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Home Team #1
The Only Game
Can a young baseball star maintain his love of the game after the loss of his brother? Find out in this start to the Home Team series about a small town with high hopes, from New York Times bestselling author and sportswriting legend Mike Lupica.
Jack Callahan is the star of his baseball team and sixth grade is supposed to be his year. Undefeated season. Records shattered. Little League World Series. The works. That is, until he up and quits.
Jack's best friend Gus can't understand how Jack could leave a game that means more to them than anything else. But Jack is done. It's a year of change. Jack's brother has passed away, and though his family and friends and the whole town of Walton thinks baseball is just the thing he needs to move on, Jack feels it's anything but.
In comes Cassie Bennett, star softball player, and the only person who seems to think Jack shouldn't play if he doesn't want to. As Jack and Cassie's friendship deepens, their circle expands to include Teddy, a guy who's been picked on because of his weight.
Time spent with these new friends unlocks something within Jack, and with their help and the support of his family and his old friends, Jack discovers sometimes it's more than just the love of the game that keeps us moving—and he might just be able to find his way back to The Only Game.
Jack Callahan is the star of his baseball team and sixth grade is supposed to be his year. Undefeated season. Records shattered. Little League World Series. The works. That is, until he up and quits.
Jack's best friend Gus can't understand how Jack could leave a game that means more to them than anything else. But Jack is done. It's a year of change. Jack's brother has passed away, and though his family and friends and the whole town of Walton thinks baseball is just the thing he needs to move on, Jack feels it's anything but.
In comes Cassie Bennett, star softball player, and the only person who seems to think Jack shouldn't play if he doesn't want to. As Jack and Cassie's friendship deepens, their circle expands to include Teddy, a guy who's been picked on because of his weight.
Time spent with these new friends unlocks something within Jack, and with their help and the support of his family and his old friends, Jack discovers sometimes it's more than just the love of the game that keeps us moving—and he might just be able to find his way back to The Only Game.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2015
162 people are currently reading
814 people want to read
About the author
Mike Lupica
108 books1,199 followersMichael Lupica is an author and American newspaper columnist, best known for his provocative commentary on sports in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
February 7, 2017
The book The Only Game by Mike Lupica is a very interesting and exciting realistic fiction book about a boy who loves baseball, but one day decides to quit and no one understands Jack's decision, not even his teammates or his best friend. Because he quit baseball he started making less friends and became more lonely. This book is very detailed and tense because Jack later has to make a tough decision. This is a great book about fighting back to where you feel most comfortable. I loved this book and recommend this book to all who like inspirational books and sports.
October 29, 2020
Mike Lupica has written a quality series or two (the best being his Comeback Kids middle-grade novels), and he kicks off another with The Only Game, his first Home Team offering. Tragedy hit twelve-year-old Little League baseball phenom Jack Callahan and his family months before the book begins, but its effect still reverberates. In this, the season that Jack and his best friend Gus Morales have looked forward to for years as their chance to capture the league championship and ride the wave of momentum through districts, state, regionals, and on to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Jack is dealing with heavier issues than he ever anticipated, and it's weighing down his usually joyful approach to the sport he loves. He's easily the best preteen baseball player in town, the thoroughbred his team plans to ride as far in the tournament as he can carry them, but Jack knows something his teammates don't: he's about to quit before the season opens.
Shocked as they are by Jack's abrupt decision to leave his Tampa Bay Rays Little League squad, his parents support the decision. Gus, on the other hand, disapproves demonstratively. He, Jack, and the rest of the team have dreamed of this season since they emerged as the town's perennial all-stars years ago. Seventh grade is a Little Leaguer's peak year of eligibility for the World Series, so they zeroed in on this season long ago as their opportunity to make the big time, to have their games televised nationally as they compete for the world championship, but Jack isn't changing his mind. After his daredevil older brother Brad died in an accident while trying a dangerous stunt with friends, Jack doesn't feel up to taking the baseball field right now. Gus is livid, first pleading with Jack and then yelling at him not to blow it for their team, but all that does is drive a wedge between the two close friends. Cassie Bennett, standout pitcher on the seventh-grade girls' Baltimore Orioles softball team, comes to Jack's defense. They don't know each other well, but Cassie's willingness to stand up for Jack when Gus publicly berates him is the start of a friendship between two of the premier youth athletes in town, and getting to know her eases the sting of being on the outs with Gus.
Jack's jilted teammates are stunned to have to open the season without their MVP, but Jack involves himself in other athletic activities to keep busy. He accepts Cassie's offer to help coach her Orioles, and being around the sport is a good catharsis for him. We're not sure exactly why Jack wants to sit out his most exciting season of his favorite sport, but there's more to the decision than he's told anyone, and he comes perilously close to confessing his secret to Cassie the more friendly they become. Whether Jack sticks to his guns and remains a spectator, or returns from voluntary retirement to wreak havoc as a Tampa Bay Ray with his thunderous bat and lightning fastball, his support system is deeper and wider than ever. A lot of people are looking out for his best interests, friends who care about him for more than his athletic dominance. In addition to Cassie, Jack makes friends with a plump kid named Teddy, who's intelligent and funny but gets laughed for being overweight and clumsy. Falling out of favor with the guys for electing to skip baseball season has enhanced Jack's sensitivity to kids like Teddy, and he leverages his own popularity to make the class stop picking on Teddy. Maybe he can even help his portly new friend get in shape, if Teddy's willing to try. Jack has a lot to be thankful for, though the loss of his brother will never stop hurting. But there are quite a few adventures left to be had even as he holds on tightly to his memories of the big brother he loved.
"But maybe you could get better at missing things—and people—with enough practice."
—The Only Game, P. 31
I don't always find quotes that stand out in Mike Lupica's books, but The Only Game contains several. In the early going Jack thinks about his sad situation, both the part everyone knows and the truth only he is aware of. "Jack knew that sometimes you couldn't pick and choose the things you didn't like about your life. The things that hurt you..." We all have recurring issues, problems that feel like part of our genetic makeup, but even if we get tired of repeatedly facing the same challenges, we have to keep at it. Conversing with Cassie later, Jack demonstrates his integrity as a friend by expressing concern for Gus's feelings even though the two of them are on uneasy terms. When Cassie points this out, Jack has a great response. "You've got to be a good friend even when they're not around. My dad calls it being a friend behind somebody's back." That's the essence of integrity in friendship. Your friend may never know you went to bat for him, but you do it because you care, not because you wish to be thanked. The hard work of friendship is the base brush strokes no one sees when they admire the completed painting. Jack's parents are often in tough spots in this book, but they handle it well because they love Jack, and Cassie makes a good observation about their subtle perceptiveness. "Parents see stuff...even when we think they're missing everything." Kids sometimes think their parents don't care because they don't seem to understand them, but they perceive more than we think. They know us better than we realize, and this is certainly true of Jack and his parents. It's a good thing; he needs them as much now as at any time in his life.
Mike Lupica typically is good for a few pithy sports insights, and The Only Game doesn't disappoint. When a baseball player who's nervous about a big game asks Jack if he ever gets nervous, Jack admits he does. "How do you get over it?" "You don't," Jack answers. "You just tell yourself that this is why you play." If you're in the big spot you always fantasized about, why fret over the result? You'll deliver or not, but worrying won't help. A positive outcome is guaranteed no one in sports. But winning is a sweet elixir, and Coach Leonard of Jack's Tampa Bay Rays has a somewhat earthy saying about why it's good to be first. "If you're not the lead dog, the view is always the same." The view from first place is consistently preferable. I think Jack contributes the best nugget of sports wisdom, using a baseball analogy to explain why he tries to get himself out of trouble he creates. "I never look for help when I'm the one who loaded the bases." Once a pitcher departs the mound, his control over the game ends, but as long as he's the guy deciding when and where the next pitch is thrown, he has the power to end the inning without allowing further damage. A dependable pitcher wants to finish the job himself, and that's Jack's mindset in life and sports.
The best parts of The Only Game are the poignant conversations and revelations about the loss of Jack's brother, a tireless supporter of his little bro's baseball ambitions who was proud that Jack was the best athlete his age in the area. The scene with the Dustin Pedroia baseball is loaded with emotion, and puts the reader right in the middle of the family's heartache. These parts of the story bump my rating of The Only Game to two and a half stars, and made me seriously consider rounding up to three. The moments we have with loved ones are priceless; we can't know when our final hour together will expire and we'll never feel the comfort of being with that person again. Appreciate the time while you have it, and don't be afraid to love without holding anything back. Fans of Mike Lupica's Heat may find another favorite in The Only Game, and readers who appreciate off-field drama along with their baseball action will find a nice mix here. Enjoy the book, everybody.
Shocked as they are by Jack's abrupt decision to leave his Tampa Bay Rays Little League squad, his parents support the decision. Gus, on the other hand, disapproves demonstratively. He, Jack, and the rest of the team have dreamed of this season since they emerged as the town's perennial all-stars years ago. Seventh grade is a Little Leaguer's peak year of eligibility for the World Series, so they zeroed in on this season long ago as their opportunity to make the big time, to have their games televised nationally as they compete for the world championship, but Jack isn't changing his mind. After his daredevil older brother Brad died in an accident while trying a dangerous stunt with friends, Jack doesn't feel up to taking the baseball field right now. Gus is livid, first pleading with Jack and then yelling at him not to blow it for their team, but all that does is drive a wedge between the two close friends. Cassie Bennett, standout pitcher on the seventh-grade girls' Baltimore Orioles softball team, comes to Jack's defense. They don't know each other well, but Cassie's willingness to stand up for Jack when Gus publicly berates him is the start of a friendship between two of the premier youth athletes in town, and getting to know her eases the sting of being on the outs with Gus.
Jack's jilted teammates are stunned to have to open the season without their MVP, but Jack involves himself in other athletic activities to keep busy. He accepts Cassie's offer to help coach her Orioles, and being around the sport is a good catharsis for him. We're not sure exactly why Jack wants to sit out his most exciting season of his favorite sport, but there's more to the decision than he's told anyone, and he comes perilously close to confessing his secret to Cassie the more friendly they become. Whether Jack sticks to his guns and remains a spectator, or returns from voluntary retirement to wreak havoc as a Tampa Bay Ray with his thunderous bat and lightning fastball, his support system is deeper and wider than ever. A lot of people are looking out for his best interests, friends who care about him for more than his athletic dominance. In addition to Cassie, Jack makes friends with a plump kid named Teddy, who's intelligent and funny but gets laughed for being overweight and clumsy. Falling out of favor with the guys for electing to skip baseball season has enhanced Jack's sensitivity to kids like Teddy, and he leverages his own popularity to make the class stop picking on Teddy. Maybe he can even help his portly new friend get in shape, if Teddy's willing to try. Jack has a lot to be thankful for, though the loss of his brother will never stop hurting. But there are quite a few adventures left to be had even as he holds on tightly to his memories of the big brother he loved.
"But maybe you could get better at missing things—and people—with enough practice."
—The Only Game, P. 31
I don't always find quotes that stand out in Mike Lupica's books, but The Only Game contains several. In the early going Jack thinks about his sad situation, both the part everyone knows and the truth only he is aware of. "Jack knew that sometimes you couldn't pick and choose the things you didn't like about your life. The things that hurt you..." We all have recurring issues, problems that feel like part of our genetic makeup, but even if we get tired of repeatedly facing the same challenges, we have to keep at it. Conversing with Cassie later, Jack demonstrates his integrity as a friend by expressing concern for Gus's feelings even though the two of them are on uneasy terms. When Cassie points this out, Jack has a great response. "You've got to be a good friend even when they're not around. My dad calls it being a friend behind somebody's back." That's the essence of integrity in friendship. Your friend may never know you went to bat for him, but you do it because you care, not because you wish to be thanked. The hard work of friendship is the base brush strokes no one sees when they admire the completed painting. Jack's parents are often in tough spots in this book, but they handle it well because they love Jack, and Cassie makes a good observation about their subtle perceptiveness. "Parents see stuff...even when we think they're missing everything." Kids sometimes think their parents don't care because they don't seem to understand them, but they perceive more than we think. They know us better than we realize, and this is certainly true of Jack and his parents. It's a good thing; he needs them as much now as at any time in his life.
Mike Lupica typically is good for a few pithy sports insights, and The Only Game doesn't disappoint. When a baseball player who's nervous about a big game asks Jack if he ever gets nervous, Jack admits he does. "How do you get over it?" "You don't," Jack answers. "You just tell yourself that this is why you play." If you're in the big spot you always fantasized about, why fret over the result? You'll deliver or not, but worrying won't help. A positive outcome is guaranteed no one in sports. But winning is a sweet elixir, and Coach Leonard of Jack's Tampa Bay Rays has a somewhat earthy saying about why it's good to be first. "If you're not the lead dog, the view is always the same." The view from first place is consistently preferable. I think Jack contributes the best nugget of sports wisdom, using a baseball analogy to explain why he tries to get himself out of trouble he creates. "I never look for help when I'm the one who loaded the bases." Once a pitcher departs the mound, his control over the game ends, but as long as he's the guy deciding when and where the next pitch is thrown, he has the power to end the inning without allowing further damage. A dependable pitcher wants to finish the job himself, and that's Jack's mindset in life and sports.
The best parts of The Only Game are the poignant conversations and revelations about the loss of Jack's brother, a tireless supporter of his little bro's baseball ambitions who was proud that Jack was the best athlete his age in the area. The scene with the Dustin Pedroia baseball is loaded with emotion, and puts the reader right in the middle of the family's heartache. These parts of the story bump my rating of The Only Game to two and a half stars, and made me seriously consider rounding up to three. The moments we have with loved ones are priceless; we can't know when our final hour together will expire and we'll never feel the comfort of being with that person again. Appreciate the time while you have it, and don't be afraid to love without holding anything back. Fans of Mike Lupica's Heat may find another favorite in The Only Game, and readers who appreciate off-field drama along with their baseball action will find a nice mix here. Enjoy the book, everybody.
October 17, 2017
"It was like they were back to speaking their own language, through the game they both loved the way they did."
Sometimes you need a book with a little heart with a subject that won't scare away a kid. This is that book.
There are so many valuable lessons within The Only Game. On the surface, this is a book about sports and triumph, and kids will love all the references to baseball players and the game-play.
However, this is really a book about perseverance and the concept of "getting out of your own way" which is a valuable adolescent theme when kids are really struggling with identity, confidence, judgment, etc.
The dialogue of Coach John Legend has so many great nuggets for kids, it's like Lupica is planting seeds for his readers, hoping to coach them through life as they read about Jack and baseball and his father...and friends.
It is a poignant, fast-read, perfect for any audience, but the sweet spot is surely 6th-9th grade.
Sometimes you need a book with a little heart with a subject that won't scare away a kid. This is that book.
There are so many valuable lessons within The Only Game. On the surface, this is a book about sports and triumph, and kids will love all the references to baseball players and the game-play.
However, this is really a book about perseverance and the concept of "getting out of your own way" which is a valuable adolescent theme when kids are really struggling with identity, confidence, judgment, etc.
The dialogue of Coach John Legend has so many great nuggets for kids, it's like Lupica is planting seeds for his readers, hoping to coach them through life as they read about Jack and baseball and his father...and friends.
It is a poignant, fast-read, perfect for any audience, but the sweet spot is surely 6th-9th grade.
March 26, 2017
Terrific book, particularly for middle school late elementary school boys who think they don't like to read. All the various parts of the plot tie together very neatly, and the sequel is set up without leaving this book feeling unfinished.
Read
March 5, 2016I thought that this was a very good book with a good ending and climax. This was the best baseball book i have ever read.
February 18, 2016
Personal Response:I really like this book because not only do I like baseball, but I liked how Cassie, Teddy, Gus, and Jack all became friends.
Plot:Jack had just entered his sixth grade baseball season. He felt that this was his year to go to the World Series. This was his year to go undefeated and break all records. The first day of practice for the year had came finally. Jack did great with batting practice, and he even hit one out of the park. After practice he told the coach he wanted to quit though. He had lost his brother in an accident and didn’t think he could handle playing baseball.
When Jack got home, Jack’s mom asked how practice was and Jack told her it was bad and he had quit the team. His parents freaked out and questioned Jack about it. He went up to his room and locked his door behind him. He turned the baseball game on the TV.
Gus, Jack’s best friend didn’t understand why Jack quit the team. The next day at school Gus ignored Jack. It was lunch time and Gus walked up to where Jack was sitting. Jack was at a table with the best softball player and a kid named Teddy. Gus yelled at Jack and tried to get everyone’s attention. Cassie stood up for Jack and told Gus to leave Jack alone.
Jack then started to hang out with Cassie after school. They would go to the dock/pond to talk. They would skip stones and would have competitions to see who had the most skips. They became close friends.
Gym class started out with a basketball game, three on three. It was Teddy, Jack, and someone else against Gus, T.W., and Hawk. Teddy chased the ball and T.W. tripped Teddy, all the guys laughed at Teddy except Jack. Jack stood up for Teddy and said lay off he never did anything to you. Gus just came back at Jack about baseball instead of Teddy being made fun of.
After school Teddy and Cassie went to the dock with Jack. Jack called his mom and told her he went to the dock with his friends. After Cassie went home, Teddy and Jack walked to the baseball field and played catch.
Jack forced Teddy to start running and practice baseball, so that he won’t get made fun of anymore. Not only did Jack help Teddy, but he asked to be an assistant coach for Cassie’s team.
The Rays had a baseball game while the girls softball practice went on. After practice, Gus walked past and said, “We lost, now we are 1-3, I hope your happy!” Cassie had a game the next day. They won and now they were 4-0. Cassie, Teddy and Jack went out for pizza, Jack forgot to call his mom and tell her where he was. When Jack turned on his phone he saw that there were a couple missed calls and messages that said, “Where are you?” Jack told them he had to hurry home, because he forgot to call his mom.
Jack got home and apologized for not calling and his mom forgave him. Jack went to his room and looked behind him to see if his parents followed him upstairs, but they didn’t. Jack went to his bed and brought out his baseball bag. He pulled out his brand new bat and glove. He pretended to swing the bat like he had hit a homerun. Then he threw the baseball into his mitt to break it in.
The Rays and the Orioles both won their next game. Now the Rays were 2-3 and the Orioles are 5-0. Jack went into his brother’s room which was empty; except for boxes. Jack sat down on the bed and just thought about how his brother died. (His brother died from a dirt bike accident) Jack’s parents came upstairs and saw Jack in his brother’s room and asked what he was doing. Jack said that he missed his brother and that he quit baseball because of his brother’s death. Jack’s dad said think of it this way, “Would your brother have wanted you to quit if he was still here?”
Jack’s mom said, “I have something for you that I was supposed to give you for your first game, but you quit and I felt now is the right time to give it to you. His mom left the room and came back with a gift. Jack opened the gift and it was a baseball signed by a major league baseball team. There was also a note that said, “Hey bud, I wanted to give this to you because I enjoy watching you play and you’re one of the best ball players I’ve ever seen, keep playing. Love you! -Brad.”
Jack kept thinking about the note that his brother wrote and finally decided he’s going to see if he can play for the Rays again. He called Cassie and told her about it and she was excited about it. The next day was Saturday and he biked to Gus’s house. When Jack got there he went to the door and knocked on it and Gus’s mom opened the door and invited Jack inside. Gus’s mom called Gus down from his room to talk to Jack, Jack said, “I wanted to play baseball again.” Gus asked who else knows, Jack said Cassie and you. Gus got frustrated because Jack told Cassie first.
Jack went to the coach’s house to talk to him about joining the team again. Coach said he would try and talk to the committee about it and see what they say. Coach called Jack and told him that the committee said it was okay to play. Jack told Gus, and then Cassie.
It was Jack’s first practice back and he did awesome, he had some really good hits and pitched against Gus and did well. It was game day and Ray had to play the #1 team on the board, the White Sox. In the 6th inning, The White Sox are up 6-5 against the Rays, and the Rays are on their last at bat of the game unless they tied the game. Two outs, one man was on first. Jack was at the plate he missed the first pitch, then the second pitch got a hold of it and hit it over the left field wall for win 7-6 Rays.
The Rays won the next 6 games after the win against the White Sox, so now the Rays are 9-3. The next game, Scott the Rays catcher got injured during the game and is out for the season. The Rays lost their best and only catcher, but still won the game.
The Ray’s had to find a new catcher. The coach had their shortstop which was Hawk and he was trying to catch. He wasn’t a very good catcher, but they had no other option so Hawk was the new catcher for now. The next game was against the Rockies who they were tied with for second place. Hawk struggled throughout the whole game. The Rays ended up losing against the Rockies.
Jack said to coach, “I think I know someone that could be our new catcher.” Coach said, “I’ll have to see him in try-out first. Jack went and told Teddy about the opportunity and Teddy didn’t want to do it. Jack finally convinces Teddy to try-out. Coach liked what he saw from Teddy and said, “I’ll talk to the committee and see what they say.” Coach called Teddy and Jack and said the committee said he could play.
Teddy’s first practice was really good, all the guys were nice to Teddy. Teddy’s first game came and they were playing the Red Sox. Teddy made normal catcher mistakes but wasn’t completing the catches at home plate. Teddy won the game by tagging out the runner at home from scoring for the win.
The Orioles made it to the championship and won 1-0. The Rays played their playoff game and won. The Rays were in the Championship against the White Sox. It was 1-0 Rays, until the 5th inning. Nate Vinton their star player hit the ball into short right field and Jack running full speed grabbed the ball one-handed and threw the ball to home plate on the dive. Teddy caught the ball and got the tag for the win. The upcoming summer the Rays went to Williamsport for the World Series.
Recommendation:I recommend this book to all boys and girls 6th grade and up. If you like friendship or baseball this book is for you. I give it a five out of five rating.
Plot:Jack had just entered his sixth grade baseball season. He felt that this was his year to go to the World Series. This was his year to go undefeated and break all records. The first day of practice for the year had came finally. Jack did great with batting practice, and he even hit one out of the park. After practice he told the coach he wanted to quit though. He had lost his brother in an accident and didn’t think he could handle playing baseball.
When Jack got home, Jack’s mom asked how practice was and Jack told her it was bad and he had quit the team. His parents freaked out and questioned Jack about it. He went up to his room and locked his door behind him. He turned the baseball game on the TV.
Gus, Jack’s best friend didn’t understand why Jack quit the team. The next day at school Gus ignored Jack. It was lunch time and Gus walked up to where Jack was sitting. Jack was at a table with the best softball player and a kid named Teddy. Gus yelled at Jack and tried to get everyone’s attention. Cassie stood up for Jack and told Gus to leave Jack alone.
Jack then started to hang out with Cassie after school. They would go to the dock/pond to talk. They would skip stones and would have competitions to see who had the most skips. They became close friends.
Gym class started out with a basketball game, three on three. It was Teddy, Jack, and someone else against Gus, T.W., and Hawk. Teddy chased the ball and T.W. tripped Teddy, all the guys laughed at Teddy except Jack. Jack stood up for Teddy and said lay off he never did anything to you. Gus just came back at Jack about baseball instead of Teddy being made fun of.
After school Teddy and Cassie went to the dock with Jack. Jack called his mom and told her he went to the dock with his friends. After Cassie went home, Teddy and Jack walked to the baseball field and played catch.
Jack forced Teddy to start running and practice baseball, so that he won’t get made fun of anymore. Not only did Jack help Teddy, but he asked to be an assistant coach for Cassie’s team.
The Rays had a baseball game while the girls softball practice went on. After practice, Gus walked past and said, “We lost, now we are 1-3, I hope your happy!” Cassie had a game the next day. They won and now they were 4-0. Cassie, Teddy and Jack went out for pizza, Jack forgot to call his mom and tell her where he was. When Jack turned on his phone he saw that there were a couple missed calls and messages that said, “Where are you?” Jack told them he had to hurry home, because he forgot to call his mom.
Jack got home and apologized for not calling and his mom forgave him. Jack went to his room and looked behind him to see if his parents followed him upstairs, but they didn’t. Jack went to his bed and brought out his baseball bag. He pulled out his brand new bat and glove. He pretended to swing the bat like he had hit a homerun. Then he threw the baseball into his mitt to break it in.
The Rays and the Orioles both won their next game. Now the Rays were 2-3 and the Orioles are 5-0. Jack went into his brother’s room which was empty; except for boxes. Jack sat down on the bed and just thought about how his brother died. (His brother died from a dirt bike accident) Jack’s parents came upstairs and saw Jack in his brother’s room and asked what he was doing. Jack said that he missed his brother and that he quit baseball because of his brother’s death. Jack’s dad said think of it this way, “Would your brother have wanted you to quit if he was still here?”
Jack’s mom said, “I have something for you that I was supposed to give you for your first game, but you quit and I felt now is the right time to give it to you. His mom left the room and came back with a gift. Jack opened the gift and it was a baseball signed by a major league baseball team. There was also a note that said, “Hey bud, I wanted to give this to you because I enjoy watching you play and you’re one of the best ball players I’ve ever seen, keep playing. Love you! -Brad.”
Jack kept thinking about the note that his brother wrote and finally decided he’s going to see if he can play for the Rays again. He called Cassie and told her about it and she was excited about it. The next day was Saturday and he biked to Gus’s house. When Jack got there he went to the door and knocked on it and Gus’s mom opened the door and invited Jack inside. Gus’s mom called Gus down from his room to talk to Jack, Jack said, “I wanted to play baseball again.” Gus asked who else knows, Jack said Cassie and you. Gus got frustrated because Jack told Cassie first.
Jack went to the coach’s house to talk to him about joining the team again. Coach said he would try and talk to the committee about it and see what they say. Coach called Jack and told him that the committee said it was okay to play. Jack told Gus, and then Cassie.
It was Jack’s first practice back and he did awesome, he had some really good hits and pitched against Gus and did well. It was game day and Ray had to play the #1 team on the board, the White Sox. In the 6th inning, The White Sox are up 6-5 against the Rays, and the Rays are on their last at bat of the game unless they tied the game. Two outs, one man was on first. Jack was at the plate he missed the first pitch, then the second pitch got a hold of it and hit it over the left field wall for win 7-6 Rays.
The Rays won the next 6 games after the win against the White Sox, so now the Rays are 9-3. The next game, Scott the Rays catcher got injured during the game and is out for the season. The Rays lost their best and only catcher, but still won the game.
The Ray’s had to find a new catcher. The coach had their shortstop which was Hawk and he was trying to catch. He wasn’t a very good catcher, but they had no other option so Hawk was the new catcher for now. The next game was against the Rockies who they were tied with for second place. Hawk struggled throughout the whole game. The Rays ended up losing against the Rockies.
Jack said to coach, “I think I know someone that could be our new catcher.” Coach said, “I’ll have to see him in try-out first. Jack went and told Teddy about the opportunity and Teddy didn’t want to do it. Jack finally convinces Teddy to try-out. Coach liked what he saw from Teddy and said, “I’ll talk to the committee and see what they say.” Coach called Teddy and Jack and said the committee said he could play.
Teddy’s first practice was really good, all the guys were nice to Teddy. Teddy’s first game came and they were playing the Red Sox. Teddy made normal catcher mistakes but wasn’t completing the catches at home plate. Teddy won the game by tagging out the runner at home from scoring for the win.
The Orioles made it to the championship and won 1-0. The Rays played their playoff game and won. The Rays were in the Championship against the White Sox. It was 1-0 Rays, until the 5th inning. Nate Vinton their star player hit the ball into short right field and Jack running full speed grabbed the ball one-handed and threw the ball to home plate on the dive. Teddy caught the ball and got the tag for the win. The upcoming summer the Rays went to Williamsport for the World Series.
Recommendation:I recommend this book to all boys and girls 6th grade and up. If you like friendship or baseball this book is for you. I give it a five out of five rating.
January 16, 2018
PERSONAL RESPONSE:
I thought this book was pretty good. It had a lot of surprises in it. The author would lead the reader mind a direction and then completely prove the reader’s prediction wrong. It kept the book interesting and fun to read.
PLOT:
This book was about a young boy named Jack. He was the best baseball player to ever go through his school and other schools in the area. He was the starting pitcher, and when he was not playing there, he played at shortstop. He also led the team offensively every year, but this year his mind was somewhere else. His brother had died recently by dirt biking in a dangerous area. Jack felt that the death of his brother was on his shoulders, because he could have stopped his brother from going out that night. His punishment to himself was that he could not go out for baseball this year. His team was concerned as to why he was not going out for his favorite sport and also for the success of their team. They were a great team, but he was the best and also their leader. Jack made new friends now that all his old buddies were together playing ball. He began to realize that his reasoning for not going out for baseball was wrong. He then found a note from his brother that he had written before he died. It stated how he felt for his little brother and how much he loved to watch Jack play. Jack knew that he needed to join his team once again. After he joined the team, he completely turned them around after they started the season with zero wins and three losses. They then went to a record with seven wins and three losses.
CHARACTERIZATION:
Jack was a nice and caring kid. He had an older brother that had recently died. Jack was the best baseball player to ever go through his school. He faced guilt over his brother’s death, because he felt he could have prevented it. He quit baseball and made new friends. Later, he realized how much he needed baseball and joined the team once again.
Brad was Jack’s older brother. He was a crazy dare devil and always got into trouble, although he was one of the friendliest people in the community. He finally went too far one night while dirt biking in a dangerous area. He went over a jump and hit a tree and was killed. This hurt Jack’s family tremendously and resulted in his parents being very worrisome about Jack’s safety.
SETTING:
This story took place in a town called Walton. It took place during Jack’s eighth grade year; springtime. The setting was important, because Walton was a town known for baseball. That meant they had a great chance to go to the Little League World Series. It was important that it was during his eighth grade year, because that was when his brother died. It was also the year that they had the best chance at taking a shot to the World Series.
THEMATIC CONNECTION:
Communication is the theme that I chose. The reason that I chose this is because in the book, Jack lacked communication with his friends and family. He kept all of his emotions about his brother in and did not open up. He kept everything in, because he knew how everyone would react once they heard the news. Once he finally told his family why he quit baseball, they talked to him and showed him the letter that his brother wrote and he decided to join the team.
RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend this book to males that are in 8th grade. The reason I chose this was because Jack was in 8th grade and he was the main character. I chose males, because baseball is generally played by men more than women. That makes this story more relatable to men than women.
I thought this book was pretty good. It had a lot of surprises in it. The author would lead the reader mind a direction and then completely prove the reader’s prediction wrong. It kept the book interesting and fun to read.
PLOT:
This book was about a young boy named Jack. He was the best baseball player to ever go through his school and other schools in the area. He was the starting pitcher, and when he was not playing there, he played at shortstop. He also led the team offensively every year, but this year his mind was somewhere else. His brother had died recently by dirt biking in a dangerous area. Jack felt that the death of his brother was on his shoulders, because he could have stopped his brother from going out that night. His punishment to himself was that he could not go out for baseball this year. His team was concerned as to why he was not going out for his favorite sport and also for the success of their team. They were a great team, but he was the best and also their leader. Jack made new friends now that all his old buddies were together playing ball. He began to realize that his reasoning for not going out for baseball was wrong. He then found a note from his brother that he had written before he died. It stated how he felt for his little brother and how much he loved to watch Jack play. Jack knew that he needed to join his team once again. After he joined the team, he completely turned them around after they started the season with zero wins and three losses. They then went to a record with seven wins and three losses.
CHARACTERIZATION:
Jack was a nice and caring kid. He had an older brother that had recently died. Jack was the best baseball player to ever go through his school. He faced guilt over his brother’s death, because he felt he could have prevented it. He quit baseball and made new friends. Later, he realized how much he needed baseball and joined the team once again.
Brad was Jack’s older brother. He was a crazy dare devil and always got into trouble, although he was one of the friendliest people in the community. He finally went too far one night while dirt biking in a dangerous area. He went over a jump and hit a tree and was killed. This hurt Jack’s family tremendously and resulted in his parents being very worrisome about Jack’s safety.
SETTING:
This story took place in a town called Walton. It took place during Jack’s eighth grade year; springtime. The setting was important, because Walton was a town known for baseball. That meant they had a great chance to go to the Little League World Series. It was important that it was during his eighth grade year, because that was when his brother died. It was also the year that they had the best chance at taking a shot to the World Series.
THEMATIC CONNECTION:
Communication is the theme that I chose. The reason that I chose this is because in the book, Jack lacked communication with his friends and family. He kept all of his emotions about his brother in and did not open up. He kept everything in, because he knew how everyone would react once they heard the news. Once he finally told his family why he quit baseball, they talked to him and showed him the letter that his brother wrote and he decided to join the team.
RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend this book to males that are in 8th grade. The reason I chose this was because Jack was in 8th grade and he was the main character. I chose males, because baseball is generally played by men more than women. That makes this story more relatable to men than women.
October 25, 2017
Personal Response:
I thoroughly enjoyed the book The Only Game by Mike Lupica, because, I could relate to the sports in the book; someone on my sports team got hurt, so someone else had to fill the role like Teddy did for Hawk. I also could relate in the way that I always need to play for the team and not myself, like Jack learned.
Plot:
In the book, Jack was the main character. After his brother’s death, Jack decided to quit baseball, his favorite sport. Many people got mad at him because that was the only thing he excelled in. Gus, Jack’s best friend, was the most frustrated of anybody in the town. Jack then went on to realize that his brother’s death was not his fault and that he needed to do what was right, and that was to play baseball. After becoming really good friends with Cassie and Teddy, Jack rejoined baseball and picked up right where he left off. During a game at Highland Park, the catcher for Jack’s baseball team slipped on a base and broke his ankle. After Jack worked with Teddy and got him into better shape, he asked Teddy to be the new catcher for their team. Teddy accepted the offer and the team went on to win the Little League championship.
Characterization:
Jack throughout the book matured and became a great young man. In the beginning, he took all the blame for the death of his brother but later figured out he could not fix anything now. He learned to do what was best for him and his teammates and rejoined the baseball team after he quit.
Cassie was another character that plays a huge role in The Only Game. She helps Jack tremendously by checking his attitude and keeping him “in line” when they are together.
Setting:
The main setting in the book was Highland Baseball Park. This was an important place, because it was where all the baseball games were played. The baseball field behind the school was also an important place because it was where all the practices take place and was where Jack helped Teddy become the team’s new catcher. The Only Game takes place in modern time and is told in third person view.
Thematic Relation:
Selflessness: Jack learned this quality after he did the exact opposite. He became selfish after his brother’s death by quitting the baseball team. He changed this attitude after realizing he hurt his teammates and was letting them down every game they played. He persevered and helped the team to win the championship.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any sports fans who are in middle school or up. Any boy or girl would like this book, because even though the main character is a boy, a girl also played a big part in the story. I think they will easily be able to comprehend and learn from the book. I think they would be able to relate to the baseball team and their competitiveness. I give this a four out of five star rating.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book The Only Game by Mike Lupica, because, I could relate to the sports in the book; someone on my sports team got hurt, so someone else had to fill the role like Teddy did for Hawk. I also could relate in the way that I always need to play for the team and not myself, like Jack learned.
Plot:
In the book, Jack was the main character. After his brother’s death, Jack decided to quit baseball, his favorite sport. Many people got mad at him because that was the only thing he excelled in. Gus, Jack’s best friend, was the most frustrated of anybody in the town. Jack then went on to realize that his brother’s death was not his fault and that he needed to do what was right, and that was to play baseball. After becoming really good friends with Cassie and Teddy, Jack rejoined baseball and picked up right where he left off. During a game at Highland Park, the catcher for Jack’s baseball team slipped on a base and broke his ankle. After Jack worked with Teddy and got him into better shape, he asked Teddy to be the new catcher for their team. Teddy accepted the offer and the team went on to win the Little League championship.
Characterization:
Jack throughout the book matured and became a great young man. In the beginning, he took all the blame for the death of his brother but later figured out he could not fix anything now. He learned to do what was best for him and his teammates and rejoined the baseball team after he quit.
Cassie was another character that plays a huge role in The Only Game. She helps Jack tremendously by checking his attitude and keeping him “in line” when they are together.
Setting:
The main setting in the book was Highland Baseball Park. This was an important place, because it was where all the baseball games were played. The baseball field behind the school was also an important place because it was where all the practices take place and was where Jack helped Teddy become the team’s new catcher. The Only Game takes place in modern time and is told in third person view.
Thematic Relation:
Selflessness: Jack learned this quality after he did the exact opposite. He became selfish after his brother’s death by quitting the baseball team. He changed this attitude after realizing he hurt his teammates and was letting them down every game they played. He persevered and helped the team to win the championship.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any sports fans who are in middle school or up. Any boy or girl would like this book, because even though the main character is a boy, a girl also played a big part in the story. I think they will easily be able to comprehend and learn from the book. I think they would be able to relate to the baseball team and their competitiveness. I give this a four out of five star rating.
October 31, 2019
Book Title: The Only Game
Personal Response
I really like the book The Only Game. It got my attention and when I started reading, I did not want to put it down. It really catches my interest because it is about baseball.
Plot Summary
Jack Callahan came off the worst year of his life, but baseball season is coming up. Baseball is Jack's favorite sport. He is the best player in Hamilton, his hometown. He plays pitcher and shortstop and is the best in the league at both positions. Recently his brother Brad dies due to a dirt bike accident. Jack thinks that Brad’s death is on him because he could have stopped him from going out that night, but Jack did not want to break Brad’s trust. Jack chooses not to play baseball in the spring because Brad’s death is weighing down on him too much. His best friend Gus hates Jack’s decision to not play. While Jack is out of baseball he meets a girl of the name Cassie. Cassie is the best softball player in the town. She asks Jack to help coach her softball team with her dad. Jack says yes and the girls start off to a great season. Cassie asks Jack why he quit baseball but he would never tell her until one day. They are in the dugout by the school and Jack just let it all out. Cassie understood him but did not understand why that made him quit. That night when Jack got home his parents had a surprise for him. It is a signed baseball from Dustin Pedroia and a note from Brad that he wrote before he passed away. The note is about how much Brad loves to watch him play and compete. Jack the next day joins back onto the baseball team. As soon as he did the team went on a roll. The Rays made it to the playoffs but had some tough games along the way. Jack leads his team all the way to the championship game and came out victorious.
Characterization
Jack is a very nice kid that is a great leader and friend. He is the best baseball player in his town. His older brother recently dies in a dirt bike accident. When he quit baseball he made some new friends that help him through his hardships. He comes back to the realization that he needs baseball in his life.
Brad is a daredevil but also one of the nicest kids in the neighborhood. Brad dies in a dirt bike accident by riding off a cliff late at night. Brad’s death really affects his parents and made them very worried about Jack's safety at all times.
Impact of Setting
This story took place in a town called Walton. Walton is a town known for baseball. Jack is at the end of his eighth-grade year; springtime. The setting is important because Walton is very good at baseball which made Jack's team get more noticed for the Little League World Series.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to boys that like baseball. I think ages 12-17 would be a good age to read this book. Someone that likes cliff hangers would really like this book.
Personal Response
I really like the book The Only Game. It got my attention and when I started reading, I did not want to put it down. It really catches my interest because it is about baseball.
Plot Summary
Jack Callahan came off the worst year of his life, but baseball season is coming up. Baseball is Jack's favorite sport. He is the best player in Hamilton, his hometown. He plays pitcher and shortstop and is the best in the league at both positions. Recently his brother Brad dies due to a dirt bike accident. Jack thinks that Brad’s death is on him because he could have stopped him from going out that night, but Jack did not want to break Brad’s trust. Jack chooses not to play baseball in the spring because Brad’s death is weighing down on him too much. His best friend Gus hates Jack’s decision to not play. While Jack is out of baseball he meets a girl of the name Cassie. Cassie is the best softball player in the town. She asks Jack to help coach her softball team with her dad. Jack says yes and the girls start off to a great season. Cassie asks Jack why he quit baseball but he would never tell her until one day. They are in the dugout by the school and Jack just let it all out. Cassie understood him but did not understand why that made him quit. That night when Jack got home his parents had a surprise for him. It is a signed baseball from Dustin Pedroia and a note from Brad that he wrote before he passed away. The note is about how much Brad loves to watch him play and compete. Jack the next day joins back onto the baseball team. As soon as he did the team went on a roll. The Rays made it to the playoffs but had some tough games along the way. Jack leads his team all the way to the championship game and came out victorious.
Characterization
Jack is a very nice kid that is a great leader and friend. He is the best baseball player in his town. His older brother recently dies in a dirt bike accident. When he quit baseball he made some new friends that help him through his hardships. He comes back to the realization that he needs baseball in his life.
Brad is a daredevil but also one of the nicest kids in the neighborhood. Brad dies in a dirt bike accident by riding off a cliff late at night. Brad’s death really affects his parents and made them very worried about Jack's safety at all times.
Impact of Setting
This story took place in a town called Walton. Walton is a town known for baseball. Jack is at the end of his eighth-grade year; springtime. The setting is important because Walton is very good at baseball which made Jack's team get more noticed for the Little League World Series.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to boys that like baseball. I think ages 12-17 would be a good age to read this book. Someone that likes cliff hangers would really like this book.
May 25, 2018
Personal Response:
I really enjoyed the book The Only Game, because it was a great book to show the reality of how kids lives are affected by sports. The book is also a great representation on what actually happens in a middle schooler’s life. The book has a lot of positive and negative things that happen in life and made me interested.
Plot:
Seventh-grader Jack Callahan is his team’s star pitcher and shortstop, so everyone in the town is shocked when he quits baseball. The upcoming season was the lead-up to the Little League World Series. “My heart’s not in it,” he tells his disappointed parents before the reader finds out the real reason he’s abandoning the team. Jack said “Baseball won’t bring my brother back” and he is referring to Brad. Brad had died a while before the baseball season started. He had did something stupid on a dirtbike and died. This is why Jack did not play baseball, but later in the season he changed his mind with the help of Cassie. This is where the book changes and Jack tells his coach he is back to play and lead the team to the Little League World Series.
Characterization:
The two main characters in the book are Jack and Cassie. They are both in middle school and are baseball/softball stars in the town. Everyone in school and in the community knows them because of softball and baseball. Both characters relate to one another very well, because they they both pitch. Jack quit baseball because his older brother Brad passed away not to long before the baseball season had started. Jack then meets Cassie in person for the first time in the book after Jack lost his best friend, because he quit baseball. From there on out Cassie was always there for Jack. Cassie is a popular girl who cares for Jack a lot. She is also a big part of the book, because she is introduced into the book when Jack needs someone.
Setting
The book takes place in a town called Walton. This town is into baseball more than any other towns in the area. Walton is important to the story because the town is into baseball a lot, and that motivates the team to be the best. The book takes place in a modern time, because the kids are doing things that kids do in today's world.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any kid who is in fifth grade up to a high schooler, because it just makes a lot of sense after the reader experiences some of the things like Jack did in the book. A guy or girl would like this book as well, because two of the main characters are a guy and girl. The book directed towards baseball players as well, because the book is about baseball along with living as a middle schooler.
I really enjoyed the book The Only Game, because it was a great book to show the reality of how kids lives are affected by sports. The book is also a great representation on what actually happens in a middle schooler’s life. The book has a lot of positive and negative things that happen in life and made me interested.
Plot:
Seventh-grader Jack Callahan is his team’s star pitcher and shortstop, so everyone in the town is shocked when he quits baseball. The upcoming season was the lead-up to the Little League World Series. “My heart’s not in it,” he tells his disappointed parents before the reader finds out the real reason he’s abandoning the team. Jack said “Baseball won’t bring my brother back” and he is referring to Brad. Brad had died a while before the baseball season started. He had did something stupid on a dirtbike and died. This is why Jack did not play baseball, but later in the season he changed his mind with the help of Cassie. This is where the book changes and Jack tells his coach he is back to play and lead the team to the Little League World Series.
Characterization:
The two main characters in the book are Jack and Cassie. They are both in middle school and are baseball/softball stars in the town. Everyone in school and in the community knows them because of softball and baseball. Both characters relate to one another very well, because they they both pitch. Jack quit baseball because his older brother Brad passed away not to long before the baseball season had started. Jack then meets Cassie in person for the first time in the book after Jack lost his best friend, because he quit baseball. From there on out Cassie was always there for Jack. Cassie is a popular girl who cares for Jack a lot. She is also a big part of the book, because she is introduced into the book when Jack needs someone.
Setting
The book takes place in a town called Walton. This town is into baseball more than any other towns in the area. Walton is important to the story because the town is into baseball a lot, and that motivates the team to be the best. The book takes place in a modern time, because the kids are doing things that kids do in today's world.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any kid who is in fifth grade up to a high schooler, because it just makes a lot of sense after the reader experiences some of the things like Jack did in the book. A guy or girl would like this book as well, because two of the main characters are a guy and girl. The book directed towards baseball players as well, because the book is about baseball along with living as a middle schooler.
May 24, 2016
Personal response: I liked the book The Only Game, by Mike Lupica. It kept my attention throughout the book. I enjoyed reading the baseball scenes of the book, and I could relate to the main character because of his love for baseball.
Plot: Jack Callahan was the star of his baseball team. His team was supposed to make it all the way to the little league world series. After the first day of practice, Jack quit the team. His older brother died a few months before the season started in a dirt bike accident. He quit just because it reminded him too much of his brother. He also met a girl. He coached softball instead with his new friend, and he meets a boy named Teddy. He was training Teddy to be a healthier person. Mid season, Jack rejoined the team and they started their winning streak again.
Characterization: Jack was the main character in this book and he loved to play baseball. He was the best one on the team and even the best in the league. Jack was a very caring boy, he cared about his family and his friend, Teddy, who he helped get into better shape. He helped his family out by always being there for them when his older brother died.
Impacts of setting: The setting took place in present time in a small town. Baseball had been around for a long time and it has not changed much. If the book would have taken place in a bigger city or time period, it would not have been much different.
Thematic connection: The theme that stood out to me in this book was to never to give up and to do whatever makes them happy. Jack did not want to play baseball due to his brother's death. That was a sad part of the book because he gave up something he loved, all because of his brother dying. I understand that it had a big impact on his life, but baseball should have been his escape. Later in the book, Jack realized this and then started to play again. When he started playing again, he was much happier and so was his family.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to boys in high school who like to play baseball, because they would related to the main character well. Jack also liked girls just like most high school boys.
Plot: Jack Callahan was the star of his baseball team. His team was supposed to make it all the way to the little league world series. After the first day of practice, Jack quit the team. His older brother died a few months before the season started in a dirt bike accident. He quit just because it reminded him too much of his brother. He also met a girl. He coached softball instead with his new friend, and he meets a boy named Teddy. He was training Teddy to be a healthier person. Mid season, Jack rejoined the team and they started their winning streak again.
Characterization: Jack was the main character in this book and he loved to play baseball. He was the best one on the team and even the best in the league. Jack was a very caring boy, he cared about his family and his friend, Teddy, who he helped get into better shape. He helped his family out by always being there for them when his older brother died.
Impacts of setting: The setting took place in present time in a small town. Baseball had been around for a long time and it has not changed much. If the book would have taken place in a bigger city or time period, it would not have been much different.
Thematic connection: The theme that stood out to me in this book was to never to give up and to do whatever makes them happy. Jack did not want to play baseball due to his brother's death. That was a sad part of the book because he gave up something he loved, all because of his brother dying. I understand that it had a big impact on his life, but baseball should have been his escape. Later in the book, Jack realized this and then started to play again. When he started playing again, he was much happier and so was his family.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to boys in high school who like to play baseball, because they would related to the main character well. Jack also liked girls just like most high school boys.
March 23, 2018
Personal response- I really enjoyed this book. I love the mix of drama about family and friends and the amazing sport of baseball. This book is really sad in the beginning. Jacks brother passing away made me look back and see what I would do if my brother would of passed away. I also think baseball is one of the best sport that the world has ever created so that was a big plus.
Plot Summary- In this book Jack the main character has a hard end to his summer. When he has to see his brother for the very last time. Baseball was the only sport Jack had played almost all of his life and he was good at it too. His team were looking to take the trophy home this year. Then Jack just quit out of the blue. Then a month went by and Jack ment this girl Cassie and they became good friends and Jack also started coaching Cassie's softball team. When Jack really spilled the beans about why he quit the baseball team Cassie told him that it wasn't true and that he should go join back. There he was talking on the phone with his coach and he said that he could join back in one condition that he comes to practice tomorrow and started pitching the next game. I think your going to have to read the book to find out if he did or not.
Chararztation- I think in this book that Jack the main character really changed the most out of everybody. In the beginning of this book Jack was depressed and had the whole weight of the world on his shoulders. After Cassie talk to Jack about his brother and how he didnt do anything. Jack really started to be happy and got his bestfriend Gus back after there big fight about how Jack is not going out for baseball. Everything went back to the way it was before Jacks brother died.
Recommendation- I believe this book would be good for kids in sixth grade and up. I believe this because it is a pretty hard read and it is a very long book. I also would recommend this book to anybody that like drama and sports. This book has a lot of drama and sports in it and maybe even a little adventure.
Plot Summary- In this book Jack the main character has a hard end to his summer. When he has to see his brother for the very last time. Baseball was the only sport Jack had played almost all of his life and he was good at it too. His team were looking to take the trophy home this year. Then Jack just quit out of the blue. Then a month went by and Jack ment this girl Cassie and they became good friends and Jack also started coaching Cassie's softball team. When Jack really spilled the beans about why he quit the baseball team Cassie told him that it wasn't true and that he should go join back. There he was talking on the phone with his coach and he said that he could join back in one condition that he comes to practice tomorrow and started pitching the next game. I think your going to have to read the book to find out if he did or not.
Chararztation- I think in this book that Jack the main character really changed the most out of everybody. In the beginning of this book Jack was depressed and had the whole weight of the world on his shoulders. After Cassie talk to Jack about his brother and how he didnt do anything. Jack really started to be happy and got his bestfriend Gus back after there big fight about how Jack is not going out for baseball. Everything went back to the way it was before Jacks brother died.
Recommendation- I believe this book would be good for kids in sixth grade and up. I believe this because it is a pretty hard read and it is a very long book. I also would recommend this book to anybody that like drama and sports. This book has a lot of drama and sports in it and maybe even a little adventure.
May 5, 2016
The Only Game by Mike Lupica is a heartfelt book about a seventh grade baseball star, Jack Callahan. Last summer, Jack’s older brother, the one he looked up to the most, died in an accident. Jack’s brother had always loved doing things he shouldn’t and trying new tricks. He loved the excitement of it all until it got him killed. Jack and his family were devastated. Jack is the seventh graders Little League’s star player and pitcher. This is his and his team’s year to be the best. They are going to be undefeated and win the Little League World Series this year. Then after their first practice of the season, Jack quits the team. Nobody understands his decision to leave the team, even his parents. The whole community is shocked. His teammates and best friends are very upset at him. Meanwhile, he meets Teddy and Cassie and the three of them become really good friends. Cassie is the star player and pitcher of her softball team and Cassie asks Jack, now that he is not playing baseball, to help coach her team. Teddy is being bullied because of his weight and Jack helps him learn to play baseball and earns him a place on his old baseball team. When Jack finally realizes that he needs to accept himself and what he’s done, he just might be able to play the sport he loves once again with the support of his friends, family, and their community.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It makes you feel for the characters in the book, especially Jack and what he’s been through in the last year of his life. It really makes you feel happy for the character when they are able to accept themselves and what they’ve done. I assure you that you will feel the emotion of the characters. I recommend this book to everyone.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It makes you feel for the characters in the book, especially Jack and what he’s been through in the last year of his life. It really makes you feel happy for the character when they are able to accept themselves and what they’ve done. I assure you that you will feel the emotion of the characters. I recommend this book to everyone.
May 29, 2018
Personal Review
I really enjoyed reading the book The Only Game by Mike Lupica. First of all, I liked reading this book because the main character was named Jack. The book is also all about baseball, which is my favorite sport. I liked the cliffhangers the author used at the beginning of the book, such as when Jack told his coach he was quitting baseball and the reader had no clue why.
Plot Summary
Jack Callahan is the best baseball player in his league, but he mysteriously quits the team. His parents are having a tough time with his decision and he doesn't really tell them why he quit. His best friend, Gus, also is giving him a tough time about it and won't talk to him anymore. That's when he meets two unlikely friends: Teddy and Cassie. They both help him through the death of his brother, and help him return to baseball. When he joins the team again in the middle of the season, he helps them go all the way to the Little League World Series.
Characterization
Teddy Madden changed a lot throughout the book. He started off the book being the unathletic kid in gym who everyone picked on. He acted like everyone's comments didn't hurt him, when really they did. With the help of Jack, Teddy starts working out and trying to become more athletic. He trains with Jack almost every day and ends up overcoming his fear of playing sports. He becomes the starting catcher for the Rays and helps them go all the way to Williamsport.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to a lot of people. First, I would recommend it to any baseball fan because I think they would really enjoy this book. Second, I would recommend it to any sports fan because even if they aren't baseball fans I feel like they would enjoy this book.
I really enjoyed reading the book The Only Game by Mike Lupica. First of all, I liked reading this book because the main character was named Jack. The book is also all about baseball, which is my favorite sport. I liked the cliffhangers the author used at the beginning of the book, such as when Jack told his coach he was quitting baseball and the reader had no clue why.
Plot Summary
Jack Callahan is the best baseball player in his league, but he mysteriously quits the team. His parents are having a tough time with his decision and he doesn't really tell them why he quit. His best friend, Gus, also is giving him a tough time about it and won't talk to him anymore. That's when he meets two unlikely friends: Teddy and Cassie. They both help him through the death of his brother, and help him return to baseball. When he joins the team again in the middle of the season, he helps them go all the way to the Little League World Series.
Characterization
Teddy Madden changed a lot throughout the book. He started off the book being the unathletic kid in gym who everyone picked on. He acted like everyone's comments didn't hurt him, when really they did. With the help of Jack, Teddy starts working out and trying to become more athletic. He trains with Jack almost every day and ends up overcoming his fear of playing sports. He becomes the starting catcher for the Rays and helps them go all the way to Williamsport.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to a lot of people. First, I would recommend it to any baseball fan because I think they would really enjoy this book. Second, I would recommend it to any sports fan because even if they aren't baseball fans I feel like they would enjoy this book.
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November 4, 2015I thought that the book was very good because the book had a lot of exciting parts. For Instance during the scenes where they were playing a game the author Mike Lupica made it really exciting by almost every game making it go down with a final big play. This book was also really good because it had a great theme that if you put work into something you can always succeed. During the story Teddy at first could not play baseball and had no self-confidence in himself but once he met Jack and started to work out with him he got a lot better and when the Rays starting catcher got hurt he was there to back him up and be a very good and solid catcher for the Rays once he got good. Also when teddy first started playing for the Rays he made some bad throwing or hitting errors but as the season moved along he became a great shortstop for the Rays. This book was also sad because in the story the book tells us how Jack's brother Brad had died a year ago and how hard it was on him. Throughout the story he got better and began to move on but throughout the story he never lets go of him. He does not let go of him by one, keeping the note he was going to give for his birthday in his pocket. During Jack's games he would always feel his back pocket for his note. He also remembered his brother throughout the story by going to his room sometimes and remembering him and by looking up into the stands when he was playing baseball and imagining him being there cheering. Overall this was a really great story and book in general and I would recommend it for my fellow classmates who are into sports and Mike Lupica books.
January 4, 2019
In The Only Game, a young boy by the name of Jack Callahan is a star on his all-star baseball team who is getting ready for the Little League World Series. Through pressure and hardship in his life, he ends up actually mentally falling apart and quitting the team after the first practice. Every time Jack would make a mistake, he would feel like a let down to his brother who had recently died. My favorite part of this book is when Jack is getting criticized at school by his best friend, Gus, to join the team again. The argument was getting pretty heated between them, and a fight may have occurred, if it wasn’t for a girl named Cassie who broke up the fight. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was how it was about sports, but with a deeper meaning of life at the same time. This made the book easy to relate too, as I myself am an athlete with life problems outside of sports. The book was a quick read, and the vocabulary wasn’t hard which helped make the reading go by fast.
One thing I disliked about the book was how Jack would get so down on himself. Every time he made a mistake, he would get super upset, and think that he was letting down his brother who passed away. Jack blames himself for his brother’s death because he thinks he could of prevented it if he was there. I really liked this book, along with the way how the author dropped lines and phrases about baseball, that you would have to have an understanding of the game to comprehend the meaning behind it. But for the most part, this book is super good, and I would recommend it for anyone who likes sports, and wants a quick read. I would give this book a 4 star rating out of 5 stars, because it was a fun read.
One thing I disliked about the book was how Jack would get so down on himself. Every time he made a mistake, he would get super upset, and think that he was letting down his brother who passed away. Jack blames himself for his brother’s death because he thinks he could of prevented it if he was there. I really liked this book, along with the way how the author dropped lines and phrases about baseball, that you would have to have an understanding of the game to comprehend the meaning behind it. But for the most part, this book is super good, and I would recommend it for anyone who likes sports, and wants a quick read. I would give this book a 4 star rating out of 5 stars, because it was a fun read.
May 15, 2017
Okay...this one was weird for me. If you know me, you know I LOVE sports. And I love a good sports book. Tim Green's Unstoppable and Lost Boy are among my favorite middle grade novels. And I've enjoyed Lupica's work before--like Green, he usually has a nice balance of sports and life and includes great girl characters.
However, this was heavy on the sports. You better REALLY like baseball, because nearly every game is gone through in detail. Also--for me--the non-sports parts seemed a little...I don't know...cheesy? The jokes weren't quite funny and touching moments weren't quite touching. There were a few emotional moments between Jack and his parents when discussing the death of his brother, but for the most part they just didn't feel very genuine. I don't think my students who read these books for the sports aspects are going to notice or care, but I did. Just not my favorite.
However, this was heavy on the sports. You better REALLY like baseball, because nearly every game is gone through in detail. Also--for me--the non-sports parts seemed a little...I don't know...cheesy? The jokes weren't quite funny and touching moments weren't quite touching. There were a few emotional moments between Jack and his parents when discussing the death of his brother, but for the most part they just didn't feel very genuine. I don't think my students who read these books for the sports aspects are going to notice or care, but I did. Just not my favorite.
June 4, 2017
Let me start by saying that I wouldn't have read this book if it hadn't been a Mark Twain Nominee*. In my newish job as an elementary school librarian, I am reading all the nominees this summer which means I had to read a sports book. No my usual choice, but I'm very glad I read it. This book was well written with a real plot and strong character development. Jack Callahan, the main character, is an excellent role model for readers, and the kind of friend we hope all our children can have and grow up to become. I was afraid that most sports books were just play by plays of the game, and although this had more of that than I would like, it was also a strong story. Of course, the kids reading sports books actually like the play by play. I'm so pleased that I can really recommend Mike Lupica to my students from now on.
* The Mark Twain Award is the Missouri Association of School Librarians award for the best chapter book for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.
* The Mark Twain Award is the Missouri Association of School Librarians award for the best chapter book for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.
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May 26, 2016our boys listened to this book on cd, and there were quite a few tears. The thing that is very interesting about this book and at least three other sport books we've listened to together (the ones by cal ripken jr.), is that there is always a really strong girl character that matches the boy, or actually rescues him at a critical point. her skill is always discussed, and she always has her own thing.
Read
February 23, 2018The only game by Mike Lupica is just a phenomenal book its way more than just a baseball book it gives you reasons why to never go down and give up. After he got traded he started playing like a star because he didn't let switching teams get to him. It can honestly make you a better person and more courageous and just love sports a little more than you did.
December 29, 2017
I definitely enjoyed this book. Mike Lupica shows how a young boy, Jack, overcomes tragedy and how his friends make a huge impact in his baseball activity. Jack not only contributed to the team, but to Cassie and the Orioles, and Teddy's confidence.
February 7, 2017
The book was exciting to me and the beginning was the saddest part, Then the end was a wonderful moment for the characters.
April 20, 2021
I liked it but it gets more boring towards the end
September 11, 2025
Over the summer, I read the 2015 book, “The Only Game,” by Mike Lupica. This book falls under the genre of Realistic Fiction, showing a kid's life in school and the sport he loves. The book is based on a young boy named Jack, who plays baseball, but something happens that makes him quit his team. His brother dies in an accident. Jack and his brother were very close to each other and had a great relationship. Jack thinks he is the one who caused the accident and feels like he is in the wrong. Jack is in middle school, and he meets two friends, Cassie (a softball player) and Teddy. They realize that Jack is still feeling like the accident is still his fault and decide to help him get through the year to make him feel better. They also have a plan to get him to fall back in love with baseball. The group of friends goes through struggles in their new school year, but staying together helps them get through them. The book demonstrates that friendship can make everything better, and you need to find the right people who want to see you improve.
I really liked the book. I've read Mike Lupica books before, but this one was definitely my favorite one. I liked how they started with a problem at the beginning of the book and introduced new characters that helped the main character conquer the problem. I honestly didn't find any weaknesses in the book because it started straight up with a problem, which I like when books start like that, cause you start with knowing what the plot is. I honestly related to this book a lot because I also play baseball, and you go through problems in life that make you want to quit right then, but you always have people near you that you can call on to help you get through. With the book, Jack goes through a problem with losing his brother before school starts, and Teddie and Cassie are there for him throughout the year and understand what is happening to him. They encourage him not to give up on a sport he loves. And that's where it relates to me because when something goes wrong with baseball, I get this feeling, but I have my family and friends there for me to let me know never give up on the sport you love. Overall, the book “The Only Game” was a very entertaining book that gives a good life lesson and is a good read for anyone.
I really liked the book. I've read Mike Lupica books before, but this one was definitely my favorite one. I liked how they started with a problem at the beginning of the book and introduced new characters that helped the main character conquer the problem. I honestly didn't find any weaknesses in the book because it started straight up with a problem, which I like when books start like that, cause you start with knowing what the plot is. I honestly related to this book a lot because I also play baseball, and you go through problems in life that make you want to quit right then, but you always have people near you that you can call on to help you get through. With the book, Jack goes through a problem with losing his brother before school starts, and Teddie and Cassie are there for him throughout the year and understand what is happening to him. They encourage him not to give up on a sport he loves. And that's where it relates to me because when something goes wrong with baseball, I get this feeling, but I have my family and friends there for me to let me know never give up on the sport you love. Overall, the book “The Only Game” was a very entertaining book that gives a good life lesson and is a good read for anyone.
March 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. As a middle school teacher, I’m always looking for books to suggest to my students who are into sports. Mike Lupica is my go to, and this one might be my favorite to date. It has just the right amount of baseball to go along with some of the outside problems that kids can face. There were a couple of predictable parts but there were also some curveballs I wasn’t expecting.
May 25, 2018
The title of my book is The Only Game by: Mike Lupica. The setting of my book is in a little town called Walton, and it is a very nice town with nice weather and a bunch of nice people. The characters in my book are mainly Jack, Cassie, Gus, Teddy, and the baseball team that Jack played on. I found this book by looking through a bunch of the best mike lupica books because I have liked Mike’s books for awhile so then I found this one that really interested me. So I then checked it out and it’s good so far.
It was the start of the baseball season, Jack and Gus were talking about how they felt like this was the season they would make it to the little league world series. The draft came and the both got drafted on the rays, they both went to the first practice it was nearing the end but then Jack went up to the coach, took a deep breath, and told him that he quit. On the first practice he had quit this then cause a huge conflict between him and the baseball team, especially gus. So because of all of this Jack and the team have been in a huge conflict.
One of my favorite parts was the dodgeball one, the class was in gym this class was made up of Gus, some other baseball players, cassie, jack and teddy. They were like walking and then gus decided to push over teddy. They then played dodgeball and the last one on jack’s team was teddy and the last one on the other team was gus. So they both had a ball gus decided to throw his and try to hit teddy but he missed, so then teddy flew into action and threw his ball at gus. It hit Gus right in the face so teddy won the game for them. This was my favorite part because it showed how even though he was teasing teddy, teddy still decided to ignore it and showed Gus that he is not what he thinks.
I personally really like this book because it is a story about a kid who makes a decision and his friends don’t like him because of that one decision. So it is an interesting story because it shows how he ends up ignoring everyone’s judgement about him and he ends up finding new friends and becoming incredibly cool people. Some similar books are other books by Mike Lupica because they’re all about sports and inspirational stories. I think people that like books about sports will be interested in not just this book but like also other mike lupica books because they’re all mainly just about an inspirational sport stories.
The end of the book is actually a pretty good ending I kind of felt like I could predict it somewhere towards the middle but there was also a part of the ending that I couldn't really see happening so I think it was a really good ending that you could kind of see happening but you also couldn’t see happening.
It was the start of the baseball season, Jack and Gus were talking about how they felt like this was the season they would make it to the little league world series. The draft came and the both got drafted on the rays, they both went to the first practice it was nearing the end but then Jack went up to the coach, took a deep breath, and told him that he quit. On the first practice he had quit this then cause a huge conflict between him and the baseball team, especially gus. So because of all of this Jack and the team have been in a huge conflict.
One of my favorite parts was the dodgeball one, the class was in gym this class was made up of Gus, some other baseball players, cassie, jack and teddy. They were like walking and then gus decided to push over teddy. They then played dodgeball and the last one on jack’s team was teddy and the last one on the other team was gus. So they both had a ball gus decided to throw his and try to hit teddy but he missed, so then teddy flew into action and threw his ball at gus. It hit Gus right in the face so teddy won the game for them. This was my favorite part because it showed how even though he was teasing teddy, teddy still decided to ignore it and showed Gus that he is not what he thinks.
I personally really like this book because it is a story about a kid who makes a decision and his friends don’t like him because of that one decision. So it is an interesting story because it shows how he ends up ignoring everyone’s judgement about him and he ends up finding new friends and becoming incredibly cool people. Some similar books are other books by Mike Lupica because they’re all about sports and inspirational stories. I think people that like books about sports will be interested in not just this book but like also other mike lupica books because they’re all mainly just about an inspirational sport stories.
The end of the book is actually a pretty good ending I kind of felt like I could predict it somewhere towards the middle but there was also a part of the ending that I couldn't really see happening so I think it was a really good ending that you could kind of see happening but you also couldn’t see happening.
November 7, 2017
I can’t believe I’ve never read one of Mike Lupica’s books until now. Oodles and oodles of books he’s written, and my very first is his latest, The Only Game … and what an introduction to this wonderful author!
In The Only Game, we meet Jack Callahan, a beloved baseball superstar who’s destined for greatness … or, at the very least, for the Little League World Series. But after the first practice of the season, he quits the game he loves, shocking everyone in his family, school, and town. No one understands Jack’s decision – perhaps he doesn’t even fully get it himself – but he knows it’s just something he must do. Jack has to re-evaluate current friendships, make new acquaintances, and explore different extracurricular activities before he can even begin to comprehend the place that baseball holds in his life.
Squinks, this is a good book to dig into! If you haven’t read Lupica before either, well, you’re in for a treat. The writing is crisp, the plot is quick, the dialogue is snappy (ooh, I love Cassie Bennett!), and the story is heartwarming. Jack and his merry band of mates – Gus, Teddy, and Cassie – have to work out the kinks that come about when you try to put four very distinct personalities in the same room, but by the end, you’ll wonder why they had never all hung out together before.
… If you like reading, I can’t see why you’d think of skipping this over. The story, the writing, and the characters are all great!
… If you don’t like reading, you should try this book anyway. Things start off with a bang, and the fast pace keeps throughout the novel that you won’t even realize how quickly you’re reading it.
… If you like baseball, then I’d be surprised if you hadn’t already heard of this. Add this to your TBR list!
… And if you’re more into hockey, you’ll still find so much appealing in the behind-the-scenes story of being part of a team. You’ll understand the pressure that players put on themselves. You’ll get the rigorous training involved. You’ll start counting down to the playoffs along with the characters.
There’s something for everyone in The Only Game. Let me know how you like it … Then, go through this list, and tell me which Lupica novel you’re planning to pick up next!
In The Only Game, we meet Jack Callahan, a beloved baseball superstar who’s destined for greatness … or, at the very least, for the Little League World Series. But after the first practice of the season, he quits the game he loves, shocking everyone in his family, school, and town. No one understands Jack’s decision – perhaps he doesn’t even fully get it himself – but he knows it’s just something he must do. Jack has to re-evaluate current friendships, make new acquaintances, and explore different extracurricular activities before he can even begin to comprehend the place that baseball holds in his life.
Squinks, this is a good book to dig into! If you haven’t read Lupica before either, well, you’re in for a treat. The writing is crisp, the plot is quick, the dialogue is snappy (ooh, I love Cassie Bennett!), and the story is heartwarming. Jack and his merry band of mates – Gus, Teddy, and Cassie – have to work out the kinks that come about when you try to put four very distinct personalities in the same room, but by the end, you’ll wonder why they had never all hung out together before.
… If you like reading, I can’t see why you’d think of skipping this over. The story, the writing, and the characters are all great!
… If you don’t like reading, you should try this book anyway. Things start off with a bang, and the fast pace keeps throughout the novel that you won’t even realize how quickly you’re reading it.
… If you like baseball, then I’d be surprised if you hadn’t already heard of this. Add this to your TBR list!
… And if you’re more into hockey, you’ll still find so much appealing in the behind-the-scenes story of being part of a team. You’ll understand the pressure that players put on themselves. You’ll get the rigorous training involved. You’ll start counting down to the playoffs along with the characters.
There’s something for everyone in The Only Game. Let me know how you like it … Then, go through this list, and tell me which Lupica novel you’re planning to pick up next!
January 7, 2019
The book that I read is the only game by Mike Lupica it is a sports novel about how a boy has to overcome some controversial things throughout his baseball season.
His team is supposed to be really good and undefeated and he is leading the way as the star player. The main character is named Jack Callahan he is a teen boy in seventh grade he loves the sport of baseball and is very good at it. He has to fight through the loss of his brother and he ends up giving up on baseball. Jack has a best friend named Gus and he does not understand how his best friend could just leave a sport that means everything to him. The team is not having their hopes as high to win the championship and shatter the records as their star player has left them. Everyone in the town including his family thinks that the thing that Jack needs to move through the death of his brother is baseball but it is just not the thing he needs. As there is nothing really going right for Jack he meets some new friends, one of them is the star player of the softball team, Cassie, she is one of the only people that think that Jack should not play baseball if he does not want to play, and to do what is best for him. They end up becoming really good friends and she helps Jack a lot. They also include this kid named Teddy who is constantly bullied for his weight. Them three all help each other throughout the journey of the book, Jack realizes it is not just baseball that makes him happy.
I would recommend this book to people I think it is really good. It would be a good book for people that are interested in the lives of sports players or just sports in general, as it is based on the sport of baseball. I liked how he had to go out of his comfort zone to do things that no one really expected jack to do. But I did not like how he left the hopes of his whole baseball team when they were expected to do big things.
His team is supposed to be really good and undefeated and he is leading the way as the star player. The main character is named Jack Callahan he is a teen boy in seventh grade he loves the sport of baseball and is very good at it. He has to fight through the loss of his brother and he ends up giving up on baseball. Jack has a best friend named Gus and he does not understand how his best friend could just leave a sport that means everything to him. The team is not having their hopes as high to win the championship and shatter the records as their star player has left them. Everyone in the town including his family thinks that the thing that Jack needs to move through the death of his brother is baseball but it is just not the thing he needs. As there is nothing really going right for Jack he meets some new friends, one of them is the star player of the softball team, Cassie, she is one of the only people that think that Jack should not play baseball if he does not want to play, and to do what is best for him. They end up becoming really good friends and she helps Jack a lot. They also include this kid named Teddy who is constantly bullied for his weight. Them three all help each other throughout the journey of the book, Jack realizes it is not just baseball that makes him happy.
I would recommend this book to people I think it is really good. It would be a good book for people that are interested in the lives of sports players or just sports in general, as it is based on the sport of baseball. I liked how he had to go out of his comfort zone to do things that no one really expected jack to do. But I did not like how he left the hopes of his whole baseball team when they were expected to do big things.
May 23, 2017
The Only Game was one of Mike Lupica's best in my opinion. This story shows the true meaning of friendship and why people and kids have friends. This book should be read because of its great heart-warming story between two very close friends and a game that they love. This is way much more that a baseball story.
When reading this story it feels like you are in the story because of how much you can relate. When I was reading, The Only Game, I could relate so much because I was thinking about quitting playing baseball also but I had to change my mind because of all the friendships I had made prior. In this novel, Jack Callahan is a young boy that decides to take a break from baseball and relax. All his friends began to persuade him to come back to the game that he loves. His two best friends Cassie and Teddy are the two that are really trying to bring him back.
Mike Lupica in this story shows what the true meaning of friendship is. "Jack saw the paper shaking in his hand a little, but kept reading." Reading on it says when Jack was done reading the note that he had received from his friend about coming back to the game, "He didn't cry when he finished. He felt himself smiling, the letter in his right hand, the ball in the left." This shows how much his friends meant to him and how much he meant to them. Jack was crushed and began to think even harder about his decisions of quitting.
The Only Game is a great novel with tons of twists and turns that will keep you interested and wanting to read more. Mike Lupica is author to a wonderful novel and is going to be a classic for a long time. Make sure you put The Only Game on the reading list this upcoming season.
When reading this story it feels like you are in the story because of how much you can relate. When I was reading, The Only Game, I could relate so much because I was thinking about quitting playing baseball also but I had to change my mind because of all the friendships I had made prior. In this novel, Jack Callahan is a young boy that decides to take a break from baseball and relax. All his friends began to persuade him to come back to the game that he loves. His two best friends Cassie and Teddy are the two that are really trying to bring him back.
Mike Lupica in this story shows what the true meaning of friendship is. "Jack saw the paper shaking in his hand a little, but kept reading." Reading on it says when Jack was done reading the note that he had received from his friend about coming back to the game, "He didn't cry when he finished. He felt himself smiling, the letter in his right hand, the ball in the left." This shows how much his friends meant to him and how much he meant to them. Jack was crushed and began to think even harder about his decisions of quitting.
The Only Game is a great novel with tons of twists and turns that will keep you interested and wanting to read more. Mike Lupica is author to a wonderful novel and is going to be a classic for a long time. Make sure you put The Only Game on the reading list this upcoming season.
June 10, 2017
***Edit***
I have reconsidered my initial response to this book after thinking about it for a few days. This the first book in a series and it is Jack's story so not having a clean ending for Teddy in this book could make sense depending on how the next book (Teddy's story) goes. I was able to think of some really good discussion questions to go along with this book about what I saw as the problematic friendship imbalance and I really think the sport aspect of this story will appeal to some reluctant readers. I am interested to see what happens in the next book to see if any of the problems I spotted are addressed.
****
I really, really wanted to like this book and I definitely liked parts of it but there was just one part that I couldn't get past that kinda ruined this book for me. Teddy gets bullied by the other boys at school and his bullying is never addressed by any person in authority. Jack sticks up for Teddy (One time!) and tells the other guys to stop. Then it is never addressed again. Quickly after that Teddy actually becomes "close" friends with Gus, one of the more vocal bullies. The way Teddy's low self-esteem and issues with bullying is handled seems to shift the blame to the fact that Teddy is overweight and doesn't play baseball. Once he gets into shape and becomes part of the team he is valued. (ugh.)
I think this book missed the mark on it's message of friendship and dealing with grief. Also, the descriptions of game play dragged on way too much (and I'm a fan of baseball!).
I have reconsidered my initial response to this book after thinking about it for a few days. This the first book in a series and it is Jack's story so not having a clean ending for Teddy in this book could make sense depending on how the next book (Teddy's story) goes. I was able to think of some really good discussion questions to go along with this book about what I saw as the problematic friendship imbalance and I really think the sport aspect of this story will appeal to some reluctant readers. I am interested to see what happens in the next book to see if any of the problems I spotted are addressed.
****
I really, really wanted to like this book and I definitely liked parts of it but there was just one part that I couldn't get past that kinda ruined this book for me. Teddy gets bullied by the other boys at school and his bullying is never addressed by any person in authority. Jack sticks up for Teddy (One time!) and tells the other guys to stop. Then it is never addressed again. Quickly after that Teddy actually becomes "close" friends with Gus, one of the more vocal bullies. The way Teddy's low self-esteem and issues with bullying is handled seems to shift the blame to the fact that Teddy is overweight and doesn't play baseball. Once he gets into shape and becomes part of the team he is valued. (ugh.)
I think this book missed the mark on it's message of friendship and dealing with grief. Also, the descriptions of game play dragged on way too much (and I'm a fan of baseball!).
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