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Safe at Second
Todd Bannister has it all: a fastball made for the majors, scouts lining up at his door, a beautiful girlfriend, and his best friend Paulie -- his number one fan. It seems nothing can stop the bright future that lies ahead. But all it takes is one line drive -- and Todd takes it square in the face, and loses an eye. Things are different now. Will Todd have the strength to give up his old dreams and move on? Will Paulie? Scott Johnson weaves a masterful tale about what happens after the big game in this engrossing coming-of-age story.
- GenresSportsYoung Adult
245 pages, Library Binding
First published June 21, 1999
About the author
Scott Johnson
238 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 7, 2011
I really enjoyed this book because it taught me about life in high school when you are the big baseball star. I am hoping to be a guy like Todd without the smoking and alcohol. Todd was the amazing baseball pitcher for his school and had plans to go to the MLB until he got hit with a line drive in the face. He had to lose an eye through the recovery process. This was probably the climax of the book because it was the biggest change that anyone went through. I loved it because it taught me all the things that you must go through when you have an injury and what all you must lose.
Some of the things I liked about this book are how in depth the book was. The book explained everything so clearly and since it was a teenager book it didn’t have to leave anything out. It explained the feeling of how bad it is to be drunk and why you need to have a friend to be with you no matter where you are. The best part of the book was the sports portion. During this part, Paulie (Todd’s best friend) has to undergo the disappointment of not making a team and still be able to go out there and watch his friend. There was a lot of life changing moments for this part of the book.
The parts I disliked about this book is that it had too much of the getting drunk, beer games, and smoking. There is a line between okay and too far and I think that they barely crossed it. I think it was very well written though and I highly recommend it.
Some of the things I liked about this book are how in depth the book was. The book explained everything so clearly and since it was a teenager book it didn’t have to leave anything out. It explained the feeling of how bad it is to be drunk and why you need to have a friend to be with you no matter where you are. The best part of the book was the sports portion. During this part, Paulie (Todd’s best friend) has to undergo the disappointment of not making a team and still be able to go out there and watch his friend. There was a lot of life changing moments for this part of the book.
The parts I disliked about this book is that it had too much of the getting drunk, beer games, and smoking. There is a line between okay and too far and I think that they barely crossed it. I think it was very well written though and I highly recommend it.
January 28, 2020
It was really good. I like the part that it's a fact of building up the confidence and an overall happily ever after. I like the characters and their personalities. They made it just too perfect. I loved that they changed it up a bit with not making Todd go out on the field and throwing that perfect pitch but with Paulie. Nobody ever saw that coming. Not even me and I don't even have glasses. The overall story can also in a way explain a saying. When your really good at something and some kind of injury, loss, or any mental capability brings you down and knocks your eye out. Surely you could feel not just physically pain but mentally. And you as down as ever and that could lead to drugs and alcohol. Just like what happened to Todd. He started going to parties. This action could tell you that "When you get down from anything at any time, you stand back up and fight back." Really good book
July 23, 2017
Todd is on the fast track to the big leagues - a million dollar pitching arm, scouts in the stands since the time he was in 8th grade. Sports Illustrated articles written about him and agents lining up to sign him. And Paulie, who loves baseball, though isn't very good, is Todd's best friend and loves to bask in that. But when Todd faces a potential career ending injury to his eye, both Todd and Paulie have to deal with the fact that Todd may never be the same again.
March 29, 2018
This book is about a high school athlete who has it all, a great best friend, supportive parents, a beautiful girl friend, and a fast ball that has professional scouts lined up trying to draft him on their team. He is having an amazing season when he is struck in the face by a fastball that causes him to lose his eye. He gets a glass eye, but who can play baseball with one eye? This is a great novel about overcoming obstacles and hard work.
November 23, 2019
The 1st quarter of this book broke me. Although one of the characters is more on the juvenile side this is a well flushed coming of age and finally a book that actually talks about baseball! I may be partial but I do like that this book covered baseball journalism. Hehe and I did find it funny that the author is a Cubs fan the book was released in 1999 but one of the teams featured was the Indians. ;) Cubs fans will see the humor.
May 19, 2015
Scott Johnson's Safe at Second
By: Jackson Bowman
Todd Bannister had it all. A fastball made for the pros, college scouts at his door, a beautiful girlfriend, and his best friend Paulie who takes care of him. Then with the blink of an eye, it was all gone. Scott Johnson puts together an amazing story about the life of a popular teenager. It is a great read for teenagers everywhere who are dealing with depression, loss, and who are just not fitting in with others at school. I strongly recommend it, I believe even adults could learn something from this.
Johnson is the author of many sports novels. His most popular would be this one right here, Safe at Second. Some other novels that Johnson has created include: Once there were Giants, The Better Country, Two Lions. Once there were Giants tells a story about a group of high school basketball players and their coach, a very short man, that make a stride towards state in 1952. Johnson once again gives us a story about determination and getting up after you lose everything. The Better Country and Two Lions talk about getting revenge and making your way back to the top.
Johnson has a very unique writing style in this book. He describes the life of a teenager very well. He shows their emotions, their highs and lows, and their determination to get back up when they fall. He shows much of the partying and drinking acts that most seniors do when dealing with depression. I think he describes Todd’s life very well after the incident. I know many teenagers would do what Todd does after the incident. They feel like they have nothing else to do in life now, so they decide to drink and party. I hope I’ll be able to stand up to depression and not let it control me.
Overall I really liked this book. It teaches teenagers many life lessons that they will need to learn. It tells us how to fight depression, even when it seems like we have lost everything. It teaches us to get back up when we fall and to keep fighting for your goals because they are very reachable if we put our mind to it. I believe this book is a must read for many teenagers. It could really teach them something. I’m a teenager as well and this book has taught me how to deal with depression if it ever makes its way towards me.
By: Jackson Bowman
Todd Bannister had it all. A fastball made for the pros, college scouts at his door, a beautiful girlfriend, and his best friend Paulie who takes care of him. Then with the blink of an eye, it was all gone. Scott Johnson puts together an amazing story about the life of a popular teenager. It is a great read for teenagers everywhere who are dealing with depression, loss, and who are just not fitting in with others at school. I strongly recommend it, I believe even adults could learn something from this.
Johnson is the author of many sports novels. His most popular would be this one right here, Safe at Second. Some other novels that Johnson has created include: Once there were Giants, The Better Country, Two Lions. Once there were Giants tells a story about a group of high school basketball players and their coach, a very short man, that make a stride towards state in 1952. Johnson once again gives us a story about determination and getting up after you lose everything. The Better Country and Two Lions talk about getting revenge and making your way back to the top.
Johnson has a very unique writing style in this book. He describes the life of a teenager very well. He shows their emotions, their highs and lows, and their determination to get back up when they fall. He shows much of the partying and drinking acts that most seniors do when dealing with depression. I think he describes Todd’s life very well after the incident. I know many teenagers would do what Todd does after the incident. They feel like they have nothing else to do in life now, so they decide to drink and party. I hope I’ll be able to stand up to depression and not let it control me.
Overall I really liked this book. It teaches teenagers many life lessons that they will need to learn. It tells us how to fight depression, even when it seems like we have lost everything. It teaches us to get back up when we fall and to keep fighting for your goals because they are very reachable if we put our mind to it. I believe this book is a must read for many teenagers. It could really teach them something. I’m a teenager as well and this book has taught me how to deal with depression if it ever makes its way towards me.
November 2, 2015
keeps you on the edge of your seat
This book is fiction and does not belong to series. It was an easy book overall which was not challenging at all. The author writes out to people he wrote it out to mainly. The book is not a very good book if all you want to read about is sports it is mostly a drama kind of book of the struggles of trying to make a comeback. the book is written in a formal style overall because it is about the boy's life and his problems. The book is around ages middle school and up. A boy was living the dream in his high school, he had everything it seemed like, he had a girlfriend, he was the starting pitcher on his baseball team, he had scouts lining up at his door to play baseball, and had a the most supportive friend you could ask for. Then one day things would change it all after one pitch. Todd the pitcher and he is living the dream and paulie his number one fan and best friend and malisa his beautiful girlfriend. Todd is a pitcher for his high school team and he has scouts lining up at his door begging for him. paulie, Todd's best friend, Paulie has supported Todd his whole life and has always been there for him. Malisa tod's girlfriend is concerned if something is not right and is super supportive for him. The thing that really stands out in this book is the fact that Todd has all these friends but once the incident happened you can tell the really friends from the fake friends. This book is in the present day and is based on the real world. The book is easy to see things and picture them in your head. The author really got me interested into the book The author used a ton of descriptive words that really got me into the book. This would make other readers a fan of the book I feel that readers would enjoy this book because of the story in general and the words the author uses. compared to the other books i had read it is one of my favorites. This book blows the other books i had read away. overall compared to all the other books i have read i would rank this book a solid 4 out of 5.
This book is fiction and does not belong to series. It was an easy book overall which was not challenging at all. The author writes out to people he wrote it out to mainly. The book is not a very good book if all you want to read about is sports it is mostly a drama kind of book of the struggles of trying to make a comeback. the book is written in a formal style overall because it is about the boy's life and his problems. The book is around ages middle school and up. A boy was living the dream in his high school, he had everything it seemed like, he had a girlfriend, he was the starting pitcher on his baseball team, he had scouts lining up at his door to play baseball, and had a the most supportive friend you could ask for. Then one day things would change it all after one pitch. Todd the pitcher and he is living the dream and paulie his number one fan and best friend and malisa his beautiful girlfriend. Todd is a pitcher for his high school team and he has scouts lining up at his door begging for him. paulie, Todd's best friend, Paulie has supported Todd his whole life and has always been there for him. Malisa tod's girlfriend is concerned if something is not right and is super supportive for him. The thing that really stands out in this book is the fact that Todd has all these friends but once the incident happened you can tell the really friends from the fake friends. This book is in the present day and is based on the real world. The book is easy to see things and picture them in your head. The author really got me interested into the book The author used a ton of descriptive words that really got me into the book. This would make other readers a fan of the book I feel that readers would enjoy this book because of the story in general and the words the author uses. compared to the other books i had read it is one of my favorites. This book blows the other books i had read away. overall compared to all the other books i have read i would rank this book a solid 4 out of 5.
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October 3, 2014A boy named Paulie, and his bestifriend Todd are in high shcool together. Todd is the "hotshot" he is a great pitcher,he has it all a girlfriend,scouts coming to watch him play, and even fans , they even offered him a contract. Paulie loves baseball to him thats his life, but he didint make the team, but he knows everything there is to know about baseball. He is like Todds biggest fan, yet still his bestfriend. Life is going good until, Todd gets hit in the face with a line drive, Todd loses an eye. The only problem is will he be able to pitch again, in Paulies eyes he will, other people dont beileve he can recover,Paulie knows this is his best friend so he trys to help him. People woould want to read this book because the unexpected happened, so if you like books with twists you should try this book. Everyone suspects Todd now can be nothing because he lost an eye, Paulie believs what he has always beileved his best friend is the best pitcher.Thia book was a little slow but with the twist you dont know what to expect anymore, the most important conflict was Todd losing an eye.I would reccomend this bbok to a classmate because it is a fun book that catches you by suprise, and unepected plot twists.
April 16, 2009
Safe at Second
Scott Johnson
245p
Philomel
In this book, a person named Todd who is a great baseball pitcher than has potential to be in the major leagues faces an event that changes his life. After being hit in the eye by a baseball, Todd would be expected changed forever since having an eye is almost the most important thing in baseball.
In the beginning of the book, the author talks about Todd's relationship with his friend Paulie. The book begins with some unimportant facts, but as the plot moves on, it gets better. I liked this book because it was baseball related. At first, the book was pretty boring, like a lot of the other books I read because it introduces the characters and their relationships with each other. I liked the plot of this book because it was about students growing up and learning about new issues.
I would recommend this book to baseball fans or anyone who likes reading books about a person showing passion because the character in the story shows passion for his sport and I like that about the book.
Scott Johnson
245p
Philomel
In this book, a person named Todd who is a great baseball pitcher than has potential to be in the major leagues faces an event that changes his life. After being hit in the eye by a baseball, Todd would be expected changed forever since having an eye is almost the most important thing in baseball.
In the beginning of the book, the author talks about Todd's relationship with his friend Paulie. The book begins with some unimportant facts, but as the plot moves on, it gets better. I liked this book because it was baseball related. At first, the book was pretty boring, like a lot of the other books I read because it introduces the characters and their relationships with each other. I liked the plot of this book because it was about students growing up and learning about new issues.
I would recommend this book to baseball fans or anyone who likes reading books about a person showing passion because the character in the story shows passion for his sport and I like that about the book.
September 29, 2015
They say don't judge a book by the cover. I would have to change that phrase for safe at second. Don't judge this book by the first 5 chapters. At first you start thinking it's just another book about a kid who can throw a baseball fast. At first glance that's what it is,but in reality it was so much more. It follows a high school kid,Paulie, who's best friends with the next top MLB prospect. Todd Bannister had scouts lining up at the door waiting to sign him to any college of his choice. That was before a crushing injury Todd suffers 5 chapters in. Paulie is the only one that believes Todd can still pitch. While on his quest to help Todd get back in the game Paulie does some self reflecting on his past decisions and decides it time to take control of his life. If your in for a great inspirational story about baseball and life in general safe at second should be your next read.
October 21, 2015
Safe at Second
Safe at second is about a kid named Paulie in high school. His best friend Todd is a nationally ranked baseball player going in to his senior year. While Todd has half the SEC calling him Paulie is struggling to make the high school team. Todd is not only an amazing ball player he also has a beautiful girlfriend and has a great life. Todd’s life changes when he gets hit by a line drive right to the head. He suffers a coma and has to get a plastic eye. Paulie his best friend goes to visit him in the hospital often and wants him to keep playing baseball. Paulie tries to keep him out of trouble when he goes to parties and drinking. Paulie thinks Todd still has a career in baseball. When Todd comes back to play he has some ups and downs emotionally and physically but he can definitely still play if he puts his mind to it and really tries.
Safe at second is about a kid named Paulie in high school. His best friend Todd is a nationally ranked baseball player going in to his senior year. While Todd has half the SEC calling him Paulie is struggling to make the high school team. Todd is not only an amazing ball player he also has a beautiful girlfriend and has a great life. Todd’s life changes when he gets hit by a line drive right to the head. He suffers a coma and has to get a plastic eye. Paulie his best friend goes to visit him in the hospital often and wants him to keep playing baseball. Paulie tries to keep him out of trouble when he goes to parties and drinking. Paulie thinks Todd still has a career in baseball. When Todd comes back to play he has some ups and downs emotionally and physically but he can definitely still play if he puts his mind to it and really tries.
March 20, 2011
this was a great book that relates to my life in many aspects. Not just that it is about a baseball high schooler, but it also describes high school life. The main character's best friend is an all-star pitcher on the school team. He has more college and major league scouts looking at him then he knows what to do with. Thats where Paulie comes in. Paulie knows every stat ever recorded in the history in baseball, but isn't nearly as good as Todd. He doesn't try in school, because the only future he sees for himself is being Todd's assistant, when Todd makes it into the Major League. One day during a practice, Todd is hit in the eye with a line drive off the bat of a teammate. All of Paulie and Todd's dreams seem to come to an end, but there is still hope for Todd to make a comeback...
September 28, 2012
After reading this book I can say that Todd is one kid. Not only is he an amazing baseball player from coming back from losing his eye, he is an amazing person. He is an amazing person because he found it in him to get back on top of himself after saying to himself that he should quit. Todd has actually thought me a lesson in life. That when things don't work out in your favor, you just have to keep on moving on. I think everyone should realize this because everything will definitely never always work out in your favor. So the next time I get into a slump in baseball, i will try my hardest to get back on top, just like Todd.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2008
I read this book not only because i like baseball, but the story intrigued me. In the book, which follows a star high school pitcher (todd) and his best friend (paulie) as todd gets hit with a line drive in the eye, making many people think he'll never pitch again, and if he does, he'll never be the same. but todd defies the odds and proves everyone wrong. it's kind of a feel good story even though i honestly saw it coming. it would not have been the same if he never pitched again. overall, i enjoyed this book and it was a good read.
October 20, 2009
This book, really help me get my mind together when it comes to conflicts that interfere with a sport which you plan to do your whole life which means you are great at it. Also it was a fun book to read and get to know different peoples personalities in actions that occur to best friends and how you act on it.
May 7, 2012
Very good book. It's about a upcoming 17 year old pitcher being looked at by major league scouts, only to have his dreams taken away by a line drive. The book is about his recovery and dealing with his injury.
September 10, 2009
reviewing before giving to my son to read...he really needs to read more...
It was good for a teen boy to read :)
It was good for a teen boy to read :)
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October 12, 2010What if you knew someone who lost everything and he was your best friend. Would you be willing to do whatever it takes to keep him from ruining his life? By Adam Smith
October 12, 2010
have you ever not known what you were going to do? sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us think about where we are going.
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October 13, 2010I am on pg 140 out of 245 in the book Safe at Second
May 31, 2013
Amazing book. Loved the plot and there are so many layers to this storyline. Young readers will truly enjoy reading this book.
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July 7, 2013More language than I would like. I thought the ending was a bit...forced.
September 13, 2013
I thought that this was a very good book about a kid who has his future all planed out when suddenly a quick event makes a change in plans out of nowhere.
January 5, 2015
The flaws are unmistakeable, but the themes are as deep as it gets, especially for a YA novel.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews