Strike Zone

Heat #2

by Mike Lupica

A timely and heartfelt follow-up to #1 New York Times bestseller Heat, about a young baseball prodigy and his immigrant family living in today's America.

Twelve-year-old star Little League pitcher Nick Garcia has a dream. Several in fact. He dreams he'll win this season's MVP and the chance to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. He dreams he'll meet his hero, Yankee's pitcher Michael Arroyo. He dreams they'll find a cure for Lupus so he sister won't have to suffer. But mostly, he dreams one day his family can stop living in fear of the government. For one kid, it's almost too much to bear. Luckily, Nick has his two best friends Ben and Diego to keep him balanced. But when Nick notices a mysterious man lurking on his street corner, he senses a threat. Suddenly, his worst fears are realized, and just when it seems there's no one they can trust, an unexpected hero emerges and changes everything.

Praise for Strike Zone

*"Lupica skillfully addresses the timely and complicated topic of living as the child of undocumented immigrants and the uncertainty facing many American families....This exceptional baseball novel delivers both lively sports action and critical subject matter." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

--"Lupica's action sequences are thrilling and fast-paced....[a] solid purchase where Mike Lupica and the Yankees are popular." -- School Library Journal

--"As he did in Heat, Lupica skillfully juggles the baseball drama with the larger social issues that swirl around it, vividly putting a human face on the immigration crisis." -- Booklist

--"Strike Zone brings the game of baseball to life, but moreover, it addresses immigration, a current issue in U.S. culture and politics. Teens will choose to read Strike Zone as a "sports book" but will root for Nick both on and off the field. The Garcia family's desire to become legal U.S. citizens is well woven into this fast-paced story." -- VOYA

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

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2019

About the author

Michael 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.

Reviews

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big baseball fan - but I was riveted by this middle grade sports novel. Twelve year old, Nick Garcia, is the star pitcher on his baseball team, The Blazers. If his team does well this summer and they win the championship and he gets the MVP award he would get to throw out the first pitch at a Yankee's game! But instead of focusing on sports - he keeps finding his mind wandering towards his family. His older sister suffers from Lupus and neither of his parents are American citizens. They could get deported back to the Dominican Republic at any time. His parents try to tell him to let them do the worrying and he can just stress about baseball, but he isn't having it. Especially not when people in his Bronx neighborhood keep getting taken by ICE. Riveting, and eye opening for kids. A wonderful story about hope, dreams, and baseball (albeit a little gut wrenching at times!).

[Rebecca Hannaford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. I wish that I had read something like this when I was a kid - it gives perspective on the lives that are not like our own and the challenges that are faced. I am planning on implementing this book with my “sporty” reading club kiddos for a choice of a summer read.

[Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that Strike Zone is a relly good book i really enjoyed reading it and i tottaly rrecommend it to anyone! But also i would recommend it because the problems that were happening in the book were just realistic and it was like i was really there with him on the baseball feild and when he is talking to his friends. And it was a good thing that i could think that!

[Leigh Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lupica weaves baseball and immigration seamlessly. Although I felt it preachy at times, I don't think kids will pick up on that. Kids who like to write about their baseball games need to read this as a mentor text to see how to write a scene without dragging out the game.

[Walt Askea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It probably would be rated higher if I was the actual age that this is intended for. Good story, predictable, and a little patronizing when it came to explaining certain baseball terms, still good though.

[Kimberly B]

I read this for my Teachers as Readers book club. It is a lot of detailed baseball. There are quite a few plot lines happening. Young boys might like it.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Easy to read/listen to and I enjoy baseball. However, this book is so much like the first in the series, Heat, that I felt a little cheated. So maybe 2.5 stars...

[Jolie Lucarelli]

theme: never stop believing

[Andres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the theme the of this book is whatever dream you want to succeed then don't stop,keep reaching for them.Just like 12 year old nick Garcia who wanted to pitch in the big leagues

[Will M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the theme is that you can never give up on hope no matter the odds

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read, and I agree with the point the author is making, but I felt like the book was a bit didactic.

[Abby Glickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a really good book about dreams coming true

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read for All Baseball Fans!

Once again, Mike Lupica stuns us with another amazing sports book called Strike Zone. I feel that this book deserves 5 stars because it has a very solid plot and incorporates a lot of immigration situations that are currently going on in America. The main character is Nick and he loves baseball. He lives in New York City and can see Yankee Stadium from his home. He dreams of throwing the first pitch at the stadium but he still has challenges to overcome, both on the baseball field and at home. Nick is a member of the Dream League that is part of a large organization run by Major League Baseball This year, they were holding a summer tournament in the Bronx that was partnering with the Yankees. The MVP of the tournament will get to throw the first pitch at a Yankee home game. Nick really wants to do it, but when he notices a mysterious figure lurking around his home, he fears the worst: that ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) officials are going to deport his parents. Why? Read the book to find out! I would recommend this book to ages 9 to 15 and to kids who love baseball.

[Ryan Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strike Zone by Mike Lupica is a baseball book about a kid named Nick Garcia. Nick Garcia is from the Dominican Republic and he is one of the best baseball players in this huge tournament that his team is in. He is trying to win the championship and the MVP award. If he wins the MVP award then he would get to throw out the first pitch at a Yankees game in front of his hero Michael Arroyo. But he and his family are trying to hide from Immigration and Customs Enforcement AKA “ICE”. Nobody knows about it except two of Nick's friends and a Neighbor. But he gets help from an unexpected hero so will he be able to stay in America? Overall I thought this was a great book to read and that it was exciting. I gave this book 5 stars for its excitement and not knowing what will happen next. The theme of the book is no matter how hard things can get keep trying and always have hope. So if you like sports and baseball books then this is the book for you!

[Tamsyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Heat when I read it more than 10 years ago, so when I heard there was a companion/sequel to it I knew I would read it. This book introduces Nick Garcia, a new character with a similar background and situation to Michael Arroyo, the original character, who is now pitching for the Yankees. Like Michael, his hero, Nick is also an amazing pitcher, but his family lives in fear of their parents being deported back to the Dominican Republic. We spend a summer with Nick and his best friends in the Dream League, where the MVP will get to throw the winning pitch at a Yankees game, his sister suffers from lupus, and the ever-present worry about his parents and hopes for himself to get a step closer to his Yankee dream. This book made me well up multiple times in the second half of the book. A timely subject.

[Brendan Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read about a young boy who dreams of making it to major leagues. A bit preachy at times about immigration but the author’s heart is in the right place.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I felt it was a little preachy, but the more I got into it the more I liked it. And you can always count on Mike Lupica to make you cry! (In a good way.)

[Paul Parkinson]

Could tell it was going to get somewhat political (immigration) and I'm just not up for that now. May try another of his (he writes the Robert B. Parker Sunny Randall series)

[Ben H · Rating 5 out of 5]

very engaging with many twists and turn soild 5 stars!!!

[Brock Pentasuglio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Lupica’s fictional book, Strike Zone, captures the struggle of living as a child of undocumented immigrants. The main character, Nick Garcia, has to go through several difficulties through this situation, but has big dreams, which is why the story has a theme of even though the odds may be against you, you can still achieve your goals with perseverance. Nick Garcia is a twelve year old boy who has a love for baseball and is in the middle of his little league season. If he achieves to be the M.V.P. in his league, he will be able to accomplish his goal of throwing the first pitch at the Yankee’s Stadium this year. For him, this is a huge deal because he is inspired by Michael Arroyo, who pitches for the Yankees. Even though he has a bright side in his baseball life, his real life is a struggle. His family is constantly hiding from I.C.E. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), which can easily split Nick’s family apart if they find out his parents are undocumented immigrants. Along with this, his sister had a disease known as lupus, which is a worry for the Garcia family's everyday life. Despite the challenges Nick goes through, he still strives to play well in his baseball games despite what is going on in his real life.
In my opinion, Strike Zone is a really intriguing book that I wouldn’t need to criticize. I support how the book puts the reader into the perspective of what some kids have to go through in their childhood who have undocumented immigrants as parents. The book also had many unexpected scenes, which made me want to read even more after every unpredictable chapter. I also loved how the book doesn’t focus primarily on baseball, it focuses on the struggle of one's everyday life outside of sports. The book is unpredictable, is about one of my favorite sports, and most importantly opened a new door to me about other kid’s lives, which explains why in my opinion the book has no criticisms. As an author, Lupica knows when to bring the reader in during key events that convey important themes. He also uses literary devices such as foreshadowing and different uses of figurative language which help increase imagery and characterization throughout the book. The book is definitely worth the read for any teen who is willing to learn about other teens struggling everyday perspectives. Many eye opening themes can be learned by this perspective’s conflicts, which is why Strike Zone is definitely worth the read.

[Aiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave the book 4 stars because it was a book that I genuinely enjoyed. I like how he well told the story of a boy on his baseball journey while also having other life struggles. He is in trouble with the government while just trying to live out his life. It is a very captivating book and can held my attention pretty well throughout most of the book. It was one book in a long while I actually enjoyed reading.
The book could have had a higher rating if it was just better in certain spots. Some just bore me and I had to power through them. That is why it got 4 stars instead of 5 stars. Other than that though, there wasn't a lot that could've been done to the book to make it better.
My favorite quote in this book was probably at the end of the book when Nick was talking to his dad with his dad saying "This is still a crazy dream," with Nick replying "Only until it happens." I feel as though this quote was a good hint towards the theme of the book too. It shows how Nick was determined to make his dreams happen. He knows they are ambitious but doesn't care because he will pursue them until he reaches his goals.
The plot of this book involves a lot of things. It goes through his challenges of dealing with government and the risk they deal with living in America. It also goes through Nick's struggle to become a better baseball player. He is faced with the decisions to take preformance enhancing drugs to help him play. The book involves a lot of different things that the main character must deal with over the course of the book.
I feel as though there are multiple themes that can be seen in this book. I feel like the biggest theme in the book is determination. I say this because Nick is a very persistant character in what he does throughout the book. He doesn't like to give up on things and I feel like that is a good thing. I feel as though that is the biggest theme of the book but you could also say there are themes such as sacrifice and the value of friendship and family.

[Melody Kenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Lupica hits a homer with Strike Zone. This story will strike the hearts of kids that love sports, both boys and girls. But the story offers even more that will appeal to a wide audience of young readers. Lupica deals with the current immigration issue with great humanity. Themes of loving families, friendship, sports, competition, a community of good neighbors, and just a touch of budding romance add to the depth and reality of the story.

The story is set in the Bronx in the summer during a championship tournament with other teams in the Dream League. Nick Garcia, the main character, is a highly talented pitcher for his baseball team, the Blazers and an avid Yankees fan. It's Nick's dream to meet his favorite Yankee pitcher, Michael Arroyo, also an immigrant to the U.S. Nick wants to be the selected MVP who will have the privilege of pitching the first pitch for the Yankees.

The story conflict comes not only in the baseball games, which Lupica describes so brilliantly, but also in the fact that Nick's parents are illegal immigrants. Nick and his sister, Amelia, were both born in the U.S. but their parents who came with a visitation visa didn't return to their home country after their visa expired. The family lives in constant fear of both Victor and Graciela, dad and mom, being imprisoned by ICE and deported to the Dominican Republic.

Kids will find the text approachable with its short chapters and they will engage with a story line that makes it hard to stop reading from beginning to end. The short chapters also make it a good read-aloud choice.

Just an FYI that this Lupica story is a "Follow-up" to Heat. It is a story that stands on its own. Included is a short chapter preview to Heat.

[BRADEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strike Zone by Mike Lupica is about a twelve-year-old boy Nick Garcia is dreaming of winning MVP Of his summer baseball league. Nick Has many dreams like to throw the first pitch at the Yankee stadium and meet his hero of the Yankee pitcher Michael Arroyo. One of his biggest dreams is to have his family stop being scared of the government and with his sister being really sick he wants to find a cure. Nick has so much going on in his life he has his two best friends ben and Diego to help him get through it.

In this book I really recommend people to read this because this gives you a good understanding you can do anything you want if you try really enjoyed this book because it taught me that you can do anything that you want if you put your heart to it. You should do stuff to make people happy also and you will feel so accomplished if you help people and do something tight. It also taught me that there are some sad things in life like you don't get a lot when you do not have much money.

I think that the author Mike Lupica did very well while writing this book. He added that how hard life is you can still do stuff if you put your mind to it. Things that he could have done better in The book is that he could have not added so much going on in Nick's life. I felt bad for Nick because his family was scared of the government and his sister was sick and his family didn't have too much money to deal with all the things that happened. Nick shouldn't have had to go through all of the things he did but he got to make all of his dreams come true.

[Shelley Alongi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The man knows his baseball that’s for sure. I liked all the explanations of the sport since I’m researching it for a future novel then I’m writing I’ll just about pick up anything. It was a nice storyline. I thought maybe it was a little heavy on the I don’t know if I want to say finger-pointing although it certainly did not shy away from the reality that exists in the immigration community. I thought it made some good points and then I wondered at the ending if that ending would really happen. But then I thought you know there are baseball players who reach out to people in the community so why not? I really liked the way he made the children interact with each other and as one review puts it it is a book about dreams coming true. I think sometimes I wish some of my heroes would step in and help me out but don’t we all. :-) Well it happened in this book. And I liked the way that makes Nick’s family a hard-working unit. I guess if I look at it from another point of you I would ask why couldn’t the family get the legal documents? I have to admit I don’t understand that but if you look at it from the point of you of a story it was a good one.

[Adam M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strike zone

12 year old star pitcher nick garcia he has a dream. And that dream is to be the first pitch at the yankees game but he has to be the mvp of the tournament. He has a lot on his mind already but the big one is his sister has a rare disease that she is allergic to the sun she cant go to his games and cant go outside so he worries.But the biggest one of all is I.C.E imigration and customs enforcement.Nick's dad has done a lot to get them out of mexico but he had to do a lot of illegal stuff for that to happen.So I.C.E is coming after them he was at one of nicks baseball games outside there house and nick is very worried.Nick ends up getting mvp and winning the tournament there friend officer perez helps them in court with I.C.E.

¨She should tell that to ICE,¨ Nick mutterd. This is sign of he is worried he always talks about ICE witch i think is weird he says he wants to forget about it but he always talks about ut and thinks about so he likes the fact that he is worried.The main idea if the book is how this young kid who is very talented at baseball over comes adversity to become what he wants to be.

[Weston]

Nick Garcia is from the Dominican Republic and he is one of the best baseball players in his little league tournament. He wants to win the MVP award so that he can throw out the first pitch of a New York Yankees game. His family is hiding from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) because since his family is immigrants, he doesn't want his family to fall apart as his role models' did. Nick has two best friends; Ben and Diego.
This book explorers the theme of trust and faith in his friends and in each other. There were many points throughout the book where Nick needed to talk to his friends and keep secrets that nobody else would tell and he depended on the people who were there for him and had his back.
I enjoyed this book a lot because I felt really attached to the characters. Nick talks to his audience a lot and you know more about him than he does himself. The book was not too emotional but also had a lot of meaning to it. I would recommend this book to anyone that is in for a treat.

[Tate Berns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: fiction, sports
Summary: Strike Zone is a story about a boy named Nick. He is a really good pitcher in baseball, but he is dealing with some off-field issues that could stop him from reaching his goal of winning the championship and the tournament MVP. The problem is that his parents are immigrants, and their visas have expired, so during his season he has to worry about ICE coming after his family.

My thoughts: I thought this was a really good book. It is a sequel to the book Heat, and I like how the characters from that book are used in this one. I liked how the characters in the book were really close with each other, and friends were like family. Every time I thought everything was going well, a new obstacle would pop up. I liked how everyone would be very supportive and helpful when bad things would happen. I would give this book a 9/10.

[Regan Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally like this book because it really relates to being a kid and how they put in the work to get to the big leagues. It really shows what being a young kid is and youth sports in general. But Strike Zone is a baseball book about a kid named Nick Garcia. Nick Garcia is from the Dominican Republic and he is one of the best baseball players in this huge tournament that his team is in. He is trying to win the championship and the MVP award. If he wins the MVP award then he would get to throw out the first pitch at a Yankees game in front of his hero Michael Arroyo. But he and his family are trying to hide from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But this book was very entertaining the theme was never give up on your dream even when your down and don’t believe in yourself. So this book is great for people who like sports or play baseball.

[Carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Twelve-year-old Nick Garcia is a star Little League pitcher. His team, the Blazers, is part of a tournament where the MVP will get the honor of throwing out the first pitch at a Yankees’ game. Nick is a top contender, but as he goes through the short tournament season he constantly has one eye looking over his shoulder, waiting for the worst. Waiting for his sister’s health to take a turn for the worst. Waiting for his parents to be taken by ICE. What would happen then? This is a loose follow-up to Heat, which I have not read but obviously need to now. Hand this to sports fans or students looking to relate to or learn from an immigrant family. Recommended for grades 5+.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a 2021-2022 Chapter Book Nominee for the Golden Sower awards.

Lupica is always a favorite in my library. I have kids who will read LITERALLY anything he writes, and this is one that is sure to be a hit. While it is a "follow-up" to Heat, you don't have to have read that first in order to understand or enjoy this one. There is a great deal of baseball here (which is sure to keep readers happy), but Lupica also takes on the issues of immigration and deportation as well. Those issues are a bit thin and naive, but that is par for the course in a book that is really about sports and geared towards readers in 4th - 7th grades.