Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick is a quick read about a All-Star pitcher, Peter going into high school.  He’s pretty sure life will be a breeze when he joins the high school baseball team with his best friend, AJ until a pitching accident over the summer ruins his arm and Peter is forced to accept that life will never be the same again.  As Peter’s freshman year begins, and with his dad busy at work, his Grampa starting to act a little weird, and his mother refusing to talk about it, Peter begins confiding in Angelika, a cute girl in his photography class at school.

It takes Peter a long time to come to terms with his injury, how to talk to his best friend about baseball, how to deal with his Grampa’s diagnosis, and what to do when you like like someone.  Although a few times situations wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly, I really enjoyed this book.  It’s a great realistic fiction for older middle school and high school students looking for something to read about kids their own age with problems just like theirs.

Definitely take a minute to check out Jordan Sonnenblick’s website where you can find out more about his other books, his contact information, and curriculum notes for another of his books, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie.

Title: Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip
Author: Jordan Sonnenblick
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: 2012
Page Number: 285 pgs.