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The Sports Beat #4
Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series
Best-selling author, journalist, and Edgar Award winner John Feinstein is back with another high-stakes sports mystery. Teen reporters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are covering baseball's World Series, and during the course of an interview with a new hot pitcher, they discover more than a few contradictions in his life story. What's he hiding? An embarrassing secret? A possible crime? Let the investigation begin!
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First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
John Feinstein
63 books591 followersJohn Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
April 5, 2022
Well Done
This is a very well written book with lots of drama, twists and turns.
It's set in the familar World Series environment. The cub reporters do a good job because the characters are so we'll developed.
This is a very well written book with lots of drama, twists and turns.
It's set in the familar World Series environment. The cub reporters do a good job because the characters are so we'll developed.
April 6, 2012
I had previously read Last Shot and Cover Up and loved them both. With baseball being my favorite sport, I was excited to read this. Feinstein does a great job at encorporating real sports with a ficticous story. He creates a mystery that keeps you turning pages. Being from the Boston area, it was fun to read about the Redsox and Fenway, having been there and knowing where places that he described in the book were. Overall, my favorite book of the series.
October 26, 2020
I don't know if John Feinstein's books for kids or adults are more popular, but the Sports Beat series brought him hordes of young fans, and the story continues in book four, Change-up: Mystery at the World Series. Fourteen-year-olds Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson have covered several big sporting events since the previous book, Cover-up: Mystery at the Super Bowl. They've learned to produce quality journalism even when they aren't uncovering a scandal, but their first World Series is destined to be anything but scandal-free. The Washington Nationals seem like a storybook team after downing the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series, but now they face the vaunted Boston Red Sox for the championship. Stories abound, but Stevie gets an inkling that the one with his name on it involves pitcher Norbert Doyle, a lifelong minor leaguer called up by the Nationals before the postseason to fill out their bullpen. Now in his late thirties, Doyle had lost any real hope of making a major league team, but here he is in the World Series despite never having won a game above the AAA level. It's a feel-good story even if he doesn't throw a single pitch.
Superstar players on both teams are hard to access, but Doyle doesn't attract attention. On the morning of game one in Boston, he meets Stevie and Susan Carol for an interview over breakfast, bringing along his teenage son and daughter, David and Morra. David is obviously attracted to Susan Carol, but Stevie tries to ignore it. The interview yields a few chestnuts for Stevie's story in the Washington Herald, but also touches a tender spot: the twins' mother died when they were two years old, victim of a drunk driver. Norbert Doyle is reluctant to elaborate, and Stevie and Susan Carol understand; there are plenty of positives to accentuate without dwelling on a personal tragedy from a dozen years ago. But Stevie's curiosity deepens when he interviews Wil Nieves, a catcher for the Nationals who knew Doyle for much of his career in the minors. Something Nieves says causes Stevie to wonder if there's more to the story of Analise Doyle's death. His instinct seems to be confirmed when Stevie spots Susan Carol secretly meeting with David Doyle, tucked away in the corner of a Boston pizza parlor having an animated conversation. She just met David; why are they getting together for lunch, and why does she lie about it later to Stevie? When finally confronted, Susan Carol's defensive response heightens Stevie's resolve to get to the bottom of the matter. He'd rather focus on baseball than have to don the hat of an investigative reporter, but he knows a good journalist wouldn't let this go.
Due to an unforeseen injury, Norbert Doyle is tapped as the emergency starter for game one, and Stevie is first to report the story. Doyle stuns the crowd at Fenway Park in Boston by buzz-sawing through the all-star Red Sox lineup with nothing but a mediocre fastball and superb control. Inning after inning Doyle neutralizes a spectacular batting order that includes the great David Ortiz, and almost closes the game out with a no-hitter. The eyes of the sports world are fastened on this man who couldn't earn a job in the majors for twenty years, and his heroics on baseball's biggest stage draw attention to Stevie as the reporter who broke the story. The series seesaws back and forth, the Nationals and Red Sox trading wins in dramatic games that often come down to the final out. Stevie and Susan Carol should be thrilled, but after her secret meeting with David and refusal to say what they discussed, Stevie and Susan Carol are barely speaking. Consulting with Bobby Kelleher, a fellow Washington Herald journalist who has accompanied Stevie and Susan Carol to every sporting event they've covered, Stevie decides to pursue the mystery of Norbert Doyle's past. The car accident that killed his wife could turn out to be just a sad twist of fate as Doyle said, but what if he wasn't telling the truth? After his game one victory, showbiz agents swarm Doyle, begging to represent him for the movie deal and other endorsements that are sure to follow. Stevie owes it to the public to vet Doyle's background and ensure he's the man he presents himself as. That requires a solo train ride to Lynchburg, Virginia, so Stevie can dig open a police investigation closed more than a decade ago.
The tension between Stevie and Susan Carol is excruciating, especially because they live in different states and rarely get to see each other, but it's nothing compared to the dangers that await Stevie in Lynchburg. The official police report of Analise Doyle's death conflicts with Norbert's account on crucial details, and when Stevie tracks down and questions the police officers involved, he's met by mistruths and violence. Why did Doyle lie about his wife's death in that first interview with Stevie and Susan Carol? Are officers Joe Molloy and Jim Hatley covering for him, or for themselves? There are many layers of intrigue to the case, and Stevie still can't get Susan Carol to share the secret that David Doyle told her. Unraveling this tapestry of manipulation and half-truths feels impossible so many years after the car crash, but as it becomes apparent that the World Series may be headed for a deciding game seven, and Doyle would take the mound with an opportunity to double up on his heroics from game one, Stevie knows time is running out. Can a teenage sports writer successfully confront a popular athlete if the athlete's entourage will stoop to almost anything to silence him? Has Stevie and Susan Carol's relationship reached the point of no return, or are they resilient enough to survive this ordeal? The events surrounding the Nationals vs. Red Sox World Series may be the stiffest challenge Stevie and Susan Carol have faced, but their journalistic talent has previously proven sufficient under extreme stress. They are as savvy a pair as any adults in the world of sports reporting.
Change-up: Mystery at the World Series is good, probably more intense than the three books preceding it. A few areas of the mystery don't quite seem to jibe—such as why Doyle brought up his wife's accident during the first interview with Stevie and Susan Carol—but the story mostly makes sense, even if the results of Doyle's starts against the Red Sox are too good to believe. For the first time in the Sports Beat series, Susan Carol grated on me; David did put her in a bad spot, but her attitude toward Stevie after that point bothered me. The book is set during the 2009 baseball season, the year it was published, and even though the Washington Nationals weren't in the World Series in real life (the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games), ten years later the Nationals finally won their championship. Included on the 2019 roster was the franchise's first-ever draft pick, Ryan Zimmerman. He's a young gun in this book, but was a veteran team leader when they broke through against the Houston Astros to win the 2019 championship. It's also interesting that this book adds a major chapter to Aaron Boone's postseason legacy that didn't actually happen, inserting him as a pivotal piece for the 2009 Nationals. As with the previous Sports Beat novels this one is a time capsule, full of real players, team executives, and media personalities who would at best be a memory to young fans only a few years after the book's release. That counts against Change-up: Mystery at the World Series to some degree, but doesn't make it a bad book. I believe I'll rate this fourth episode of the series two and a half stars, and I'm grateful for John Feinstein's presence in youth literature. He writes compelling story and creates characters you can't help but care about.
Superstar players on both teams are hard to access, but Doyle doesn't attract attention. On the morning of game one in Boston, he meets Stevie and Susan Carol for an interview over breakfast, bringing along his teenage son and daughter, David and Morra. David is obviously attracted to Susan Carol, but Stevie tries to ignore it. The interview yields a few chestnuts for Stevie's story in the Washington Herald, but also touches a tender spot: the twins' mother died when they were two years old, victim of a drunk driver. Norbert Doyle is reluctant to elaborate, and Stevie and Susan Carol understand; there are plenty of positives to accentuate without dwelling on a personal tragedy from a dozen years ago. But Stevie's curiosity deepens when he interviews Wil Nieves, a catcher for the Nationals who knew Doyle for much of his career in the minors. Something Nieves says causes Stevie to wonder if there's more to the story of Analise Doyle's death. His instinct seems to be confirmed when Stevie spots Susan Carol secretly meeting with David Doyle, tucked away in the corner of a Boston pizza parlor having an animated conversation. She just met David; why are they getting together for lunch, and why does she lie about it later to Stevie? When finally confronted, Susan Carol's defensive response heightens Stevie's resolve to get to the bottom of the matter. He'd rather focus on baseball than have to don the hat of an investigative reporter, but he knows a good journalist wouldn't let this go.
Due to an unforeseen injury, Norbert Doyle is tapped as the emergency starter for game one, and Stevie is first to report the story. Doyle stuns the crowd at Fenway Park in Boston by buzz-sawing through the all-star Red Sox lineup with nothing but a mediocre fastball and superb control. Inning after inning Doyle neutralizes a spectacular batting order that includes the great David Ortiz, and almost closes the game out with a no-hitter. The eyes of the sports world are fastened on this man who couldn't earn a job in the majors for twenty years, and his heroics on baseball's biggest stage draw attention to Stevie as the reporter who broke the story. The series seesaws back and forth, the Nationals and Red Sox trading wins in dramatic games that often come down to the final out. Stevie and Susan Carol should be thrilled, but after her secret meeting with David and refusal to say what they discussed, Stevie and Susan Carol are barely speaking. Consulting with Bobby Kelleher, a fellow Washington Herald journalist who has accompanied Stevie and Susan Carol to every sporting event they've covered, Stevie decides to pursue the mystery of Norbert Doyle's past. The car accident that killed his wife could turn out to be just a sad twist of fate as Doyle said, but what if he wasn't telling the truth? After his game one victory, showbiz agents swarm Doyle, begging to represent him for the movie deal and other endorsements that are sure to follow. Stevie owes it to the public to vet Doyle's background and ensure he's the man he presents himself as. That requires a solo train ride to Lynchburg, Virginia, so Stevie can dig open a police investigation closed more than a decade ago.
The tension between Stevie and Susan Carol is excruciating, especially because they live in different states and rarely get to see each other, but it's nothing compared to the dangers that await Stevie in Lynchburg. The official police report of Analise Doyle's death conflicts with Norbert's account on crucial details, and when Stevie tracks down and questions the police officers involved, he's met by mistruths and violence. Why did Doyle lie about his wife's death in that first interview with Stevie and Susan Carol? Are officers Joe Molloy and Jim Hatley covering for him, or for themselves? There are many layers of intrigue to the case, and Stevie still can't get Susan Carol to share the secret that David Doyle told her. Unraveling this tapestry of manipulation and half-truths feels impossible so many years after the car crash, but as it becomes apparent that the World Series may be headed for a deciding game seven, and Doyle would take the mound with an opportunity to double up on his heroics from game one, Stevie knows time is running out. Can a teenage sports writer successfully confront a popular athlete if the athlete's entourage will stoop to almost anything to silence him? Has Stevie and Susan Carol's relationship reached the point of no return, or are they resilient enough to survive this ordeal? The events surrounding the Nationals vs. Red Sox World Series may be the stiffest challenge Stevie and Susan Carol have faced, but their journalistic talent has previously proven sufficient under extreme stress. They are as savvy a pair as any adults in the world of sports reporting.
Change-up: Mystery at the World Series is good, probably more intense than the three books preceding it. A few areas of the mystery don't quite seem to jibe—such as why Doyle brought up his wife's accident during the first interview with Stevie and Susan Carol—but the story mostly makes sense, even if the results of Doyle's starts against the Red Sox are too good to believe. For the first time in the Sports Beat series, Susan Carol grated on me; David did put her in a bad spot, but her attitude toward Stevie after that point bothered me. The book is set during the 2009 baseball season, the year it was published, and even though the Washington Nationals weren't in the World Series in real life (the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games), ten years later the Nationals finally won their championship. Included on the 2019 roster was the franchise's first-ever draft pick, Ryan Zimmerman. He's a young gun in this book, but was a veteran team leader when they broke through against the Houston Astros to win the 2019 championship. It's also interesting that this book adds a major chapter to Aaron Boone's postseason legacy that didn't actually happen, inserting him as a pivotal piece for the 2009 Nationals. As with the previous Sports Beat novels this one is a time capsule, full of real players, team executives, and media personalities who would at best be a memory to young fans only a few years after the book's release. That counts against Change-up: Mystery at the World Series to some degree, but doesn't make it a bad book. I believe I'll rate this fourth episode of the series two and a half stars, and I'm grateful for John Feinstein's presence in youth literature. He writes compelling story and creates characters you can't help but care about.
March 23, 2018
The book I have been reading for that past few months is called ‘Change Up’ by: John Feinstein. This book is about two young kids 14-year-old reporters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol who take time out of school to to go to go to the World Series for baseball. Stevie Thomas one of the reporters ends up talking to one of the pitchers from one of the teams. Pitchers name is Norbert Doyle, Doyle has been in the minor league for years and ends up making his first ever appearance in the World Series. When Stevie talked to him in the clubhouse he was wondering why he wasn't celebrating with the rest of the team. Stevie talked with Doyle for a little bit and the one of Doyles teammates called Doyal over to join in with the celebration.
As the game goes on out on the field Stevie digs deep into the past of Pitch Norbert Doyle. Stevie ends up finding out that Doals wife past away in a very bad car crash. As he digs deeper he starts to back off and starts to keep quiet.
My opinions on this book are very mixed because when i read about the part when Doyle's wife past away i started to get a little upset because it brought back memories when i lost my mom. Other then that little situation the book was very good. BEcause i really love baseball and i have always like reading books about sports and baseball. If i would have to rate this book out of 5 stars i would most likely five it like 4 out of 5 stars. Hope you enjoy my book report.
As the game goes on out on the field Stevie digs deep into the past of Pitch Norbert Doyle. Stevie ends up finding out that Doals wife past away in a very bad car crash. As he digs deeper he starts to back off and starts to keep quiet.
My opinions on this book are very mixed because when i read about the part when Doyle's wife past away i started to get a little upset because it brought back memories when i lost my mom. Other then that little situation the book was very good. BEcause i really love baseball and i have always like reading books about sports and baseball. If i would have to rate this book out of 5 stars i would most likely five it like 4 out of 5 stars. Hope you enjoy my book report.
January 11, 2019
The book Change-up: Mystery at the World Series is about these two teen sports reporters are sent to cover the world series between the Washington Nationals and the Boston red sox, but the talk of the tournament is a player named Norbert Doyle, a late call up from the minor leagues to play for an underdog professional team in Major league baseball team. But the more they learn about Norbert Doyle, the more conflicting stories they hear. Little do they know that there is a big story about him being covered up by multiple people that nobody would expect. Bit by bit they try and piece together the shocking truth about this rising star, but once the secret is out there is no going back from this. The shocking truth was out that Norbert Doyle killed his wife and tried to cover it up for years and the two teens solved the mystery.
The theme of this book is if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Change-up fits the sports-fiction because the author uses real Major league baseball teams and real players. Throughout the book is was suspenseful and very good to read.This book was really suspenseful and it was enjoyable to read.Stevie Thomas a report for the Washington Post is trying to figure out the history of pitcher for National's Norbert Doyle after he pitched in Game 2 in the World Series. This book was really interesting because I didn't know whether Norbert was telling the truth. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes sports and like mystery books.
The theme of this book is if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Change-up fits the sports-fiction because the author uses real Major league baseball teams and real players. Throughout the book is was suspenseful and very good to read.This book was really suspenseful and it was enjoyable to read.Stevie Thomas a report for the Washington Post is trying to figure out the history of pitcher for National's Norbert Doyle after he pitched in Game 2 in the World Series. This book was really interesting because I didn't know whether Norbert was telling the truth. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes sports and like mystery books.
June 23, 2020
John Feinstein is steady and provides a good read. Missing baseball makes this a must for middle school baseball fans.
August 31, 2023
just like a baseball game, this book went on WAY too long
October 21, 2014
This was the 22nd book I have read by John Feinstein and it's probably safe to say that along with the late great David Halberstam, he's probably my favorite non-fiction writer of all time.
I am slowly finding out that he is a very good fiction writer as well.
The author of absolute defining classic sports books such as A Civil War, A Season on the Brink, The Punch, and A Good Walk Spoiled just to name a few, has also started to write some very good fiction sports books for the young adult audience. Although this book I think could be enjoyed by people of all ages, especially if you are a reporter.
The story I once heard is that Feinstein was sick of his kids not being able to read anything about sports for their age, so he started a series of books that revolved around two kid reporters who unlock mysteries at big sporting events such as the Super Bowl, March Madness and this time, the World Series.
The characters, Steve Thomas and Susan Carol, are young reporters that have become a little famous after writing a really good story about a problem at March Madness. This time they've stumbled upon a problem at the World Series that fictionally takes place in 2009 between the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals. Real players such as Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Ryan Zimmerman, Aaron Boone and others are used in the story along with made up characters such as a pitcher, Nobert Doyle. Doyle has a great story, but once Steve and Susan Carol start to dig more for a story, they find out some hazy details. You don't even have to be a big sports fan to enjoy this, although it makes it better. Just a flat out good mystery. I was sick over the weekend, mostly stayed at my house, and found myself reading this entire 300-page book in two days (although it is like reading 300 pages of Harry Potter). When I was a kid I used to love reading John R. Tunis books on baseball and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Not only were they good books about sports, but they had good clear messages in them about how to be a good person and the difference between wrong and right. The message in this one is obviously don't drink and drive, but there are other good messages in here on just how to be a good reporter and even, how to be a good boyfriend. The only thing I didn't like about this particular book was the ending was a little too unbelievable for me and as a reporter, I wonder if I would have done the same thing in the end. (Although it IS a good argument). It's also a little predictable at times, although the final twist I didn't see coming. I recommend this book for ANY sports fan around the ages of 10-16, and any reporter. Fans of John Feinstein will probably like this too, even if it is fiction. Good stuff and can't wait to read more in this series.
I am slowly finding out that he is a very good fiction writer as well.
The author of absolute defining classic sports books such as A Civil War, A Season on the Brink, The Punch, and A Good Walk Spoiled just to name a few, has also started to write some very good fiction sports books for the young adult audience. Although this book I think could be enjoyed by people of all ages, especially if you are a reporter.
The story I once heard is that Feinstein was sick of his kids not being able to read anything about sports for their age, so he started a series of books that revolved around two kid reporters who unlock mysteries at big sporting events such as the Super Bowl, March Madness and this time, the World Series.
The characters, Steve Thomas and Susan Carol, are young reporters that have become a little famous after writing a really good story about a problem at March Madness. This time they've stumbled upon a problem at the World Series that fictionally takes place in 2009 between the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals. Real players such as Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Ryan Zimmerman, Aaron Boone and others are used in the story along with made up characters such as a pitcher, Nobert Doyle. Doyle has a great story, but once Steve and Susan Carol start to dig more for a story, they find out some hazy details. You don't even have to be a big sports fan to enjoy this, although it makes it better. Just a flat out good mystery. I was sick over the weekend, mostly stayed at my house, and found myself reading this entire 300-page book in two days (although it is like reading 300 pages of Harry Potter). When I was a kid I used to love reading John R. Tunis books on baseball and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Not only were they good books about sports, but they had good clear messages in them about how to be a good person and the difference between wrong and right. The message in this one is obviously don't drink and drive, but there are other good messages in here on just how to be a good reporter and even, how to be a good boyfriend. The only thing I didn't like about this particular book was the ending was a little too unbelievable for me and as a reporter, I wonder if I would have done the same thing in the end. (Although it IS a good argument). It's also a little predictable at times, although the final twist I didn't see coming. I recommend this book for ANY sports fan around the ages of 10-16, and any reporter. Fans of John Feinstein will probably like this too, even if it is fiction. Good stuff and can't wait to read more in this series.
July 25, 2016
John Feinstein’s Change Up: A Mystery at the World Series has the perfect combination of sports and suspense as it portrays a nail-biting World Series, a gripping mystery, and fantastic descriptions. Stevie and Susan Carol are journalist that have covered almost every big-time sporting event in the past years, but now they have the World Series. They run into a scandal everywhere they go this time is no different. As the Red Sox and Nationals clash for a championship, a career minor league pitcher, Norbert Doyle, nearly achieves a no-hitter in game two and Stevie has to get a story about him. As he digs deeper he discovers an enigma about Norbert’s late wife. This draws him to question the power of the press and invasion of
privacy, though Norbert, his kids and his agent try to manipulate Stevie and Susan.
Change Up has so many compelling components to it, including accurate sports depictions, real characters, edgy, mysterious moments and funny dialogue. The World Series descriptions are so authentic and precise it’s like I am watching it or even at the event. “He got it. He got all of it. The ball rose majestically into the air and sailed in the direction of the left-field fence.” (Feinstein 8) As a Red Sox fan I love the real life players Feinstein uses. Using everyone from David Oritz to Jordan Zimmerman and they are truly the people they are in real life. “Eyes set on the wall, Ortiz steps up to face the hard throwing Zimmerman.” (Feinstein 56) There are so many tense, mysterious moments in this novel in keeps you turning the pages until the end. As the characters are teenagers in an adult world this can cause funny situations that actually will make you laugh out loud.
Therefore, Change Up great game descriptions, real-life characters, anxious situations and comical moments. This book is awesome as a baseball fan and any other sports fan. I believe even someone who doesn’t like sports will enjoy this book for what it is, a true mystery.
privacy, though Norbert, his kids and his agent try to manipulate Stevie and Susan.
Change Up has so many compelling components to it, including accurate sports depictions, real characters, edgy, mysterious moments and funny dialogue. The World Series descriptions are so authentic and precise it’s like I am watching it or even at the event. “He got it. He got all of it. The ball rose majestically into the air and sailed in the direction of the left-field fence.” (Feinstein 8) As a Red Sox fan I love the real life players Feinstein uses. Using everyone from David Oritz to Jordan Zimmerman and they are truly the people they are in real life. “Eyes set on the wall, Ortiz steps up to face the hard throwing Zimmerman.” (Feinstein 56) There are so many tense, mysterious moments in this novel in keeps you turning the pages until the end. As the characters are teenagers in an adult world this can cause funny situations that actually will make you laugh out loud.
Therefore, Change Up great game descriptions, real-life characters, anxious situations and comical moments. This book is awesome as a baseball fan and any other sports fan. I believe even someone who doesn’t like sports will enjoy this book for what it is, a true mystery.
December 10, 2014
The book Changeup by John Feinstein was an excellent mystery. It is about Norbert Doyle, a professional pitcher for the Washington Nationals, who is being interviewed by Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol. During the interview something suspicious comes up that Norbert Doyle says. Stevie and Susan are trying to figure out if he's telling the truth or not. I like this book because you never knew Norbert Doyle was telling the truth, it always left you hanging after every chapter. I never knew what the book was about until they started getting deeper into this situation about Norbert Doyle. I kind a like this book but I also didn't because at some parts of the book it confused me and I didn't know what was going on. Every chapter there was always something different to talk about with Doyle and his kids. Overall this book was a really good because I comprehend well with Sports books and especially this one because it was about the World Series, and it just was a very interesting book.
May 4, 2011
This book was really suspenseful and it was enjoyable to read.Stevie Thomas a report for the Washington Post is trying to figure out the history of pitcher for National's Norbert Doyle after he pitched in Game 2 in the World Series. This book was really interesting because I didn't know whether Norbert was telling the truth. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes sports and like mystery books.
September 26, 2016
this was a very nice book it was very sweet and i always read it at night whenever i had times i never wanted to put this book down
May 19, 2017
Fending off dreadful agents and crazy police officers are challenges that Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson face while reporting at the baseball World Series. The book Change-Up by John Feinstein is about two kid reporters who are covering the World Series between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. The big story of the World Series is Norbert Doyle who has been all around Major League Baseball. He has landed a spot on the World Series starting roster for the Washington Nationals. Little do they know, a big story is being covered up by multiple people that nobody would expect. The theme in this book is that if you put your mind to it, anyone can do anything.
Change-Up fits in the sports fiction genre because the author uses real Major League teams and some players so that the story seems as real as possible. Based on my investigation about Change-Up, I noticed that John Feinstein uses real life examples of challenges that regular people face or do in everyday life. He uses actual people and newspapers so that it seems like this event really happened and that the reader feels like they are reading about it for the first time. Reporting is a much different business, because they have to come up with insightful questions that will help make a great story in the newspaper that they work for. Television is also part of the reporting business and generally gets the most attention in the media world. Sports fiction has messages embedded into the story so that the reader can learn different life lessons. One of the lessons in this book is to surround yourself with a lot of good friends that can help you through tough situations. Bobby Kelleher, another reporter from the Washington Post is that kind of friend for Stevie while he tries to avoid conflict with Susan Carol, and her relationship with another 14 year old whom Stevie doesn’t like. Overall, these events in the book can actually happen in the real life sports world which makes the reader feel like they are a part of the game without actually being there.
I enjoyed this book because I love sports and also play baseball in my everyday life. It leaves you in suspense throughout the story by leaving cliffhangers and using challenges that can be pretty scary at some points, so it makes you want to keep reading. John Feinstein uses a lot of action to keep the reader on edge at all times so that the book doesn’t become boring in any manner. I think people who also enjoy sports fiction, or just sports in general, would like this book because you get to see a different side of professional sports. Children and adults ages 12 and up would enjoy reading Change-Up, because they will have a better understanding of sports and will know some of the people included in the book. So if you are looking for a great book to read, pick up a copy of Change-Up and start reading today.
Change-Up fits in the sports fiction genre because the author uses real Major League teams and some players so that the story seems as real as possible. Based on my investigation about Change-Up, I noticed that John Feinstein uses real life examples of challenges that regular people face or do in everyday life. He uses actual people and newspapers so that it seems like this event really happened and that the reader feels like they are reading about it for the first time. Reporting is a much different business, because they have to come up with insightful questions that will help make a great story in the newspaper that they work for. Television is also part of the reporting business and generally gets the most attention in the media world. Sports fiction has messages embedded into the story so that the reader can learn different life lessons. One of the lessons in this book is to surround yourself with a lot of good friends that can help you through tough situations. Bobby Kelleher, another reporter from the Washington Post is that kind of friend for Stevie while he tries to avoid conflict with Susan Carol, and her relationship with another 14 year old whom Stevie doesn’t like. Overall, these events in the book can actually happen in the real life sports world which makes the reader feel like they are a part of the game without actually being there.
I enjoyed this book because I love sports and also play baseball in my everyday life. It leaves you in suspense throughout the story by leaving cliffhangers and using challenges that can be pretty scary at some points, so it makes you want to keep reading. John Feinstein uses a lot of action to keep the reader on edge at all times so that the book doesn’t become boring in any manner. I think people who also enjoy sports fiction, or just sports in general, would like this book because you get to see a different side of professional sports. Children and adults ages 12 and up would enjoy reading Change-Up, because they will have a better understanding of sports and will know some of the people included in the book. So if you are looking for a great book to read, pick up a copy of Change-Up and start reading today.
September 21, 2017
Change-Up, written by John Feinstein, is a book following Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol as the try to uncover the dark history of up-and-coming pitcher Norbert Doyle. When Stevie has to write a story about Norbert Doyle, he goes to Lynchburg, Virginia to find out what happened the night that Analiese Doyle died. Stevie soon finds out that Norbert covered up that he was responsible for killing his wife. After realizing this would ruin Norbert’s career, Stevie has to decide whether to release the story or destroy it, saving Norbert Doyle’s career. The theme of the book is trust because in the book there are many lies and Stevie has to trust the people he is closest to get the story right without ruining someone for life. Unfortunately, this book was slow-moving and had an unsatisfactory climax.
The book was mainly a flop because it was slow, which made it hard to follow. The plot switches between Stevie finding out Norbert's history and Stevie and Susan's “love problems.” Change- Up doesn't focus on a main idea and you couldn’t identify the climax. The book was slow because you didn't find out the climax until the last two chapters. Another reason the book was bad was because it was predictable. There was no real twist in the story, the climax was boring, and you could see it from a mile away. The final reason was that the book was unrealistic. In the book, the author states: “He twisted Fellkoff’s wrist and heard him scream in pain. Then Felkoff kicked him in the stomach, and it was Stevie’s turn to yell in pain” (Feinstein 288). In this passage the authors says that Stevie, a kid, was kicked in the stomach by Felkoff, a grown man. This is clearly unrealistic and would never happen in public. Overall, the author isn't that descriptive and there is no symbolism what so ever in this novel.
In conclusion, Change-Up by John Feinstein, wasn't a difficult read and it had a boring plot. The book fails to attach the reader to the book, has a predictable climax, and has a slow moving plot. The book has some good aspects such as well-developed characters and interesting baseball chapters where the author wrote about a baseball game. I wouldn't recommend this book to kids our age, but I would recommend it to a middle schooler.
The book was mainly a flop because it was slow, which made it hard to follow. The plot switches between Stevie finding out Norbert's history and Stevie and Susan's “love problems.” Change- Up doesn't focus on a main idea and you couldn’t identify the climax. The book was slow because you didn't find out the climax until the last two chapters. Another reason the book was bad was because it was predictable. There was no real twist in the story, the climax was boring, and you could see it from a mile away. The final reason was that the book was unrealistic. In the book, the author states: “He twisted Fellkoff’s wrist and heard him scream in pain. Then Felkoff kicked him in the stomach, and it was Stevie’s turn to yell in pain” (Feinstein 288). In this passage the authors says that Stevie, a kid, was kicked in the stomach by Felkoff, a grown man. This is clearly unrealistic and would never happen in public. Overall, the author isn't that descriptive and there is no symbolism what so ever in this novel.
In conclusion, Change-Up by John Feinstein, wasn't a difficult read and it had a boring plot. The book fails to attach the reader to the book, has a predictable climax, and has a slow moving plot. The book has some good aspects such as well-developed characters and interesting baseball chapters where the author wrote about a baseball game. I wouldn't recommend this book to kids our age, but I would recommend it to a middle schooler.
October 2, 2019
From the press box of Fenway Park to the hills of Lynchburg, Virginia, Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series has plenty of twists and turns that will keep you turning the page. Stevie is a teen reporter covering the World Series, but he ends up trying to solve a mystery. Norbert Doyle is a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, and he was in a car crash with his wife many years ago, in which she died. Through Stevie’s interviews with players, he discovered there were a lot more mysterious details to the story. Because of his reporter instincts to get the whole story, he followed the clues to solve the mystery.
The book was intense, and it had suspenseful moments. It left you at the end of every chapter wanting to know what would happen next. For example, when Stevie went to Lynchburg to interview an officer who was involved at the scene of the accident, the officer refused to talk about it, and he had his dog chase Stevie off his property. This only made Stevie want to investigate further. Even though there were plenty of enjoyable moments throughout the story line, there were also others that were not so much.
Throughout the book, the main characters were either at the World Series games or investigating the mysterious accident. There would be a lot of play-by-play of a game in one chapter, but then the next chapter would go back to Stevie trying to solve the mystery. For example, right after Stevie made plans to make a second trip to Lynchburg to investigate the accident details again, the story shifted to the play-by-play of game four of the series.This back-and-forth occurred throughout the book, and it could get confusing for the reader.
Despite the bouncing back and forth within the story line, I recommend this book to anyone who loves sports and enjoys reading a good mystery. I enjoyed this book and I’m sure you would too.
The book was intense, and it had suspenseful moments. It left you at the end of every chapter wanting to know what would happen next. For example, when Stevie went to Lynchburg to interview an officer who was involved at the scene of the accident, the officer refused to talk about it, and he had his dog chase Stevie off his property. This only made Stevie want to investigate further. Even though there were plenty of enjoyable moments throughout the story line, there were also others that were not so much.
Throughout the book, the main characters were either at the World Series games or investigating the mysterious accident. There would be a lot of play-by-play of a game in one chapter, but then the next chapter would go back to Stevie trying to solve the mystery. For example, right after Stevie made plans to make a second trip to Lynchburg to investigate the accident details again, the story shifted to the play-by-play of game four of the series.This back-and-forth occurred throughout the book, and it could get confusing for the reader.
Despite the bouncing back and forth within the story line, I recommend this book to anyone who loves sports and enjoys reading a good mystery. I enjoyed this book and I’m sure you would too.
December 9, 2019
This is a great book, Feinstein does a wonderful job of relating fiction to the sports world of real life. In this story, Norbert Doyle is a cinderella story, or so it seems. Norbert was a minor league pitcher for his whole career when the Washington Nationals called him up for the end of the season and the postseason. Norbert had only three starts in the MLB before the Nationals called for him to pitch game 1 of the World Series. However, Norbert had a past that not many people know about. When he was in his earlyish 20s, he and his wife got in a drunk driving accident that killed his spouse. The lack of records and mysterious cover-ups tipped off Susan Carol and Stevie Thomas that something was not right. The two reporters went to Lynchburg, Virginia, to look deep into Doyle's past. One of the most powerful passages happened in the last 30 pages of the book when Stevie and Susan Carol were interviewing Norbert. On pages 286 and 287 during the interview it says, "'... Tell you what since we're old teammates, I'll cut you a break. Let Analise drive home, and I won't test you.'" and following up with, "' I agreed' Doyle said starting to sob. 'Analise might not have been as drunk as me, but she'd probably never driven drunk in her life. We'd gone a couple miles when we came around that curve too fast and...' His voice broke up and he buried his head in his hands." This passage is powerful because it makes you feel for Doyle, throughout the book Norbert has been depicted as the good guy, to the bad guy, and then back to the good guy. Throughout the book, you grow closer to Norbert and discover more about him, at the end of the book it feels as he is a family member or a very close friend. When his story comes out you feel horrible and you wanna be there with him to console him.
January 15, 2019
I just finishd reading the book, Change-Up Mystery At The World Series, by John Feinstein. To understand my review, you need to know a little about the book. In this book, there's a long time minor league baseball player,Nobert Doyle, who has finally been called up to the bigs after so many years of minor league ball. While playing basebll, he has also raised two kids by himself after hs wife's passing and has a degree. Everybody is charmed by Doyle but teen reporters Stevie and Susan try to learn about him more and the teens soon realize Doyle isn't the guy they thought he was.
I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. Through out this whole book, I was always kept up on my toes to see what would happen next. Throughout the book, the author went into deep detail about what was going on at certain times."He started to respond but was just smart enough not to. They went straight to Bobby and Tarmara's room to report what had happened. Kelleher was smiling when he opened the door."So,you're giving up journalism for oxing, I hear?" he said as he ushered the two of them into the room." This is only a short potion of the book but based off of this text, you can tell hoe descriptive the author is with whatever he is trying t describe or say. From this quote, you can tell what actions were about to happen and the direction the chracters were heading.
The reason I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars was because this book is on a topic I can relate to and very much like. If you are a person who is a avid baseball lover like myself or a reader who love suspense and mysteriousness in their books, this is a must read for you.
I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. Through out this whole book, I was always kept up on my toes to see what would happen next. Throughout the book, the author went into deep detail about what was going on at certain times."He started to respond but was just smart enough not to. They went straight to Bobby and Tarmara's room to report what had happened. Kelleher was smiling when he opened the door."So,you're giving up journalism for oxing, I hear?" he said as he ushered the two of them into the room." This is only a short potion of the book but based off of this text, you can tell hoe descriptive the author is with whatever he is trying t describe or say. From this quote, you can tell what actions were about to happen and the direction the chracters were heading.
The reason I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars was because this book is on a topic I can relate to and very much like. If you are a person who is a avid baseball lover like myself or a reader who love suspense and mysteriousness in their books, this is a must read for you.
May 12, 2017
What would you do if you had the chance to report the truth that would ruin a great career and his family? These are the questions and thoughts that went through two teenage writers in "Change-up" by John Feinstein. The book was a little boring containing little to no action to start off with, but as the plot advanced and the conflict was clearly shown, it was really difficult to stop reading. The book almost turned into a true mystery once the plot settled in. "Stevie was pretty sure he should keep his mouth shut but couldn't resist"(Feinstein 129). Stevie can never keep his mouth shut, neither can keep his thoughts and questions to himself. He is true reporter who chases after ever big story. John is a award winning author who has written a "New York Times" best selling author for the book "Last Shot." If you are looking into reading Change-up, I would recommend you to start off with "Last Shot" although it is not a must. John's books can be compared to other sports writers and books such as "The Big Field" by Mike Lupica. I recommend this book to any gender and any age. It may be more relatable to a younger generation because of the setting, but anyone who has a love and understanding of sports would enjoy this book.
October 2, 2017
The book change Up by John Feinstein is a sports mystery. because there is a story behind one of the players and Stevie Thomas and Susan carol Anderson and on the case. Stevie and Susan carol are 14 year old reporters for the Daily Herald they write in the kids sports section. And the were asked to cover the World Series. While covering the World Series they find out a secret about one of the player and his name is Norbert Doyle.They find out about an accident killing the players wife and Stevie decides they should investigate he finds out that what he heard about the accident was wrong it was a one car accident instead of what he heard was a two car accident. As the story moves along he discovers lies and lose ends to the story and decides he needs to talk to the player. But the players kids are trying to get him off the story. But why the reason is they don’t want to know the truth and they think their story is right. The World Series is in game 6 and they are close but still need to talk to Norbert Doyle. They are at game six and Norbert is pitching in game 7. They schedule and they schedule an appointment to meet with Norbert and he tells the truth. Will they decided to write the story or not and if they don’t will they tell him in time find out in Change Up by John Feinstein.
March 12, 2020
The book I read was Change up by John Feinstein. This book follows the story of two teen sport reporters Stevie and Susan Carol. As the discover interview and discover the truth about Norbert Doyle. This book uses dramatic irony fantastically. At the beginning of the book it tells us how amazing Norbert Doyle pitches, but when you read past the epilogue. He doesn’t know he starts until chapter 4.
This story also has good foreshadowing. In chapter six when Norbert and Stevie have lunch for an interview. Stevie sees his kids and asks about his wife. Norbert said his wife passed and away and doesn’t like to talk about it. After game 2 of the World Series Stevie interviews Ysterski one of Norberts teammates he’s played with sense the minor league. Ysterski said that Norbert was always quiet and suspicious. Turns out it was his fault that his wife died. They were both drunk and he made her drive and the got hit.
The authors word choice was also amazing. Instead of saying Norbert wife died because of him. The author said Norbert murdered his wife. Basically meaning he was the reason she died. That choice of words really made the story more sad. As the story goes along I really became attached to Norbert, but then finding that out was hard to take in.
This story also has good foreshadowing. In chapter six when Norbert and Stevie have lunch for an interview. Stevie sees his kids and asks about his wife. Norbert said his wife passed and away and doesn’t like to talk about it. After game 2 of the World Series Stevie interviews Ysterski one of Norberts teammates he’s played with sense the minor league. Ysterski said that Norbert was always quiet and suspicious. Turns out it was his fault that his wife died. They were both drunk and he made her drive and the got hit.
The authors word choice was also amazing. Instead of saying Norbert wife died because of him. The author said Norbert murdered his wife. Basically meaning he was the reason she died. That choice of words really made the story more sad. As the story goes along I really became attached to Norbert, but then finding that out was hard to take in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2018
This was a great book because it was full of great mystery, just a tad of romance and great baseball. Baseball is the most important thing for me in a book. Even though some of the reporters in the book asked pretty stereotypical questions like “should they take him out now?” Or “how many pitches should he throw?” But all in all it was a great book. It follows the story of Steve Thomas a fourteen year old intern reporter for the Washington herald. He meets a late season call up for the Washington nationals after they win the pennant. He thinks that the call up (whose name is Norbert Doyle) could be a good story when he make the World Series roster. He takes him out to breakfast and learns his wife died in a drunk driving accident. When he talks to the catcher of the nationals he learns that he’s not a very jolly person and he wonders if this is because of something that happened in the accident that we don’t know about. So Stevie ghost to Lynchburg where the accident happened and talks to people about the accident. What he finds out it’s shocking and you should read the book to find out
August 16, 2022
I have not read the other books in the series as I enjoy baseball more than the others. I do think it might have helped to have understood the relationships between reoccurring characters, but I was able to pick up the jest of it. I would be a bit surprised to see a national newspaper having a couple of fourteen year olds as cub reporters - especially sending one out on a story on his own, then sending both teens together with no mentor or even adult supervision. I had seen reviews where this is a time capsule with players, reporters, and other real-life people that are side characters in the story - however, I am also going to say that the attitudes on drunk driving and police are also part of this capsule. I enjoyed aspects of this story, but I found much of it to be cringe worthy in 2022 and shocked by how much has changed in a relatively short time frame.
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November 8, 2019I would recommend this home run hitting book! If you like sports/mystery books you will like Change-Up by John Feinstein. This is one of my favorite books John Feinstein has more sport/mystery books you should read!
My favorite part of the book is when they find out the mystery with Norbert. When I figured out what Norbert's secret was I felt like I won the World Series. The part of the book that disappointed me was the book went by so fast. It was like it took 10 minutes to read it but I have been reading it for a month. I like this book because it told me a lot of info about what I was reading and had a lot of things to wonder while I was reading this.
If you like to read mystery books/ sportsbooks I would recommend this book if you don't I don't think you would like this book.
My favorite part of the book is when they find out the mystery with Norbert. When I figured out what Norbert's secret was I felt like I won the World Series. The part of the book that disappointed me was the book went by so fast. It was like it took 10 minutes to read it but I have been reading it for a month. I like this book because it told me a lot of info about what I was reading and had a lot of things to wonder while I was reading this.
If you like to read mystery books/ sportsbooks I would recommend this book if you don't I don't think you would like this book.
April 6, 2023
I’m totally going to look up the first three books in this “Sports Beat” series! This was a good speed little MG/YA mystery. (For *me* it leaned Middle Grade.) I had no idea it was a fourth book so there were character traits and relationships established that it would’ve been nice to have the background on, but he did do a great job “filling in” new readers so it *could* work as a stand-alone too. I like mysteries and this definitely took me back to my “Cam Jansen” days but…with some sports play-by-play mixed in. (I’m familiar enough with baseball, but it took me a second to place that this was a *fictional* match up. It was written as and included enough non fictional players that it threw me for a second!) Solid and enjoyable quick read.
December 14, 2018
I grabbed this audiobook for a family trip, but we as a family didn't get to listen to it. It is a pretty good story and hubby would have definitely liked it. It is, however, part of a series so several of the characters background story and relationships were established in earlier books, plus there were references to past occurances. Still, it was a great standalone story overall for either baseball fans or mystery books. Looking at the other books, they don't limit themselves to baseball but deal with other sports as well. I would definitely pick up another audiobook in this series, and perhaps include the actual books in my ever-growing pile of authors I am currently reading.
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April 19, 2022To start off, in some of the books. Susan and Carol are the main characters who investigate because they enjoy journalism. In this book, they stumble on an investigation of a journeyman pitcher, Norbert Doyle, who is starting game two against the Red Sox. His investigation was a car wreck with his wife who had died years before. Susan and Carol are supposed to figure out what actually happened in that incident but with the help of a sportswriter, taxi driver, and a couple of retired policemen they might just pull it off the investigation. I recommend this book to people that enjoy books that consist of solving investigations and a relationship between sports.
May 10, 2018
If you love sports, journalism, and mystery then this book is perfect to you. This book contains a fiction where talented kids can operate with complete freedom in the adult world. It has the perfect mix of lies and deception with the action of the World Series. It has loads of suspenseful scenes, thought-provoking events, and the perfect amount of family. This book explains perfectly the line of where journalism ends and privacy begins by uncovering the truth behind a pitchers Cinderella story. I would recommend this book to anybody in high school because of the suspense and action in it.
May 28, 2019
Sportswriters Stevie Thomas and Ansan Carol Anderson are once again writing about a major sporting event: the World Series. But as always, they stumble across another lie. They find out that Norbert Doyle, a pitcher for the Nationals, lies about his wife's death. It is natural for Stevie and Susan Carol to investigate. But when David Doyle, Norbert's son, manages to get Susan Carol to have a secret between them and how somebody was one step ahed of the pair in Virginia, things don't seem right. Susan Carol and Stevie need to find the answer to Norbert Doyle's wife's death fast, before the World Series ends! The clock is ticking....
January 3, 2022
With baseball being my favorite sport to both watch and play, this book is a really good book. It made me happy that they pitched Norbert Doyle, a late call up that no one expected to be good. It also made me think about how cool it would be to have a job like Susan Carol and Stevie Thomas as teen reporters. I would like to reads the two other popular sports books Last Shot and Cover Up. I was never the biggest fan of reading but this book kept me engaged and interested. I really recommend it to any sports fan who is looking for a good book.
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April 26, 2023Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: The World Series between the Nationals and the Red Sox is starting and when a no name pitcher does really good, reporter Steve Thomas begins to dig into his past. What he finds is a big shock to the whole world and him even, and it can change the course of the series.
My Thoughts: I thought this book was really good. It was an easy read and pretty fast paced. If you like sports you will like this book. The characters are relatable and easy to follow.
I would read it again
Summary: The World Series between the Nationals and the Red Sox is starting and when a no name pitcher does really good, reporter Steve Thomas begins to dig into his past. What he finds is a big shock to the whole world and him even, and it can change the course of the series.
My Thoughts: I thought this book was really good. It was an easy read and pretty fast paced. If you like sports you will like this book. The characters are relatable and easy to follow.
I would read it again
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