Curveball

by Pablo Cartaya, Miguel Díaz Rivas (illustrator)

Roller Girl meets Cardboard Kingdom in this original, contemporary graphic novel from award-winning author Pablo Cartaya and New York Times best-selling illustrator Miguel Díaz Rivas.

Baseball is Elena Rueda’s entire She may be the only girl on her team, but she’s the best player and everyone knows it. Except . . . Elena has stopped having fun, and it’s time to leave the sport behind.

The problem is, Elena has no idea who she is without a bat in her hand. Can a summer spent with her brother's quirky friends in an empty sandlot that offers a world of possibility show Elena who she is—and teach her to love to play again?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Sports, Baseball, Family, Friendship, Fiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

Pablo Cartaya is a professional code switcher and lover of all things Latinx. He talks a lot and writes a lot which are paradoxical conundrums to overcome on a daily basis. He is the author of the acclaimed middle-grade novel, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora (Viking Children’s Books/Penguin Random House) which earned him a Publisher's Weekly "Flying Start" and starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly. For his performance recording the audiobook of his novel, Pablo received an Earphone Award from Audiofile Magazine and a Publisher's Weekly Audiobooks starred review. His novel Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish, also with Viking, is set for publication in summer 2018, with two forthcoming titles to follow in 2019 and 2020. Follow him on Twitter @phcartaya

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curveball was a middle grade graphic novel that I was really looking forward to checking out this year. While it was successful in illustrating some elements like the infamous helicopter parent and the impact it has on children, I wasn't necessarily sold on the plot at all times. The emphasis on the value of using one's imagination instead of constantly being in competition mode was great, but I don't feel as though Cartaya followed through. I wanted to more exploration of the LARP group, more character development, and a more fleshed out story. The artwork, inking, and coloring were all amazing, but it need a stronger story to match.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this quick read about a girl who is a baseball superstar partly because of her natural talents, but also because it's apparent that she works very hard at it. However, it's pretty clear at the beginning that her mom seems way more invested in her success than she does. It's a classic story about a child figuring herself out and feeling added pressure because they don't want to disappoint their parent. While a common theme, I really liked that this story included her brother's love of LARP, not something I often see. The illustrations are great, with the exception of the new girl's grandmother--she totally looked like Cruella DeVille to me and that just seemed odd because while her grandmother was kind of standoffish (being super wealthy, but also dealing with her own pain), she was not an evil woman. So that one didn't work for me. I especially liked the illustrations that showed their imagination with the LARP and it was great seeing Elena slowly discovering her inner little girl, back before teasing from other kids taught her to push down her imagination.

I also enjoyed the various Spanish phrases that made it into the story, and it was fun to know what was being said even without a translation! Yay for Duolingo, lol! I definitely recommend this for elementary and middle school kids!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena plays baseball, because that is what is expected of her. But when she hurts her knee, one summer, she decides to check out what her brother is going, which is LARPing (Live Action Role Playing). And they seem to be having fun with it, even though they are playing in a dirt lot. She can’t see what they are seeing, or understand what they are playing. She doesnt’ understand that they don’t have to have a winning and losing side in their games.

But, the more she hangs out, the more she discovers that she wants to play their game.

What I liked was that Elena actually listened, and began to understand the fun of playing for the sake of playing. Stubborn, yes, but willing to make the change. This shows kids that it is ok to change your mind about what makes you happy. That you don’t have to follow the same path all the time, if you are not getting joy from it.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonus #latinxheritagemonth book rec: a MG graphic novel that follows a team’s only female baseball player who, after she’s injured, finds another passion in LARPing (live action role playing)!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Elena Rueda's mother Marissa is VERY invested in her daughter's baseball career, since she faced obstacles in her own. There's not time for fun, since Elena doesn't get to hang out after games with her teammates, and instead must train and attend camps to help her performance. Not only that, but if she blows a play on the field, her mother loses it publically. Elena's father and grandfather just want her to have fun, but have little say in the matter. Her brother Benji is more interested in casual Live Action Role Playing, and spends much of his time in a dinosaur costume. When Elena trips, falls, and injures her knee, she is secretly glad that she doesn't have to play baseball. Bored, she asks her brother about playing with him and his friends, who called themselves the Band Of Renegade Kinfolk, or BORKs. It takes a while for her to understand that there is no "winning" at LARPing; it is just a way to exercise her imagination and have fun, two things she has no practice at. Elena meets Toni, who is a bit mysterious, and who turns out to be the granddaughter of a wealthy local women who is living with her grandmother after the recent death of both of her parents. Eventually, Elena convinces the other LARPers to play "Borkball", and her competitive spirit comes to the fore. Her mother, a realtor, manages not only to sell the abandoned lot where the kids have been playing, but registers the group as a Little League team. This increasing pressure causes Elena to finally come clean to her mother and to try to find a way that she can enjoy sports and friends in a more childlike way.
Strengths: I'm always glad to see sports stories, and the idea of parental over involvement is certainly a reality for many children. The mother's issues with girls playing baseball rather than softball certainly would have been a huge consideration thirty years ago. I've not seen too many book addressing LARPing, so Benji and his friends enjoying themselves in a vacant field certainly is an appealing choice. I'm always glad to see Kids Doing Things, and this was certainly fun and fresh.
Weaknesses: The grandmother looks a little like Cruella deVille, and wears a black, Victorian style long dress. Considering most grandparents are now around my age, I can't imagine that a well to do business woman would dress this way. Just an odd choice. Also, killing off BOTH of Toni's parents?
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Speed Racer style illustrations
and want a story that carries the emotional weight of Morrison's Coming Up Short and Bishop's The Distance to Home but in the graphic novel format of Spangler's Fox Point's Own Gemma Hopper.

[Kathy Maggiacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some aspects that I really like about this book yet I don't love it.
Elena - Main character, middle school age, only girl on boy's baseball team
Mom - Loves baseball, encourages Elena to be her best through training, clinics and practice
Benji- younger brother who loves Live Action Role Playing (LARP)
I do like the message that all of us should follow our own passions and do what we love and don't do something to please others.
I like the message family is there for each other and to support each other.
BORK (friend group) same message, friends support each other.
I like how it's practically a how-to guide to use your imagination and it encourages kids to play outside and draw.
It touches on the subject of death and going to a therapist to talk through your feelings (one of the character's parents died the previous month which I liked how it showed the character and respected her feelings being natural and ways to cope. However, I felt this character really wasn't developed and it left many questions such as how did they die? Was she with them? I know she was a side character but it felt like that news was like a bomb dropped on our main character and then the news was brushed aside.
I also liked how the book was helping Elena "find herself" yet I think she really loved baseball and didn't stop playing because she wanted to stop.
I loved all the family support but just because the mom was "pushing" baseball on her daughter since she couldn't play in High School doesn't mean that's not what Elena wanted. I think Elena really loved baseball just like her grandmother and mom. I was a little disappointed by the ending when it shows all the kids when alone doing what they want. (They don't look happy) I do think the mom should have asked her daughter before making some decisions for her and I am glad they communicated well at the end but the book really made me feel like it was lacking something in the end.
Nice read though and great discussion book with kids I think. (Kids will probably like how the kids get what they each want.) I wonder how kids view the mom. (I think she is awesome!)

2 Lessons Elena learned:
1. Setbacks aren't failures. They're just ways to measure how to keep moving forward.
2. Your friends and family are there to guide you. (I think that's what the mom was doing all along and she grew into an even better mom by listening and really hearing her kids.)

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I rounded it up to 4 only because I think our protagonist Elena is dealing with an increasingly common problem in the US-- burnout from being pushed too hard by a parent. Even though she loves baseball and competition, her mother's schedule and goals for her are sucking all the enjoyment out of it and leaving Elena with little time or energy for anything else. She clearly hasn't had time for friends or spontaneous fun in ages, and no longer knows if she's playing because it's her dream or her Mom's.

Medium level spoiler: The one aspect of the book that bothered me a lot was when Elena makes friends with a new girl, Toni, who has moved in with her grandmother after the sudden death of both of her parents. For the most part, I think Elena becomes a pretty good friend to Toni. However, having been both a child whose father died during my childhood as well as a parent whose child died, it didn't sit well with me when Elena who had experienced neither, compared her situation to Toni and Nana's. Yes, there are similarities in losing your enthusiasm for a sport, and an inability to express important feelings. But the reasons why each character is struggling are completely different, and the way Elena tries to relate (the words she uses/way she expesses it) seems like it would not be helpful (in my opinion). I say this as a person who is also neurodivergent and acknowledge that sometimes my own attempts to empathise may unintentionally come off as insensitive. From my personal experience, I just don't think the death of a parent, spouse, or child is truly comparable to anything but the loss of a parental figure, child, or partner.

I did like that Elena learns to embrace her imagination and relate to her LARPing little brother and his friends. I liked that she eventually opened up to her Mom and was supported. But I was a little unsure from the ending if Elena returned to playing baseball on a team or not. I could see her making either choice.

[Robin Pharris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My middle-grade students enjoy graphic novels so I am always looking for good ones for our classroom library. This title did not disappoint! I feel like they can relate to the characters in this story because I hear them talk about the topic every day. Middle-grade students feel more pressure than any other grade group to decide what they love and hate without any clear-cut lines. Some parents put added pressure on these kiddos by forcing them or pushing them to do what activities they think are best for them. This title addresses this topic perfectly! Elena is the only girl on the baseball team and her mother pushes her because of that fact. When Elena gets hurt in the game and needs to take some time off to rest, she finally has time to spend with her brother and her other friends. She discovers that there are other things that she enjoys doing besides baseball, but she never has time to do them. She pushes back against her mother and decides to do what makes her happy. This story is great for any student who is feeling that same kind of pressure from their parent. This book has a great message for kids and adults alike! I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC and I will certainly be recommending this book to my students and purchasing it for our classroom library.

[Julesy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could have rated this highly because the illustrations, color and lettering were exactly what I enjoy in a middle grade graphic novel. I thought the story was about sports, namely baseball. I love sports graphic novels! Well, there was baseball, albeit very limited. At least half of the story was role-playing or live action role playing (called LARPing in the story). I absolutely LOATHE role playing stories of any kind and actually avoid any books that have role playing in them.

I skimmed through the LARP portions of the story. I enjoyed Elena's new friendship with Toni and was hoping the story would be more inclusive for their fondness (or avoidance) of baseball. However, the sports story took a downturn when baseball was integrated with LARP to become BORKball. Ugh, what a disaster (in my eyes). This left very little story remaining for me to read so I unhesitatingly jumped to the end.

Yes, this review is harsh. I have tried RP books and the more I read of them, my dislike is justified. Just not my cup of tea and I don't apologize for it. Many will enjoy this graphic novel because of the RP theme. I unfortunately was left out.

Overall I would give the illustrations, color and lettering 4-5 stars but the story 2 at the very most.

[Mary Hanna Wilson | Celebrate a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena Rueda is the best player and only girl on her baseball team. Due to an injury, she is taking a break and has no idea what to do with herself because baseball has been her whole identity. Elena spends the summer with her brother and his quirky friends in an empty sandlot where they play RPG games. Elena realizes that while she still enjoys playing baseball, it isn't as important to her anymore, but now she has to convince her mother.

I thought this was a fun story with enjoyable characters. The only character that bothered me was Elena's mom. She was so competitive about baseball that her attitude was ruining her daughter's experience. The mom was completely unaware of her over-the-top competitiveness, though her daughter finally bursts in anger and talks to her about it.

I loved the combination of athletics and RPGs (role-playing games). The kids had a great time using their imaginations and creating games that combined their love of role-playing with Elena's love of baseball. It was a fun mash-up for a book.

The graphics were bright, fun, and creative. The illustrator did a great job bringing their imagination to life so we could see the reality alongside their imagined reality.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers who enjoy Jamieson’s Roller Girl or the Hoops series by Elena Della Donne are sure to love this sporty graphic novel with a girl at bat. Elena has been tops at baseball for several years and with her mom’s encouragement, has plans to “break the glass ceiling” and play on the boys’ high school baseball team in the near future. But maybe the pressure and the single minded focus on only one thing is getting to be too much this summer. In graphic panels full of motion and plenty of big onomatopoeia splats across the page, Pablo Cartaya (author) and Miguel Diaz Rivas join together to create a book likely for grades 2-5 that is full of imagination, fun and little lessons in healthy balance, speaking truth, and listening to one another. Highly recommended and for middle grade and elementary libraries needing more books with girls playing sports, this should go to the top of the shopping cart. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. A few haracters are identified as Venezuelan and Cuban-American and in illustrations seem to represent a broad range of ages and skin tones.

Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley.

[Lisa Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a love of baseball, and when it is a a girl playing, it make it even better. I enjoyed this book and how life can have its pressures. A person needs to decide what to do, but yet doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. That was this book. In the end with communication things did get better for the main character. She gained friends an imagination and she got to play ball but in a different way that she enjoyed. The pictures were colorful and easy to see, some graphic novels, have awful graphics, but not this book.
The only thing I didn’t like in the book, was the Spanish words. I have no background in Spanish and could not figure out what was being said. As a speech and language pathologist, when working with students 90-95% of information must be presented so they can understand, and with that Spanish, they would have a difficult time with this book. That would be the only reason why I wouldn’t use it for therapy. I will suggest they read it on their own though.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a satisfactorily playful graphic novel about a baseball wunderkind named Elena Rueda who isn't so sure she wants to keep playing. She's the only girl on her team and sometimes it feels like she's only playing because her mom is so into it. When she tweaks her knee at the beginning of summer vacation, it seems like Elena might finally get the break she wants. Only, without baseball, she doesn't have any friends to spend time with. She ends up joining in with her younger brother's LARPing group where her competitive nature threatens to get in the way of the fun.
This is so much more than just a good sports graphic novel, but it is also a great sports graphic novel. The vibrant illustrations filled with action and fantasy are great. The story is one that kids will connect with -- "no dad! I'm giving up YOUR dream" -- for the new generation. Untranslated Spanish words are a nice touch and give the sense of Elena's bilingual household.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena is a standout on her baseball team and not just because she is the only girl. Her mom is super invested in her success and constantly pushes Elena to work on her game. When an injury forces her to take a break from the sport and leaves her with lots of time on her hands, Elena gets the opportunity to think about what she really wants—and realize that you don’t always have to compete to enjoy playing games.
Readers will relate to Elena’s struggle to find what really matters to her and to becoming confident enough to stand up to her parents to make her feelings about their expectations—and competitive baseball--known. While on the surface, this seems to be a sports themed book, the graphic novel’s pairing of baseball with live-action role playing (LARP) will help it appeal to wide reader audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for me to read and review.

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena Rueda is a great baseball player. Possibly the best on her team, and definitely the only girl. But, baseball has become her identity, her way to fulfill her mother's dream. Baseball has become life and death. So when an injury sidelines her for the summer, what will she do with herself? Her abuelo suggests that she spend time with her younger brother, Benji and his quirky band of LARPers. Elena cannot wrap her head around it. What is the point of the game? No one wins, no one loses. And her imagination died several baseball camps ago. But, as the summer goes on, Elena gets swept along by the group who always have each other's backs and are up for anything. Will she be able to keep her joy alive when the summer ends, and the serious business of baseball comes around again? This was very sweet. I loved watching Elena grow as she opened her eyes to the world and the people around her.

[Juanita Flores-Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for an advanced copy of Curveball by Pablo Cartaya. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and I'm sure my students will too! Pablo Cartaya does a great job again of showing a complex relationship between middle grade kids and their mothers. This book has lots of diversity of characters and it does a good job of showing a character overcome obstacles.
The main character, Elena is super managed by her mom who only wants her to play baseball (which was her dream for herself). When Elena finally gets a break from baseball she sees that she hasn't had time to make friends and she has no imagination. With the help of her younger brother, LARPing and his friends she is able to grow a lot, even to the point of finally letting her mom know how she feels about baseball. It's a fun read.

[Crystal books_inthewild · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be one of my most recommended graphic novels when I’m back in the school library come fall!

I was totally engaged in this story right from the beginning! I loved the main character Elena, her family, the Spanish words & phrases mixed throughout, the illustrations, the diverse characters!

I really appreciated the storyline of feeling the pressure of being the only girl on her baseball team, and how she had the weight of “girl power” and living up to her mom’s big plans for her. I really enjoyed her brother, and his big imagination & positive attitude.

This is probably the first middle-grade novel that has made me tear up in the end- it was that heartwarming! I absolutely loved how it all tied up in the end.

This graphic novel will appeal to a lot of readers- so be sure to check it out :)

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

We know the story: it is more fun to play the game than to be played by the game.  A young girl loves competition and sports, especially baseball. Or does she? Is her mother trying to live vicariously through her, pushing her to be the best as she couldn't be? And to keep the family tradition alive so that she can have the opportunities her mother couldn't have and grandmother tasted a bit, but not to the extent her granddaughter could. Of course, with some new friends and her quirky brother, she learns to have fun.  There is one small trigger issue: the death of the parents of one of the other girls, but overall handled well. We deal with grief, finding yourself, your family, your interests and going outside your comfort zone. There is a humorous arc that has the grandmother of a character look the part of an evil sorceress, an awesome grandfather that knows everything and lots of love. The only issue I had was there was some Spanish spoken without translation, but for the most part you could tell by context.  Colorful, simple (not simplistic) illustrations allow the scenes to unfold and the LARPing sessions understood better. 

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elena’s life is all baseball, all the time, since her mother wants her to be the first girl on the boy’s high school team. She is beginning to realize that she trains so much that she has no time for friends. She trips and injures a knee, and realizes that she could use this as an excuse to stop playing for a bit. She wanders over to her brother’s LARP group of friends, and has difficulty realizing that they do not compete and the LARP does not have a winner. She meets a new girl whose parents died. Who also used to play ball. She eventually gathers courage to tell her mom that while she loves baseball, she wants to try other activities as well.
I had a hard time telling certain characters apart. I did not realize that the person making a commotion in the first scene was her mother, not her friend or sibling.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Curveball, Elena Rueda is the best girl baseball player who has lost her enjoyment of the sport. Elena struggles with saying anything to her Mother, a former baseball player herself, about not wanting to play baseball anymore. As she navigates her feelings, Elena's brother encourages her to spend some time with the BORKs and their unique activities such as LARPing. Toni, a new girl in the neighborhood, encourages Elena to follow her heart, and this propels Elena to tell her mom that she doesn't want to play baseball anymore. Thankfully, Elena's family embraces her decision, which allows Elena to play more with her imagination, and the BORKs, and not all the pressure of competitive baseball.

eARC provided by Netgalley

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a free ARC from NetGalley.
Elena’s life revolves around baseball. She is a good athlete and her mom is always pressuring her to be better. When she injures her knee and can’t play summer ball, she is relieved. Her little brother introduces her to his LARPing group. At first, Elena doesn’t understand it and things it’s silly. Eventually she makes friends and realizes that everything does not have to be a competition- you can do something just because you enjoy it. It has a diverse cast and the messages it demonstrates about family, friendship and dealing with loss (Toni, her new friend, is dealing with the death of her mother and father) are appropriate for upper elementary to middle grade readers.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure to be a popular hit with middle grade graphic novel fans! Elena is the only girl in her baseball league, constantly training with her mom with the goal of high school baseball in her future. Benji, her little brother, is the game master of his neighborhood LARPing group, constantly in dragon costume and accompanying cape. When an injury at the start of the summer has Elena feeling isolated and questioning if she really wants to continue training, she hesitantly joins Benji with his LARPing group: the BORKs. But how can you have fun when there's no way to win?

Curveball encourages using your imagination and embracing your inner child, addressing topics like making new friends, competitiveness, open communication, generational trauma, grief, and the importance of having fun.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a girl who plays baseball on boys teams (because I guess there are no softball teams?) and then she gets injured and has to take some time off. Her sibling is into an imaginary play group so she joins that, despite the fact that pretend play is really hard for her because of being made fun of as a younger kid. Her parents take her baseball VERY seriously so when she rediscovers her imagination and she finds a way to combine baseball and imagination, she isn't sure she wants to go back to baseball in the same way. She makes friends with a new kid in the neighborhood that also inspires her. Overall, this is a book about finding out what you want and being true to yourself without pressure from parents and others, but it felt a little underdeveloped.

[Jacob Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book for graphic novel lovers. It might seem surprising I gave it 3 stars, but despite it being a fun and good read, it read very similar to other graphic novels I have read in the past. It felt like the story had been done before. If the book lived in a vacuum, I would give it 4 stars for the good female role models and family dynamic. However, I unfortunately do feel like there are other graphic novels that accomplish the same goal with a better story. Definitely enjoyable to read, so I recommend it. I just have read a lot of similar graphic novels already, and didn't feel it stand out as much as the others.

[Mo Holub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curveball is a short and sweet middle grade graphic novel that focuses on imaginative exploration vs strict rule following--in this case, under the guise of a star baseball player learning to enjoy live action roleplaying. Elena is a preteen focused on breaking barriers as the first girl to play on the high school varsity baseball team. Baseball is her entire life for better or for worse, until a minor injury gives her a chance to remember what it's like to have fun and play for the sake of playing. The premise for this one hooked me right away, but my initial intrigue hit a wall of stiff dialogue and underdeveloped relationships. While for me, the character development fell flat and the plot was too thin, Miguel Diaz Rivas art was enough to keep me going.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ebook ARC from Disney Hyperion via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This juvenile graphic novel stars Elena who’s whole life is focused on baseball and who’s mom is hyper-focused on her success. Elena is questioning how much she loves baseball and why she is doing it. When Elena has an injury in the summer that has her hanging out with her brother and his friends who LARP – she realizes how hard it is to open up her imagination. Will Elena be able to find what is most fun for her? Overall, this is a cute and well-illustrated story that could have spent more time developing all the characters. It was also a bit cliqued in parts, but easy to read.

[Caylie Ratzlaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the PDF of this Graphic Novel. 3.5/5 stars.

I mean, it's short and it's cute, but that's about it? I like the diversity rep and the way it incorporated Spanish and Cuban history of Baseball...but it just was very very very middle grade. I also thought it was interesting that Toni's grandmother looked like the stepmother from Cinderella...and there's a whole plot with Toni that I feel like really wasn't necessary?

I do like how it amplifies the importance of imagination (go LARPing) and balance with athletics, but it didn't leave a major impact on me. I think younger middle grade would love this though.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bright, bold cover drew me into this book, and the fun illustrations in this graphic novel are great! I found this book very readable. Elena is an outlier- the only girl on her baseball team and a standout player, but her commitment to the sport has left holes in her personal life. When a knee injury keeps her from playing ball over the summer, she spends more time with her younger brother, his LARPing friends and a mysterious artistic neighbor. Elena struggles to ignite her imagination and can’t help but slide back into her competitive, ball-playing ways. This book is good for young kids who are struggling with expectations and finding their niche.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I read a digital copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley.
Elena Rueda is a baseball player. It's her life, and her mother's life. After her team loses the semi-finals, and she injures her knee tripping over her brother's LARP costume, Elena might just be having a baseball free boring summer. When her abuelo suggests she hang out with her younger brother Benji and his live action role playing (LARP) group, Elena is horrified. But as she meets Toni from across from the old sandlot, Elena starts rethinking how much baseball means to her and if she's living her life's dream, or her mother's.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I thought this would be a standard book about a child learning to rebel against the expectations of a pushy parent. And it sort of is, but what makes this book stand out is that Elena truly loves baseball and wants to play, she just feels stifled by her mother's over involvement and the huge chip on her shoulder. This book is as much about Elena discovering her imagination and attempting to build an identity outside of baseball as it is about rebelling against her mother. And in the end, she does manage to build new friendships, including a closer relationship with her LARPing brother, and develops a more balanced relationship with both her sport and her mother.