Title/Author:
“Battery
Brothers” by Steve Carman
Genre/topics:
Baseball,
fiction, Young Adult (YA), family
Published:
March 27,
2014
Length:
222 pages
Rating:
5 of 5
stars (outstanding)
Review:
Andy Lembo
is a high school baseball catcher who is trying out for the team at a new high
school in his senior year. His younger
brother Daniel is a pitcher who has caught the eye of scouts who hope to sign
him when he completes school. Andy and
Daniel have shared a lot in their young lives – broken home, dysfunctional
parents but baseball was their passion. They dreamed of winning a championship
together.
Their journey toward this goal and the awful detour that occurred is the basis of this terrific young adult novel by Steve Carman. The story is told from Andy’s point of view and it is one that is filled with trouble. Andy was abused by his mother when she applied a hot iron to his face when he was toddler. She soon left the boys and their father. As for the father, he is shown to be a parent who favors one child, Daniel, because he has the talent to go far. Andy believes that his father doesn’t hold him in the same regard. Add anxiety attacks and self-doubt on his ability to obtain good grades and socialize and you have a good picture of most of the issues that trouble Andy.
Baseball
is Andy’s escape from this, but even that didn’t go smoothly. Andy was among the final cuts to the varsity
team, but ended up on the team later when the starting catcher was
injured. Daniel continued to pitch well
and also bond with his older brother. The love shared between the two of them is evident and when a freak
accident occurs during a game, Andy’s world is shattered – both in baseball and
more importantly, in his life. He doesn’t think he has the strength to continue
either baseball or school. What he
eventually decides to do is a heartwarming story that will leave the reader
cheering and maybe even in tears. I had
both emotions flowing through me as the story progressed. Some parts were predictable, some weren’t but
it is one that must be read by anyone who loves a good story about young adults
who are learning what life will be like as a grown-up.
The
baseball portions of the book are well-written and describe the action of the
game in vivid detail. These, along with
the rest of the book, are accurately described as they would be by a 17 year
old boy as there is youth slang and short sentences throughout the book. Because the book is focused on Andy, we don’t
know a lot about the other characters, including Daniel. The reader will only know these characters
through Andy’s vision. For me, that still gave me enough insight to get a feel
for what these people were like and how they all helped shape Andy into the
person he is.
Any reader
who loves a good story of a young man coming of age, especially when that young
man has to deal with many different issues, will want to read this book. Baseball fans will enjoy the account of Andy’s
exploits on the diamond. Fans of the
young adult genre will cheer on Andy throughout the book. It is simply a book that I believe any reader
will enjoy.
I wish to thank Mr. Carman for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I skim?
No,
because I wanted to make sure I enjoyed every word of this story.
Did I feel connected to the characters?
Yes. I especially related to Andy’s anxiety when he
took the mound during each game and the excitement as well as the nervousness
that all players at that age feel when they are on the field. It doesn’t matter the level of play or the
type of field – all players feel this on the field.
Pace of the story:
Excellent
– the reader is really connected to Andy and Daniel in the book without slowing
down the pace of the story. Because it is written in Andy’s POV and language, I
felt that kept the story moving as well.
Do I recommend?
Yes – for
anyone, any age who simply enjoys a good book. While having knowledge of
baseball helps with those passages, any reader who wants to read an uplifting
story should grab this one.
Paperback
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I loved it as well Lance and I'm glad you took me up on my recommendation to read this wonderful novel.
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