Sliding into Home

by Dori Hillestad Butler

It’s not fair! Thirteen-year-old Joelle Cunningham is passionate about baseball. But when her family moves to the small town of Greendale, Iowa, she quickly discovers that there are strict rules preventing her from playing on the school baseball team.
At Hoover Middle School, only boys play baseball. Girls play softball. Joelle tries to tell everyone they’re not the same sport. But no one is listening. Not Coach Carlyle who doesn’t want her on his team even though his baseball team is at the bottom of the league. Not Ms. Fenner, the softball coach who wants Joelle to use her big league swing on the girls’ team. Not even Jason, her older brother, who is too busy at college to be of much help.
But Joelle is determined to play baseball. Through some creative problem-solving and surprising alliances, she finds a solution to her dilemma that brings the disputing sides together…and baseball to the girls of Greendale.
Author Dori Butler has created a high-spirited, indomitable character that young girls will admire and root for in this story of frustrated ambition and ultimate triumph.

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

218 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Dori Hillestad Butler is an American author of more than 40 children's books, as well as magazine stories, plays and educational materials. Her first book, The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off, was published in 1997. She is known particularly for The Truth about Truman School, a 2008 young adult title focusing on the subject of cyber bullying, and for My Mom's Having a Baby (illustrated by Carol Thompson), which in 2011 appeared on the American Library Association's list of most commonly challenged books in the United States for its portrayal of conception and childbirth. Her 2010 mystery title, Buddy Files: Case of the Last Boy, won the 2011 Edgar Award for the best juvenile mystery published in 2010. Before becoming a children's author, Butler worked for three years as a page at a library.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joelle Cunningham, age 13, and her family move from Minnesota to Greendale, Iowa. Back in Minnesota she played baseball, when most of the other girls played softball. When she finds out her new school in Iowa won't let girls play baseball, they have to play softball, she sets her mind to somehow forming a girls baseball team.

[Lucy Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can relate in so many ways!

[Sky *daughter of Hermes* · Rating 5 out of 5]

JoJo is a girl that I could relate to. This girl is a determind and I can take a challange kinda girl. JoJo reminds me of myself.
I love to write and my English teacher didn't want to have me in this writing contest. So instead of entering a writing contest I decided to write letters to friends form different places. They may not understand them half the time but they really enjoy it and I can't wait to see their faces someday when I meet them!
Instead of a writing contest, It's baseball for Joelle; but whatever it may be you have to stand up and be proud of what you do!!! Show that you really love it and you don't care what other people think.

[Cheyenne]

I learned it is hard to move to a different school because a lot of things change. I also learned most of the things change for the best and if not, then you can change things if you really have to. This book inspired me because its about a girl who knows what she likes and she stands up for herself. It's good that she likes baseball; we should get more girls into baseball.

[Ella S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read for our fourth quarter was Sliding Into Home by Dori Hillestad Butler. Anyone who is interested in books with sports would enjoy this book. Throughout the book Butler uses great detail causing you feel how the characters feel experiencing what the character is feeling. I was personally affected by this book in a positive way because it got confusing at times but began to understand it more and more.
The author added a lot of detail to the book so it was easier to understand which made it fun to read. Because the main character had a big problem about how she could not play baseball with the boys for a school spring sport that affected the rest of the book and in the end it was all pulled together and all made sense. Joelle had moved towns and she was gonna miss her friends. (baseball team) “Softball wasn’t Joelle’s game” “She was going to have to tell the softball team the truth” “Actually I play baseball” Joelle said (p.4). Some of the girls on the softball team just don't understand why Joelle does not want to play softball. The reason why is because she has played all of her life and she thinks its more enjoyable but the other girls think its because she wants to play with the boys. All in the end she ended up creating a baseball team of all girls.
I definitely do recommend Sliding Into Home. The book was fun to read it had some cliffhangers so it was interesting what was going to happen next especially when Joelle was creating the team like would it work out or not and if she would have enough players to make a team. My favorite thing about the book was probably their first game because it was intense and a close game so that made it even more interesting. I can connect with the book because Joelle did not get what she wanted right away she had to problem solve and earn it. I loved everything about the book. So I would recommend it.

[Audri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is about a 13 year old who JUST wants to play baseball, but her new school won't let her since they have softball. She try's to change the school boards mind but they wont listen. Will they listen in the end? You'll have to find out. Journey through this book as she finds friends, never gives up, protests, fights against her enemy's and what ??? try's to make Goldilocks win the trial in social studies. Will she? You won't find out unless you read this book. Interested? Good, find this book and give it a try. This book has everything adventure, mystery, fantasy and some history.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than the technology descriptions, this book might have been written recently. Takes on the complexities of gender equity in ways kids can understand, that the systems in place are just "not enough." I really liked, for instance, that there were technically opportunities available for girls who wanted to play, but it always involved being the only girl among boys. Appreciated all the real challenges presented here, and how it wasn't black and white

[Aubrey Arensdorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a good book. The plot was decent, it was just a good book. It definitely isn’t a life changing book but I recommend it to late elementary or middle schoolers. One thing that infuriated me a little was how Joelle was mad everyone was pushing her to play softball when she started pushing Elizabeth to play baseball. But maybe that’s just the authors way of showing she’s a teenage girl. Overall I recommend it for a quick read.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

hile this is a book for young adults I found it to be an interesting read about one of my favorite sports and the determination of girls. Before giving books to young readers I typically try to read them. i was not disappointed.

[Bonnie Tesch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every bit of this book was predictable.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this plot is overused.

And maybe there's a good reason but ik just saying it's the fifth book with that plot and seventh piece of media in general that I've come across

[Sally Beaudean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course my initial interest in this book was baseball. Sliding into Home is about so much more! It’s about family, friendship, determination — and, okay, it’s about Girl Power.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joelle comes from a baseball family and has always played baseball herself, but when her family moves to Iowa, she's informed that girls are not allowed to play baseball in her school district; their only option is softball. Joelle is furious and frustrated because the sports are not the same, and she's tired of everyone telling her she should just play softball and get over it. She's not about to take softball for an answer, though, and sets out to find a way she can play her favorite sport. Along the way she encounters a ton of bureaucratic red tape, resentment and snide comments from fellow students, anger from coaches, and doubt from every sector possible. Plus she has to deal with a new school, new kids, and a popular girl driving her crazy. She also finds friends and allies, though, and learns just what determination can get you.

Disclaimer: the author is a good friend. I really enjoyed this, even though I'm about as far from a sporty girl as you can get, and I'll admit I skimmed all the baseball action. The representation of local bureaucracy and pushback from every sector was unfortunately totally believable, and thus this offers a good game plan for any student who has a similar passion and wants to find a solution. Joelle is not always likable in her single-minded determination, which makes her trample on her friends a bit, but she does come to realize her flaws and try to amend them. I'd recommend this to anyone trying to push something through local bureaucracy.

[Edgar quintanilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

i dnt really recommend this book its just this foolish/stubborn girl who just cant accept the fact that she cnt play baseball w/ the boys..goes through a ton of trouble just to play in the guys baseball team eventough nobody even the coach wants her there since its rules only guys...the principal dsnt care,the distric dsnt care,the teachers dnt care and theres a softball group for girls...but no she has to go on the newspaper strt a mini league of her own make flyers,posters find girls willing to play baseball,find a place to play, find a coach,find sponsors,shes just stubborn....but in the end she srt of gets something going.

[Emilee Cernosek · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good for people who like to play sports. it is about a girl that wants to play baseball but the girls at her school play softball because the school only lets girls play softball and boys play softball. Does she get to play baseball? You can only find out if you read the book. so read it, it is good

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joelle Cunningham has just moved from Minneapolis to Greendale, Iowa. She plays baseball and would rather play it than any other game, even softball. But in Greendale there are no baseball teams for girls and Joelle is out to change that. When she can’t change the school board she starts her own all girl league - but it’s easier said than done!

[Micherac0 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a girl who wants to play baseball at her school but she isn't allowed to. So she tries to make an all girls baseball league. This book also has everday conflicts like friendship problems and school popularity!

[Adreanne]

this is a really good book!!! i actually read this on my baseball camp, and one of the places we went was in iowa!

[irockursocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was AWESOME!!! i liked it beacuse i like to play softball and it talked alot about the sport.

[Taylor Malone]

it is a awesome book

[Catherine Treseler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to those who like to read about baseball.

[Miyu Aiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's REALLY nice!!!
Anyways, no comment.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was the best book ever I could really feel as if I was in the story with The main character.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's one of my favorites...i love the story...

[Morgan Janiuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS LITERALLY MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER. I still read it, although it's below my reading level. If you love baseball like me, then it's a great book to read just for fun!