Hothead

Cal Ripken, Jr.'s All Stars

by Kevin Cowherd (Contributor)

What do you do when you strike out big? Find out in this dramatic tale by All-Star shortstop Cal Ripkin.

Connor Sullivan is an All-Star shortstop on his Babe Ruth team, the Orioles. He can hit and field with the best of them, but he's got one big his temper. When he strikes out or makes an error, he's a walking Mt. Vesuvius, slamming batting helmets and throwing gloves. His teammates are starting to avoid him, even his best friend Jordy. His coach is ready to kick him off the team. To make matters worse, things aren't much better at home. His dad is having trouble finding a new job after being laid off. Money is tight.

Connor's dream of attending the prestigious Brooks Robinson Baseball Camp this summer seems like just that now -- a dream. When the sports editor of the school paper threatens to do a big story on his tantrums -- complete with embarrassing photos -- Connor realizes he has to clean up his act. But can he do it in time to regain his teammates' trust and help the Orioles win the championship against the best team in the league?



 

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Childrens, Baseball, Middle Grade

135 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2011

About the author

Kevin Cowherd has been a writer for the Baltimore Sun since 1987, is nationally syndicated by the Los Angeles Time - Washington Post news service, and is the author of Last Call at the 7-Eleven, a book of selected writings published by Bancroft Press.

In 1990 he was honored by the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors for excellence in feature writing. He currently writes a sports column and blog for the Baltimore Sun.

He is also a humorist, and an experienced Little League coach. He lives with his wife and three children near Baltimore.

Reviews

[Alex R · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I should tell you that I love baseball. Baseball is the best sport ever invented, and I think Cal Ripken really portrays the determination and fun in baseball. This book's Genre is realistic-fiction that has to do with sports. I would recommend this book to a young teenager that loves reading books about baseball, and to people who read Mike Lupica books because they are very similar. This book just catches you when you start reading it. Cal Ripken made this book so catchy that I read it in 3 days ( a record for me). The only thing bad about this book was that sometimes the book would get a little slow but other than that it was terrific!

A boy named Connor Sullivan plays on the Orioles in a local, very competitive league. He is by far the best player on his team, plays shortstop ( like me), and is best friends with two kids: Jordy, and Marty. One day Connor loses his temper and kicks his glove over towards the dugout. The Coach pulls him out in disgust and puts in another player in for him. Connor keeps doing it and doing it until one day he goes a little over the top. Right after he missed the ball against short facing the Yankees, he throws his glove, blames one of his best friends Jordy, and the Coach tells him to go home and that he will call him in the morning to discuss it.

Now I'm not going to spoil it for others who want to read the book, but anyway this book was amazing and I hope someone will pick this book on a nice rainy day and read it.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cal Ripken Jr. is a class act. Sure, you can say he won respect for just showing up, but he is wonderful person on and off the field. Since retirement he has been involved with youth programs. Hothead is great young adult book dealing with a player having temper tantrums that are noticed by those off the field, and risks being able to play with his team. Ripken does a great job of talking with emotions that we may not always be able to express.

How did this book find me? I have been reading more baseball books. I love Ripken. Also available on Overdrive. Ripken is also the narrator and does a fantastic job for the audio version.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love'n it

This book is a great children's book that may help people. This book not inspired me and most likely other people to learn ways to control temper. It also showed how to be a good sport and a great person. It was fantastic when Connor stood up to billy because that is what people should be do my in real life and not just books. This book is completely inspirational and I loved it.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book about someone having trouble balancing his life. Overtime he learns to deal better with his dad losing his job and feels better. He becomes a better player and a better person in the end.

[Ryan Callahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a very good book sine it shows that if you lose your temper in anything you will have to face the consequences and people might start disliking you. I thought the book taught a good lesson.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had my interest from beginning to end. It is a book about baseball and how the main character has problems controlling his anger. The main characters name is Connor Sullivan and that is how I relate to this book because my name is Connor Sullivan and I play baseball. This book talks about larger issues in the world like how home life can effect a kids life drastically. In this book Connors home life is not good with his dad not having a job. This effects him not only at home and at school but it effects him in his happy place which is the baseball field. I would recommend this book to viewers that loves baseball and stories about how a kids can overcome horrible things going on in there life.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost as good as going to a school boy game!

This little book jumps in all about baseball, competitiveness, winning and loosing. Baseball is the backdrop for twelve year old Conner who is coping with grown up problems at home while trying to win a little league championship. When coping with a problem doesn't include dealing with it, other issues manifest and then everyone is concerned.

The book is full of life lessons and issues, along with great baseball. Just a good book for boys of all sizes!

A 5 star read for sure if you are a baseball fan, YA reader or want ideas on controlling anger!


Happy Reading!

[Maxim D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started playing baseball when Is was four and never stopped. I enjoyed this book because I can relate from my past years that this happens to me and my teammates. My favorite parts from the book was when they played basketball for some Oreos and when there bikes are slashed showing that baseball means business. Definitely would recommend reading if you love baseball. also check Mike Lupica they are very similar.

[Zy-Hir Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hothead is a amazing book where connor grows throughout the book. He really grows by getting hiself together and stops having blowups. Connor is a good boy who really grew and i hopr this author can make mor books like this because this really inspired me.

[Lori Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly found this book because my son was interested in baseball. The story is excellent for having conversation about emotions with any child. How circumstances in our lives create feelings and how they get bottled up and show up unexpectedly is well displayed here. Happily recommend!

[Chris Linehan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cal Ripken was my favorite baseball player of all time. I was so excited to find this book in our free library. That said, Cal was a much better player than writer. Maybe he’ll get better with repetition, but I don’t think he’s going to catch Matt Christopher like he caught Lou Gehrig.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

conner had anger issues and got suspended for a few games because he got mad. and conner has family problems. their family is really poor. but at the end of the book, conner got good at controlling his anger

[Tripp T · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was OKEY i like it

[Garde Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baseball from a player’s perspective

Well written in what happens in a baseball game and the personal problems that every child has. The good and bad.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good Youth baseball book

[Sara Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and funny

Fun and always want to keep reading
I like the book because it is also about baseball
I recommend this book

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun children's book from Orioles great Cal Ripken. Focusing on sportsmanship, baseball and managing your emotions, it's definitely an enjoyable read for kids of all ages.

[Makallen · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting and encouraging book I really recommend it fir baseball fans

[Owen hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book and if you are going thru problems you NEED to read this book

[Dylan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book because it looked like a good baseball book and it turned out to be a really good. The story takes place in the early summer time. School is about to let out and Connor is ready for it to be baseball season. But there's one things blocking baseball and him. It's his temper. He can't control making a mistake and taking it out on something or someone. He has both Internal and External because he is too distracted by what is going on in his mind about family issues. Also External because his family is short on money and his team is in the championship for the Babe Ruth all star teams. He is dynamic because he changes on and off. One moment he is playing baseball all calm but when he makes a mistake, things go off pretty quick. I would say Connor is short-tempered, humble, and bossy. "You couldn't jump any higher for that throw? My grandma could've caught that". (Ripken Jr 38). The author is trying to say that every game does not have to be taken so serious. Everybody at one point has taken a game way too serious and wants to be perfect with no mistakes. They fail and blame others because they couldn't do this or that. The book is about that not everyone is perfect. People have flaws and make mistakes like everybody else. My experience with this book is that I was too in synced with a baseball game and I struck out in a crucial spot. I ended up raising the bat above my head and smacked it on the ground. After that, I changed and never did that again. I don't know why I did it but I did it and was ashamed from that experience. I thought the book was overly a really good book. It is a great book for anyone who wants to read a good sports novel and Cal Ripken Jr and Kevin Cowherd teamed up to make a great book for all ages of people.

[Zach Strawser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hothead by Cal Ripken Jr. is a book about a 12 year old boy that lives in Maryland and that is the star baseball player. Connor, the main character plays for the local little league team called the Orioles. Connors father lost his job a year before and is having an extremely hard time finding a job, his mother has to work double shifts at the hospital to pay the bills. Connor is to embarrassed to tell anyone, not even his best friend jordy, baseball is Connors way of relaxing and getting away fro the stress at home. until during one game Connor dropped an easy pop fly, he took off his glove, slammed it to the ground then punted it from his position at shortstop to the first base side dugout. Connor was given a warning by the ump and sat for the rest of the game by the coach, connor believed he would be fine and never have another blowup again. however he did blowup two more times once against the red sox and again at the hospital after getting hit in the ribs by a pitch and being told he couldn't play the championship game. connor was able to control his emotions after his coach came to talk to his dad and connor was able to get off his the stress of his home life. I really enjoyed this stpry because I think this is a very true story about so many kids, they to embarrassed to tell people things that are bugging them so they bottle them up inside. eventually it tends to blowup in one way or another, that's why I like this book so much because of how it can touch so many people.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

From April 2011 SLJ:
Gr 3-6–Connor Sullivan seems to have it made: the seventh-grade all-star shortstop is well liked by his teammates and has a good shot at the invitation-only Brooks Robinson Camp. But he hasn’t told anyone that his dad was laid off from his job as a car salesman, and that financial worries are creating tension at home. The stress starts to get the better of Connor on the field, and the previously even-tempered player starts having major meltdowns. At first, his outbursts are self-directed, but when his best friend misses a catch, Connor lashes out at him as well. After a couple of warnings, Connor is suspended for a game, and he knows that if he can’t rein in his temper, Coach Hammond will oust him from the team. To make matters worse, the sports editor of the school paper got some footage of Connor losing his temper and is threatening a feature story. When Coach stops by to talk with Connor’s dad, the job situation comes to light and Connor is able to vent some of his fears and frustrations. Not surprisingly, things begin to look up, and while he has a few minor setbacks along the way, he ultimately learns that he can control his reactions. Although fairly formulaic, this book has plenty to recommend it. Baseball history aficionados will enjoy Ripken’s homage to fellow Oriole superstars, and the book has engaging characters and plenty of on-the-field action. Fans of Mike Lupica and Matt Christopher will be thrilled.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun and dull. Just like its author! Jk. This book is for the (early) juvenile reader, as an inspiration to "keep on keeping on" especially if you are super-talented baseball player and supposedly holding yourself back by a bad attitude.

Although the premise is slightly far-fetched, with a boring play-by-play writing style, that seemingly shows home runs are common in Little League, the simple story line is easy to follow.

None of the young characters have any depth, and the klutz of the team even gets the painfully moniker of "Lupus" for a last name. Ouch.

I wanted to read the book because the author was an inspiration during my baseball days. Also, public interviews show Mr. Ripken has a sense of humor. The co-author probably added the funniest moments, judging by the overall feel of the itemized narrative style.

The back story of family troubles uses the simple "there is love, just not enough money" that seemed an easy way out. However, that was enough to focus on the main character, and getting past their anger management. A decade of personal development work, squished into 3 weeks. Ok?

The ending is implausible. Taking the ball/bat out of the hands of the star players on a trick play? C'mon. My Little League manager tried that exact play, and failed miserably. The ending should have been a duel, with all main characters involved. Sad choice. :(

[Mcunha59 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hothead by Cal Ripken Jr. Was a pretty good book about a boy named Connor who likes to play baseball, but has a really bad temper that causes problems on and off the field. His temper was so bad that his friend couldn't even deal with him anymore and he was on the verge of getting kicked off of his baseball team by his coach, but at the end he realizes that his temper is causing him many issues and fixes it the best he can, overall making him a better person. The main conflict is based around the whole book which is Connors anger and how it affects his life. The climax of this book though is when he finds out that a reporter might write an article on him that would make matters even worse. This is a direct conflict because it's directly dealing with Connor. The point of view in this book is 3rd person omniscient, and is very helpful because you can know everyone else's view on Connor. On page 7 there is an example of a signpost when Connor asks him self a tough question. "Lately he's began to wonder. Has he been practicing to much?" Knowing that he practices 24/7. Overall this book was pretty good and I give it a 4/5

[Laela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel I need to let you know that I am a baseball girl. I am that person who sits around and watches the game night after night. You want to talk about what's going on with my Reds, be ready, we'll be here awhile. You need to know this because I am about to tell you that this book has too much baseball in it, and I want to make sure you understand that I know what I am talking about.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great things going on in this book. Connor's family is going through a rough patch. His dad has lost his job, his mom is working all the time, there isn't enough money to go around, his sister is getting ready to go off to college. It is enough to cause stress for Connor. It's a great book about trying to deal with those issues. However,the amount of baseball in this book is going to turn off half the kids because it feels like a play by play of a lot of games, that we don't need to know so much about.

This is for the die hard baseball fan. It's good, but it could have been better.

[Tommy W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hothand is a really good book by Cal Ripken Jr. that has to do with a boy who plays baseball. Connor Sullivan is a boy who loves baseball and is very good at it too. Connor’s dad just got fired from his job and so his mom has to work extra hard and she is barely ever home. This makes Connor frustrated and he takes the frustration out on the baseball field when he does something wrong. Then Connor meets this girl name Melissa who really likes him and he likes her. She is a writer on there school team and does a paper on Connor’s baseball game and thats when he blows up in front of everyone.

I would give this book a 5 out of 5. I really liked this book because it always kept your face in the book. There was always something going on in the book that kept you interested. Another reason I like this book is because I really like baseball. I think if you don’t like baseball you won’t like the book as much as if you liked baseball like me. Overall, I still recommend this book for people who really enjoy book.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Connor is the hotshot of his baseball team, but he is going through some hard times. His dad has been out of work for months and can't find a job. And Connor is having a hard time controlling his emotions; he starts through tantrums during games and is close to being kicked off the team.

This entire book felt like an after school special on dealing with families out of work and controlling your temper. It was way too simplistic with little character development or plot. And there was way too much baseball; I think every game had a play by play recap. I think that is going to turn off kids who aren't into baseball that much. I think there were some good things in this book like Connor's dad losing his job and the family struggling to get by but everything else just seemed so stereotypical and flat. It seemed like Cal Ripken Jr. was just trying to create the perfect kid and then give him a problem to solve. This is why celebrities shouldn't write books.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Connor Sullivan is an All-Star shortstop on his Babe Ruth team, the Orioles. He can hit and field with the best of them, but he's got one big problem: his temper. When he strikes out or makes an error, he's a walking Mt. Vesuvius, slamming batting helmets and throwing gloves. His teammates are starting to avoid him, even his best friend Jordy. His coach is ready to kick him off the team. To make matters worse, things aren't much better at home. His dad is having trouble finding a new job after being laid off. Money is tight. Connor's dream of attending the prestigious Brooks Robinson Baseball Camp this summer seems like just that now - a dream. When the sports editor of the school paper threatens to do a big story on his tantrums - complete with embarassing photos - Connor realizes he has to clean up his act. But can he do it in time to regain his teammates' trust and help the Orioles win the championship against the best team in the league?

[Kylie Bengtzen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Hothead by Cal Ripken Jr. and Kevin Cowherd tells the story of a boy who is the best baseball player on his team but his problem is he loses his temper. The main characters are Connor, Connor's father, Connor's mother, Melissa, and Jordy. This novel mainly takes place in Connor's home and at the baseball field where he plays. Overall, I thought the book was a 3-star rating because I like baseball and that is what it is about but I don't really like how it is mainly about him losing his temper in the games. If I could change anything about this book it would be instead of having this book be about him losing his temper, it could be about his journey in baseball up until right now. I would recommend this book to boys 9-13 because it is about a sport and a young boy and usually that is what young boys enjoy reading. The problems the characters encountered were Connor not being able to play as good because his problems.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps baseballs fans will like this more than I did as there was a great deal of play-by-play action. It addresses some great issues: parent's job loss and resulting family stress, sportsmanship and self-control. However, the hothead issue seemed to come from nowhere. Yes, it was brought on by the family's stress of the dad's job loss, but there seemed to be little basis for the kid's actions. His temper just seemed to erupt out of nowhere. First, he's a perfect kid and baseball player, and then wham! he has a temper tantrum on the baseball field. I just couldn't get passed the uncharacteristic temper tantrums. Actually, there were only 3 in the whole story, I think. Just didn't seem realistic even given the reasons behind it. Too simplistic. With that said, it might be a good starter book for those reluctant readers who are baseball fans.