Dave finds himself caught between his desire to teach the kids about teamwork and fair play, and the mounting pressure from other fathers who care more about winning than development. As the season progresses, simple games become battles over playing time, batting orders, and what youth sports should really mean. The relationship between Dave and Tommy strains under the weight of public performance and private disappointment. Through rain delays and heated arguments in the stands, Dave must figure out how to be both a coach and a father without losing his son in the process.
Genres: family-life, contemporary, sports, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: father-son-relationship, found-family
Setting: Wildcats
128 pages · Hardcover · Plume