Free Baseball

$6.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Puffin Books
On sale Jan 31, 2008 | 978-1-4406-3174-0
Age 8-12 years
Reading Level: Lexile 730L
Sales rights: World
Felix knows his dad was a famous baseball player in Cuba—and that his father risked everything to send Felix to America. But his mom won’t reveal anything else. When a baseball team with Cuban players comes to town, Felix wonders if they knew his dad and sneaks into their locker room to ask. That’s when the players mistake him for their new batboy. Determined to uncover the truth about his mysterious father, Felix plays along, going as far as running away from home to become the team’s batboy. His bittersweet adventure glows with the friendship of a miraculous dog, the warmth of a mother’s love, and the magic of baseball.
"Corbett remains carefully true to Felix’s view and interpretation of events and deftly weaves a moving coming-of-age story with a sweet, satisfying conclusion."—Kirkus Reviews

About

Felix knows his dad was a famous baseball player in Cuba—and that his father risked everything to send Felix to America. But his mom won’t reveal anything else. When a baseball team with Cuban players comes to town, Felix wonders if they knew his dad and sneaks into their locker room to ask. That’s when the players mistake him for their new batboy. Determined to uncover the truth about his mysterious father, Felix plays along, going as far as running away from home to become the team’s batboy. His bittersweet adventure glows with the friendship of a miraculous dog, the warmth of a mother’s love, and the magic of baseball.

Praise

"Corbett remains carefully true to Felix’s view and interpretation of events and deftly weaves a moving coming-of-age story with a sweet, satisfying conclusion."—Kirkus Reviews