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Much Ado About Baseball
In this companion novel to Midsummer's Mayhem, math and baseball combine with savory snacks to cause confusion and calamity in the town of Comity.
Twelve-year-old Trish can solve tough math problems and throw a mean fastball. But because of her mom's new job, she's now facing a summer trying to make friends all over again in a new town. That isn't an easy thing to do, and her mom is too busy to notice how miserable she is.
But at her first baseball practice, Trish realizes one of her teammates is Ben, the sixth-grade math prodigy she beat in the spring Math Puzzler Championships. Everyone around them seems to think that with their math talent and love of baseball, it's only logical that Trish and Ben become friends, but Ben makes it clear he still hasn't gotten over that loss and can't stand her. To make matters worse, their team can't win a single game. But then they meet Rob, an older kid who smacks home runs without breaking a sweat. Rob tells them about his family's store, which sells unusual snacks that will make them better ballplayers. Trish is dubious, but she's willing to try almost anything to help the team.
When a mysterious booklet of math puzzles claiming to reveal the "ultimate answer" arrives in her mailbox, Trish and Ben start to get closer and solve the puzzles together. Ben starts getting hits, and their team becomes unstoppable. Trish is happy to keep riding the wave of good luck . . . until they get to a puzzle they can't solve, with tragic consequences. Can they find the answer to this ultimate puzzle, or will they strike out when it counts the most?
Twelve-year-old Trish can solve tough math problems and throw a mean fastball. But because of her mom's new job, she's now facing a summer trying to make friends all over again in a new town. That isn't an easy thing to do, and her mom is too busy to notice how miserable she is.
But at her first baseball practice, Trish realizes one of her teammates is Ben, the sixth-grade math prodigy she beat in the spring Math Puzzler Championships. Everyone around them seems to think that with their math talent and love of baseball, it's only logical that Trish and Ben become friends, but Ben makes it clear he still hasn't gotten over that loss and can't stand her. To make matters worse, their team can't win a single game. But then they meet Rob, an older kid who smacks home runs without breaking a sweat. Rob tells them about his family's store, which sells unusual snacks that will make them better ballplayers. Trish is dubious, but she's willing to try almost anything to help the team.
When a mysterious booklet of math puzzles claiming to reveal the "ultimate answer" arrives in her mailbox, Trish and Ben start to get closer and solve the puzzles together. Ben starts getting hits, and their team becomes unstoppable. Trish is happy to keep riding the wave of good luck . . . until they get to a puzzle they can't solve, with tragic consequences. Can they find the answer to this ultimate puzzle, or will they strike out when it counts the most?
Hardcover
First published June 1, 2021
22 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Rajani LaRocca
29 books560 followersRajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young people, including Red, White, and Whole, which won a 2022 Newbery Honor, the Walter Dean Myers Award, Golden Kite Award, and New England Book Award. Her other books include: Midsummer’s Mayhem (2019), Seven Golden Rings (2020), Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers (2021), Much Ado About Baseball (2021), Where Three Oceans Meet (2021), My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris (2021), The Secret Code Inside You (2021), I'll Go and Come Back (2022), and more. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. To connect with Rajani and learn more about her and her books visit her at www.RajaniLaRocca.com and on Twitter and Instagram @rajanilarocca.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 1, 2021
Writing for children is hard and that's a fact. It’s why countless writers, every single year, rely on the tried and true method of literary tropes. It’s much easier to conjure up clever wordplay for young readers when you’ve a stable of tried and true characterizations to pull from. There’s the bully trope. The annoying little sibling trope. There’s the negligent parent trope and the wise grandparent. We see these kinds of things crop up again and again in our children’s literature, and that’s fine. A well-honed trope provides a kind of direct path for the reader to the plot. However, there is one type of character that can’t disappear soon enough for me: The genius math weirdo. You’ll see this person show up in a wide range of novels for kids. They’re often incapable of socializing. Their love of math is certainly frowned upon, if not outright abhorred. They may be a “genius” that needs to learn how to make a friend or two. And actual math? Don’t make me laugh. In such a book the character will make an off-handed reference or two to cosigns and that’ll be the end of it. It is truly rare to find a book like Much Ado About Baseball where math not only propels the plot forward, but also contains perfectly normal, sportsy characters for whom loving math is just one aspect of their personality. Add in baseball, Shakespeare, magic AND snacks and you’ve got yourself a unicorn of a book. Crazy thing is, Rajani LaRocca manages to make it all work.
To have one thing stressing you out is bad. For Trish, it’s perpetual. Sure, she won the Math Puzzler Championship last spring, but now Trish is harboring a terrible secret about that win. And yes, she gets to play baseball this season, not only is it the last time she’ll ever get to play, it’s a new team, and once again she’s the only girl. Add in her new teammate Ben (whom she beat in the Championship) that apparently hates her, and things aren’t easy at all. Yet two events start to turn things around. First, she receives a mysterious math book in the mail. Next, she gets friendly with the folks that work at her team’s sponsor, the Salt Shaker. But can Trish and Ben ever be friends or are they doomed to circle one another in a perpetual show of animosity?
An ode to math. Specifically, an ode to books for kids that contain math. In the book profession, a large percentage of the people drawn to literature have… let’s say a complicated relationship with mathematics. Maybe it was a bad teacher. Maybe the teaching methods were harsh. Whatever the case, they’ve bad associations with the subject. As such, children’s books have gone a very long time without so much as a smidgen of math inside them. I’ve already recounted some of the failures to work math into a fictional plot. The best way to look at it would be to think of it in the same way you’d think about songs in a musical. In a good musical, the singing advances the plot in some way. The same should go for math. For example, in this book Trish and Ben both receive mysterious books full of math problems and puzzles. Ben figures out pretty early on that if he solves the puzzles then it reflects positive outcomes in how he plays baseball. The explanation of how math applies to science and nature is also a clever way of drawing in the fairies of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Oh. Have I failed to mention that they’re in this book as well? That’s that “Shakespeare” element I alluded to earlier.
I’ve spent a lot of time lamenting how characters that love math in children’s books have a tendency to be treated by both their own author and fellow characters as freaks. Now, just to flip things around, let's look at the other genre this book falls under: sports books. Specifically, baseball books. No shade on other sports, but from a narrative perspective, baseball is the one to beat. Novels love the rise and fall of the action, the potential for injury, and how everything on the field can turn on a dime if needs be. Now each year I serve on a book committee where a group of librarians attempt to determine some of the top children’s books of the year. I can usually get them to read almost every topic . . . except sports. That’s another reason why I got so excited about this book. Ms. LaRocca never appears to be phoning in her love of the sport. The baseball on these pages is as gripping as you would hope it would be, clearly because the author cares deeply about the subject at hand.
For the most part, I’ve few issues with the book as a whole. However, I did feel that parental reactions to children getting injured (Trish in one case and her friend Abhi in another) were eerily calm. I was reminded of last year’s Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen where a mom went into a hyper protective mode when her daughter got hit by the ball and told her kid to drop the game. At no point do the two parents of the injured kids even think to propose that their children stop playing. This is particularly strange since neither was a huge fan of the game to begin with. Still, as flaws go this was pretty minor.
Truth be told, Much Ado About Baseball is actually a companion novel to LaRocca’s previous book Midsummer’s Mayhem. As such, the question at hand is whether or not this book stands on its own. I’ve read both books, and yet I’m fairly certain that a familiarity with Midsummer is not necessary to understand and enjoy Much Ado. It’s so much fun, in fact, that naturally one wonders what a third novel in this series might reference. The Tempest? Whatever direction Ms. LaRocca’s takes her series, she’s bound to find eclectic combinations, interesting characters, and scintillating mixes of magic and methodology. After all, it’s worked for this book. And it’ll work again.
To have one thing stressing you out is bad. For Trish, it’s perpetual. Sure, she won the Math Puzzler Championship last spring, but now Trish is harboring a terrible secret about that win. And yes, she gets to play baseball this season, not only is it the last time she’ll ever get to play, it’s a new team, and once again she’s the only girl. Add in her new teammate Ben (whom she beat in the Championship) that apparently hates her, and things aren’t easy at all. Yet two events start to turn things around. First, she receives a mysterious math book in the mail. Next, she gets friendly with the folks that work at her team’s sponsor, the Salt Shaker. But can Trish and Ben ever be friends or are they doomed to circle one another in a perpetual show of animosity?
An ode to math. Specifically, an ode to books for kids that contain math. In the book profession, a large percentage of the people drawn to literature have… let’s say a complicated relationship with mathematics. Maybe it was a bad teacher. Maybe the teaching methods were harsh. Whatever the case, they’ve bad associations with the subject. As such, children’s books have gone a very long time without so much as a smidgen of math inside them. I’ve already recounted some of the failures to work math into a fictional plot. The best way to look at it would be to think of it in the same way you’d think about songs in a musical. In a good musical, the singing advances the plot in some way. The same should go for math. For example, in this book Trish and Ben both receive mysterious books full of math problems and puzzles. Ben figures out pretty early on that if he solves the puzzles then it reflects positive outcomes in how he plays baseball. The explanation of how math applies to science and nature is also a clever way of drawing in the fairies of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Oh. Have I failed to mention that they’re in this book as well? That’s that “Shakespeare” element I alluded to earlier.
I’ve spent a lot of time lamenting how characters that love math in children’s books have a tendency to be treated by both their own author and fellow characters as freaks. Now, just to flip things around, let's look at the other genre this book falls under: sports books. Specifically, baseball books. No shade on other sports, but from a narrative perspective, baseball is the one to beat. Novels love the rise and fall of the action, the potential for injury, and how everything on the field can turn on a dime if needs be. Now each year I serve on a book committee where a group of librarians attempt to determine some of the top children’s books of the year. I can usually get them to read almost every topic . . . except sports. That’s another reason why I got so excited about this book. Ms. LaRocca never appears to be phoning in her love of the sport. The baseball on these pages is as gripping as you would hope it would be, clearly because the author cares deeply about the subject at hand.
For the most part, I’ve few issues with the book as a whole. However, I did feel that parental reactions to children getting injured (Trish in one case and her friend Abhi in another) were eerily calm. I was reminded of last year’s Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen where a mom went into a hyper protective mode when her daughter got hit by the ball and told her kid to drop the game. At no point do the two parents of the injured kids even think to propose that their children stop playing. This is particularly strange since neither was a huge fan of the game to begin with. Still, as flaws go this was pretty minor.
Truth be told, Much Ado About Baseball is actually a companion novel to LaRocca’s previous book Midsummer’s Mayhem. As such, the question at hand is whether or not this book stands on its own. I’ve read both books, and yet I’m fairly certain that a familiarity with Midsummer is not necessary to understand and enjoy Much Ado. It’s so much fun, in fact, that naturally one wonders what a third novel in this series might reference. The Tempest? Whatever direction Ms. LaRocca’s takes her series, she’s bound to find eclectic combinations, interesting characters, and scintillating mixes of magic and methodology. After all, it’s worked for this book. And it’ll work again.
June 4, 2021
This book is a companion novel to my debut, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM. Set in the same town of Comity, MA during the same magical summer, this story is about Trish and Ben, twelve-year-old math competition rivals who find themselves on the same summer baseball team and must contend with brutish opponents, mysterious math puzzles, and sneaky magic while forming an unlikely friendship. This book is a modern, magical middle grade take on Shakepeare's MUCH ADO ABOOUT NOTHING. I hope you enjoy the story of Team Salty!
Want to read
September 1, 2020September 01, 2020: I'm hungry for this book because it has food & magic, get it, hehe and I'm sure I'll be hungry after reading it too because all the food mentions, hehe.
August 18, 2021
4.5 stars
Can Rajani LaRocca just adapt every Shakespeare play, please and thank you.
CW: Grief, bullying, vomiting
Can Rajani LaRocca just adapt every Shakespeare play, please and thank you.
CW: Grief, bullying, vomiting
July 5, 2024
One liner: Entertaining but was confusing !
Synopsis : Trish and her family have moved to Comity, Massachusetts from New Hampshire for her mom’s job. Trish is not very happy with the move since she has to start all over again on her new baseball team. Ben, is also on the same team and he is the same kid she defeated in the math competition previous year. But Trish has a secret burdening her and on top of that Ben is not too fond of her either. To top it off, the baseball team is a disaster. Did they all come together to win the tournament and did Ben and Trish become friends?
My thoughts:
First off, I was not aware that this was a companion for the book Midsummer’s Mayhem. I expected a regular mg fiction and was confused when the magical elements appeared in the book. Somehow not going in with right expectations made it a very okay ish read for me. There is lot of baseball lingo which might not be interesting to everyone. Same with math puzzles. You might find yourself skipping those if Math is not your cup of tea. The characters are well etched except for few places where it falls flat.
The magical element seemed little over the top at places (hair turning pink or the opposite team throwing up ) . The thing is nobody in the spectators or kids seem to question or be curious about that. I felt that the magical elements could have been little more subtle.
Stop stereotyping working women ! It’s shown that a working mom doesn’t care about home or kids and is only bothered about her job. The author herself is a doctor and she should know this well. Why can’t the mom or dad explain to the kids that mom’s job is important too. Why does it always have to be a life altering situation for a kid to understand about mom’s job and she is not deliberately not ignoring home. Working mom or stay at home mom, both are same. Please don’t stereotype either of them
My rating is 2.7* rounded to 3
Synopsis : Trish and her family have moved to Comity, Massachusetts from New Hampshire for her mom’s job. Trish is not very happy with the move since she has to start all over again on her new baseball team. Ben, is also on the same team and he is the same kid she defeated in the math competition previous year. But Trish has a secret burdening her and on top of that Ben is not too fond of her either. To top it off, the baseball team is a disaster. Did they all come together to win the tournament and did Ben and Trish become friends?
My thoughts:
First off, I was not aware that this was a companion for the book Midsummer’s Mayhem. I expected a regular mg fiction and was confused when the magical elements appeared in the book. Somehow not going in with right expectations made it a very okay ish read for me. There is lot of baseball lingo which might not be interesting to everyone. Same with math puzzles. You might find yourself skipping those if Math is not your cup of tea. The characters are well etched except for few places where it falls flat.
The magical element seemed little over the top at places (hair turning pink or the opposite team throwing up ) . The thing is nobody in the spectators or kids seem to question or be curious about that. I felt that the magical elements could have been little more subtle.
Stop stereotyping working women ! It’s shown that a working mom doesn’t care about home or kids and is only bothered about her job. The author herself is a doctor and she should know this well. Why can’t the mom or dad explain to the kids that mom’s job is important too. Why does it always have to be a life altering situation for a kid to understand about mom’s job and she is not deliberately not ignoring home. Working mom or stay at home mom, both are same. Please don’t stereotype either of them
My rating is 2.7* rounded to 3
September 6, 2021
I’m loving these stories so much! I am so impressed with how, so far, all MG books that include sports still make it to where I still love the story. I don’t care for baseball 1 way or another, but I loved it in here. I was on the edge of my seat for THE BASEBALL GAMES as well as the other amazing parts of the story. That’s saying something. MG authors know what they’re doing lol Also, math is my LEAST favorite subject, but I LOVE puzzles/riddles. This is full of math puzzles/riddles & I really enjoyed that too! So good!
There’s also something special about these with how they are like a Shakespeare/mythology like feel/fairies/modern day twist of awesomeness. If that makes any sense lol And again, so many amazing messages & life lessons. Messages on rivalries, misunderstandings, teamwork, friendship, family, doing what’s right, being true to yourself, being honest with your loved ones, grief, enduring, girl power, & even how relocating & changing schools can be so hard for a kid.
There are just so many parts that make up the whole of these books that make them so great. The characters are always so amazing too. Abhi was the BEST best friend. Absolutely loved him. We have a doggy though-Fib. That is 1 special dog. He has my heart. And that scene toward the end with him & another character?! All the feels. Big book hug time for sure. Book 1 was full of sweet treats, & this 1 is full of salty treats. So creative how it’s all broken down, & all the details-even the meaning of Fib’s name. I had no idea about any of that, & I immediately did research lol Like the 1st book, there are recipes in the back-salty treat recipes this time. There are also mathematical concepts, puzzles, etc! Love it! Highly recommend! I don’t know if this will just be a duology, or if there will be more-but I would love more! SUCH A BEAUTIFUL cover with beautiful illustrations sprinkled throughout by Chloe Dijon too!💜
There’s also something special about these with how they are like a Shakespeare/mythology like feel/fairies/modern day twist of awesomeness. If that makes any sense lol And again, so many amazing messages & life lessons. Messages on rivalries, misunderstandings, teamwork, friendship, family, doing what’s right, being true to yourself, being honest with your loved ones, grief, enduring, girl power, & even how relocating & changing schools can be so hard for a kid.
There are just so many parts that make up the whole of these books that make them so great. The characters are always so amazing too. Abhi was the BEST best friend. Absolutely loved him. We have a doggy though-Fib. That is 1 special dog. He has my heart. And that scene toward the end with him & another character?! All the feels. Big book hug time for sure. Book 1 was full of sweet treats, & this 1 is full of salty treats. So creative how it’s all broken down, & all the details-even the meaning of Fib’s name. I had no idea about any of that, & I immediately did research lol Like the 1st book, there are recipes in the back-salty treat recipes this time. There are also mathematical concepts, puzzles, etc! Love it! Highly recommend! I don’t know if this will just be a duology, or if there will be more-but I would love more! SUCH A BEAUTIFUL cover with beautiful illustrations sprinkled throughout by Chloe Dijon too!💜
May 16, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review.
I was a huge fan of Midsummer's Mayhem and have been really excited about this companion novel. While I didn't love it as much as Midsummer's Mayhem (mostly because I am personally more interested in baking than Math and baseball isn't my favorite sport) I still thought it was a wonderful story. It is an excellent depiction of navigating friendship and family dynamics. And even though I personally don't love Math, I really appreciated the way the main characters did and their passion. The puzzle solving aspect was really fun. Sports lovers will appreciate the intensity of the ballgame scenes as it really brought me back to the feelings of being in the middle of a game.
The Shakespeare connections and seeing how this story overlapped with Midsummer's Mayhem was an enjoyable aspect as well.
Now I am really craving some salty chips and need to make the recipe in the back of the book!
I was a huge fan of Midsummer's Mayhem and have been really excited about this companion novel. While I didn't love it as much as Midsummer's Mayhem (mostly because I am personally more interested in baking than Math and baseball isn't my favorite sport) I still thought it was a wonderful story. It is an excellent depiction of navigating friendship and family dynamics. And even though I personally don't love Math, I really appreciated the way the main characters did and their passion. The puzzle solving aspect was really fun. Sports lovers will appreciate the intensity of the ballgame scenes as it really brought me back to the feelings of being in the middle of a game.
The Shakespeare connections and seeing how this story overlapped with Midsummer's Mayhem was an enjoyable aspect as well.
Now I am really craving some salty chips and need to make the recipe in the back of the book!
July 8, 2021
4.5/5 Baseball, food, math, and magic! What a charming combination! I didn’t enjoy this one as much as Midsummer’s Mayhem, but it’s definitely a cute book that I’d recommend for any middle grade lover! 😍
August 22, 2022
4.5 stars!
Was there ever a chance that I could read a middle-grade rivals to friends Much Ado About Nothing retelling and not be obsessed with it? No. This news surprises nobody.
RIVALRY REVIEW
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERIZATION: (5/5). I have adopted both Trish and Ben
INITIAL DYNAMIC: (5/5). I'm so amazed at their dedication in the beginning to simultaneously wanting to be friends with each other and not ever acting that way.
RIVALRY DEVELOPMENT: (5/5). When is it my turn for a rivals to friends arc like this???
GENERAL CHAOS LEVEL: (3/5). Even though the "this is a stick" game part was unintentionally chaotic it still counts! The main problem here is that they're both too nice to go full chaos.
Average: 4.5/5
BONUS POINTS:
WE'VE GOT HISTORY (+1) - the MF math puzzler regionals. what a cultural reset. what an incredible setting for the start of a rivalry. no notes, but one bonus point in honor of the "one point difference" ;) between Trish and Ben's individual scores.
KEEPING SECRETS (+0.5) - so not only do you have a secret you agonize about eventually telling your rival, but it's a secret about the very thing that made you rivals in the first place? SHEESH. the angst >>>
MIDDLEMAN (+0.5) - when the rivalry gets too crazy, you call in backup. here, that's mutual friend Abhi, who not only tries to smooth things over but ALSO performs the classic Much Ado set-up: telling both Trish and Ben that the other person told him they want to be friends.
TRAGIC BACKSTORY UNLOCKED (+1) - they both have a little heart to heart in the woods 🥺
GETTING THE FAMILY INVOLVED (+0.5) - even the siblings are telling y'all to be friends. take the hint!!!
I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS (+1) - Trish is willing to lie and sacrifice her reputation in exchange for something they need. Ben won't let her do that. Bonus points are awarded because this is the type of thing I enjoy seeing rivals do.
TOTAL RIVALRY SCORE: 9/5
Trish and Ben's rivalry is one of my favorites so far, and looking at their score, it's not hard to see why.
***
2022 popsugar reading challenge: A book with a recipe in it
Was there ever a chance that I could read a middle-grade rivals to friends Much Ado About Nothing retelling and not be obsessed with it? No. This news surprises nobody.
RIVALRY REVIEW
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERIZATION: (5/5). I have adopted both Trish and Ben
INITIAL DYNAMIC: (5/5). I'm so amazed at their dedication in the beginning to simultaneously wanting to be friends with each other and not ever acting that way.
RIVALRY DEVELOPMENT: (5/5). When is it my turn for a rivals to friends arc like this???
GENERAL CHAOS LEVEL: (3/5). Even though the "this is a stick" game part was unintentionally chaotic it still counts! The main problem here is that they're both too nice to go full chaos.
Average: 4.5/5
BONUS POINTS:
WE'VE GOT HISTORY (+1) - the MF math puzzler regionals. what a cultural reset. what an incredible setting for the start of a rivalry. no notes, but one bonus point in honor of the "one point difference" ;) between Trish and Ben's individual scores.
KEEPING SECRETS (+0.5) - so not only do you have a secret you agonize about eventually telling your rival, but it's a secret about the very thing that made you rivals in the first place? SHEESH. the angst >>>
MIDDLEMAN (+0.5) - when the rivalry gets too crazy, you call in backup. here, that's mutual friend Abhi, who not only tries to smooth things over but ALSO performs the classic Much Ado set-up: telling both Trish and Ben that the other person told him they want to be friends.
TRAGIC BACKSTORY UNLOCKED (+1) - they both have a little heart to heart in the woods 🥺
GETTING THE FAMILY INVOLVED (+0.5) - even the siblings are telling y'all to be friends. take the hint!!!
I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS (+1) - Trish is willing to lie and sacrifice her reputation in exchange for something they need. Ben won't let her do that. Bonus points are awarded because this is the type of thing I enjoy seeing rivals do.
TOTAL RIVALRY SCORE: 9/5
Trish and Ben's rivalry is one of my favorites so far, and looking at their score, it's not hard to see why.
***
2022 popsugar reading challenge: A book with a recipe in it
July 31, 2021
What an absolute fun #summerread!! Filled with baseball, math, and magic, this newest release by @rajanilarocca should be on everyone’s #tbrlist
Ben was Trish’s nemesis at the beginning of the summer baseball season. When mysterious things start to happen, they become friends fighting for the championship. Add Abhi to trio plus Fib the dog, and all their stories come together. ⛲️
“Baseball is magic. Math is magic too.” ⚾️✨🧮✨
Thank you @littlebeebooks for sharing a copy with #bookexcursion
Ben was Trish’s nemesis at the beginning of the summer baseball season. When mysterious things start to happen, they become friends fighting for the championship. Add Abhi to trio plus Fib the dog, and all their stories come together. ⛲️
“Baseball is magic. Math is magic too.” ⚾️✨🧮✨
Thank you @littlebeebooks for sharing a copy with #bookexcursion
August 1, 2021
despite not giving a hoot about baseball, and being only mildly interested in math puzzles, and never having seen or read Much Ado About Nothing, I enjoyed this lots, because friendship, magic, a sweet dog, and parents who care are pretty universal likes....
December 23, 2021
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books for a digital ARC of this title to read.
Much Ado About Baseball is the companion book to Midsummer Mayhem, told from two perspectives, Trish and Ben. Trish and her family have moved again so that her mother can head up a medical unit in a new town. Trish has to figure out how to fit in being the only girl on a baseball time again. Ben is on the same team after losing a bet and is not pleased to discover Trish is on the team. Both Trish and Ben have a love and knack for Mathematics, and Ben is not happy to be on the same team where Trish beat him out at the annual Math Puzzlers Championships. One would think that they would quickly become friends having so much in common, but that is not the case. Ben's best friend Abhi can see the two have so much in common and slyly tries to intervene and provide opportunities for that friendship to develop.
The baseball team is not doing well, and Ben, in particular, seems to be struggling. Trish wants to be friends with Ben and worries that a secret regarding the Puzzle Championship will be revealed and make matters worse. When their team sponsor Salty Snacks starts providing pregame snacks, the team responds and magically starts to improve. At the same time, Trish and Ben both receive a book that includes various puzzles, which they believe is practice for the Math team. Both are puzzled that once solved words magically appear that provide advice specifically for them. As more unusual events occur, Ben is convinced the books are magical and to win the championship, they must solve all the puzzles forcing the two of them to work together.
I enjoyed how Rajina LaRooco used baseball to retell this story and that Trish played on an all-boys team, gently nudging; well played! I loved how she reminded readers how mathematics and baseball are intertwined and that anyone can do both. Then there are the puzzles! There are many drawing factors for readers to find appealing. Whether it be the action of the baseball games, solving the puzzles, figuring out friendships or the magic that spins the story itself, all while providing a gentle introduction to a Shakespearean work.
Recommended: Gr 5+
FIRST LINE: Baseball is magic.
PICTURE BOOK PAIRINGS: Much Ado About Nothing for Kids, Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream and Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature
SIMILAR TITLES: The Magical Imperfect, Jayden's Rescue, and Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!
OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR: Red, White, and Whole, Midsummer's Mayhem and Bracelets For Bina's Brothers
SUBJECT HEADINGS/TAGS: Juvenile Fiction, Middle Grade, Retellings, Fantasy, Sports: Baseball, Mathematics
Much Ado About Baseball is the companion book to Midsummer Mayhem, told from two perspectives, Trish and Ben. Trish and her family have moved again so that her mother can head up a medical unit in a new town. Trish has to figure out how to fit in being the only girl on a baseball time again. Ben is on the same team after losing a bet and is not pleased to discover Trish is on the team. Both Trish and Ben have a love and knack for Mathematics, and Ben is not happy to be on the same team where Trish beat him out at the annual Math Puzzlers Championships. One would think that they would quickly become friends having so much in common, but that is not the case. Ben's best friend Abhi can see the two have so much in common and slyly tries to intervene and provide opportunities for that friendship to develop.
The baseball team is not doing well, and Ben, in particular, seems to be struggling. Trish wants to be friends with Ben and worries that a secret regarding the Puzzle Championship will be revealed and make matters worse. When their team sponsor Salty Snacks starts providing pregame snacks, the team responds and magically starts to improve. At the same time, Trish and Ben both receive a book that includes various puzzles, which they believe is practice for the Math team. Both are puzzled that once solved words magically appear that provide advice specifically for them. As more unusual events occur, Ben is convinced the books are magical and to win the championship, they must solve all the puzzles forcing the two of them to work together.
I enjoyed how Rajina LaRooco used baseball to retell this story and that Trish played on an all-boys team, gently nudging; well played! I loved how she reminded readers how mathematics and baseball are intertwined and that anyone can do both. Then there are the puzzles! There are many drawing factors for readers to find appealing. Whether it be the action of the baseball games, solving the puzzles, figuring out friendships or the magic that spins the story itself, all while providing a gentle introduction to a Shakespearean work.
Recommended: Gr 5+
FIRST LINE: Baseball is magic.
PICTURE BOOK PAIRINGS: Much Ado About Nothing for Kids, Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream and Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature
SIMILAR TITLES: The Magical Imperfect, Jayden's Rescue, and Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!
OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR: Red, White, and Whole, Midsummer's Mayhem and Bracelets For Bina's Brothers
SUBJECT HEADINGS/TAGS: Juvenile Fiction, Middle Grade, Retellings, Fantasy, Sports: Baseball, Mathematics
October 28, 2021
Oh, good heaven's! When I look back at the date when I started this book I feel a teensy bit ashamed that it took me so very long to drag through this book. I haven't read the companion book, Midsummer Mayhem, so maybe if I had read that first I would have enjoyed this more? Maybe I should read that one anyway?
I picked this up because yeah diversity, food, magic, and Shakespeare's Much Ado, which is one of my favorites of his plays. Unfortunately, I did not find much of Much Ado. There was a very slight nod but only because I was heavily searching for it; c'mon, you named your main characters, sort of kind of, after the main characters and then you had them "feuding" but where was the merry war of words betwixt the two? Oh, wait, was it their math problems? Nope.
There was more of Midsummer's Night's Dream in here really than Much Ado, and that is not saying much as there wasn't much of Midsummer in here. Blech. The characters weren't particularly engaging though they all had problems of their own special kinds.
The math puzzles made this unique. A girl being strong in baseball and math was unique. The girl main character constantly doubting herself/giving up on herself was not unique. Rats to that. The ending felt unfinished and rushed. All in all, I was disappointed.
I picked this up because yeah diversity, food, magic, and Shakespeare's Much Ado, which is one of my favorites of his plays. Unfortunately, I did not find much of Much Ado. There was a very slight nod but only because I was heavily searching for it; c'mon, you named your main characters, sort of kind of, after the main characters and then you had them "feuding" but where was the merry war of words betwixt the two? Oh, wait, was it their math problems? Nope.
There was more of Midsummer's Night's Dream in here really than Much Ado, and that is not saying much as there wasn't much of Midsummer in here. Blech. The characters weren't particularly engaging though they all had problems of their own special kinds.
The math puzzles made this unique. A girl being strong in baseball and math was unique. The girl main character constantly doubting herself/giving up on herself was not unique. Rats to that. The ending felt unfinished and rushed. All in all, I was disappointed.
February 26, 2021
I was a huge fan of MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, so when I saw that MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL was its companion book, I couldn’t wait to get started. This book, like all of LaRocca’s, did not disappoint. Told in alternating viewpoints, readers will get to know Trish and Ben, who were math competition opponents and now are members of the same baseball team. Everyone assumes they will form a fast friendship, but that is not the case. Trish is dealing with trying to fit into a new town while her mom is always too busy to notice the struggle. Ben is coping with the loss of his grandma, who he was closely connected with, especially through their love of baseball. The element of magic added to this book is so fun and doesn’t take away from the important themes. Readers who enjoy math puzzles, snacks, magic, and baseball will love this book! Out in June, I appreciate the author and publisher sharing an ARC with #collabookation.
Read
October 30, 2021So I read this book because baseball and magic, obviously (but mostly because of the girl playing baseball).
And I mean okay, it was interesting and I think a lot of younger kids will enjoy it.
And I enjoyed the friendship aspects, the baseball aspects, stuff like that.
There was just some things that eh.
First of all, the fact that, despite what some of the characters said, the Salt Shakers baseball team was in fact winning using magic. Trish was constantly worried that there was something in the food they were getting that was making them play better, something like that, and the others, including those who made the food, were constantly reassuring her that no it's fine, there's nothing in these foods that are making them play better or anything, but at least BEN was CLEARLY being assisted by the magic.
Also the whole 'magic healing' thing was...honestly not great? (btw I promise yall, this many people do NOT usually get injured in a baseball game played with 11-13 year olds. Like...I count at least 4 injuries happening over the course of this book? Including 2 by Trish?) Anyways, it felt like it was trying to be hopeful, especially the ending, like you're gonna get back onto the field and whatever, but just...people's injuries don't just get healed by magic. Yeah, I get that this is a book with magic and that things are a little different, but at the end . I just...I never know how to feel about that.
Random fact, but when Trish gets injured near the end of the book, her injury is almost exactly like the one I got in the spring. Not gotten in the same way, but I did break my left elbow. How many left elbow injuries do you see in books (especially ones received by playing baseball/softball).
And I mean okay, it was interesting and I think a lot of younger kids will enjoy it.
And I enjoyed the friendship aspects, the baseball aspects, stuff like that.
There was just some things that eh.
First of all, the fact that, despite what some of the characters said, the Salt Shakers baseball team was in fact winning using magic. Trish was constantly worried that there was something in the food they were getting that was making them play better, something like that, and the others, including those who made the food, were constantly reassuring her that no it's fine, there's nothing in these foods that are making them play better or anything, but at least BEN was CLEARLY being assisted by the magic.
Also the whole 'magic healing' thing was...honestly not great? (btw I promise yall, this many people do NOT usually get injured in a baseball game played with 11-13 year olds. Like...I count at least 4 injuries happening over the course of this book? Including 2 by Trish?) Anyways, it felt like it was trying to be hopeful, especially the ending, like you're gonna get back onto the field and whatever, but just...people's injuries don't just get healed by magic. Yeah, I get that this is a book with magic and that things are a little different, but at the end . I just...I never know how to feel about that.
Random fact, but when Trish gets injured near the end of the book, her injury is almost exactly like the one I got in the spring. Not gotten in the same way, but I did break my left elbow. How many left elbow injuries do you see in books (especially ones received by playing baseball/softball).
June 5, 2021
Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an early copy with #bookexpedition.
A companion book to the author’s Midsummer’s Mayhem, this middle grade magical realism story did not disappoint. Told in alternating voices from Trish and Ben, readers will enjoy their love for all things baseball and math.
Due to her mom’s busy new job, twelve year old Trish had to move to a new town. At her first baseball practice, Trish realizes that the kid she beat in the spring Math Puzzlers Championships (Ben) is one of her teammates. Though everyone assumes she and Ben will instantly bond over their passion of baseball and math, that’s not the case. He can’t stand her, and to make matters worse, their baseball team stinks.
Then Trish and Ben meet Rob, an older kid whose mad baseball skills leave them envious. When Rob tells them about his family’s store that sells unusual tasty snacks that will make them play ball as good as him, Trish is doubtful. But she’s willing to do anything to help her team, so she gives the chips a try.
This is an excellent story centered in math puzzles, navigating new friendships, all things baseball, and understanding family dynamics. I’m looking forward to seeing the illustrations in the final version. Publishing June 15th!
A companion book to the author’s Midsummer’s Mayhem, this middle grade magical realism story did not disappoint. Told in alternating voices from Trish and Ben, readers will enjoy their love for all things baseball and math.
Due to her mom’s busy new job, twelve year old Trish had to move to a new town. At her first baseball practice, Trish realizes that the kid she beat in the spring Math Puzzlers Championships (Ben) is one of her teammates. Though everyone assumes she and Ben will instantly bond over their passion of baseball and math, that’s not the case. He can’t stand her, and to make matters worse, their baseball team stinks.
Then Trish and Ben meet Rob, an older kid whose mad baseball skills leave them envious. When Rob tells them about his family’s store that sells unusual tasty snacks that will make them play ball as good as him, Trish is doubtful. But she’s willing to do anything to help her team, so she gives the chips a try.
This is an excellent story centered in math puzzles, navigating new friendships, all things baseball, and understanding family dynamics. I’m looking forward to seeing the illustrations in the final version. Publishing June 15th!
August 1, 2021
Such a clever book! This book just came out in June 2021. I wish I was teaching math right now because this would be a great book to incorporate into the curriculum. The story switches characters every other chapter between Trish and Ben. They both love baseball and math. In the beginning of the book they start off as enemies until they realize how much they have in common. This book has it all: a little Shakespeare, a little magic, friendship, baseball and math puzzles!
I think this book is more suited for grades 6-8 (maybe 5th) and for small group or whole class instruction unless the reader really loves math. Also, I think it would be fun for this book to be used as a family activity where everyone works together to solve the puzzles!
There is a companion novel that preceded this book called Midsummer's Mayhem (2019) about a character named Mimi that has something to prove to her family.
I think this book is more suited for grades 6-8 (maybe 5th) and for small group or whole class instruction unless the reader really loves math. Also, I think it would be fun for this book to be used as a family activity where everyone works together to solve the puzzles!
There is a companion novel that preceded this book called Midsummer's Mayhem (2019) about a character named Mimi that has something to prove to her family.
June 9, 2021
I can see a lot kids really loving this book. It has baseball, math puzzles, yummy food, AND Shakespeare! I can see it getting kids excited about math with all the fun math puzzles. This book is the companion to Midsummer Mayhem, which I loved. Both books have characters from A Midsummer Nights Dream show up and the rivalry between Titania and Oberon in these too books makes for a really fun story, especially for a Shakespeare lover like me. This one also has some loose story elements from Much Ado About Nothing, but it's still completely its own story. I loved how the friendships evolved in this story and how the characters faced family difficulties, too. I also love that her books have recipes from the book in the back.
Note:I received a review copy for free from the publisher. Opinions are my own.
Note:I received a review copy for free from the publisher. Opinions are my own.
June 29, 2021
Much Ado About Baseball is the companion novel to Midsummer's Mayhem that we all wanted and needed! Whether you've read LaRocca's debut or not (and you should!), you're going to adore this magical, mathical, baseball-infused take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Readers who enjoy sports or math will love seeing themselves in these pages. But even readers *not* into those things (*waves dramatically* haha) will have a blast with the story and characters. Plus, there are magical snacks and recipes at the back, which makes everything sweeter! (Or saltier ...?)
August 6, 2021
A perfect summery read, I was initially drawn in with the alternating points of view between Trish and Ben. I loved the friendship that develops between them after some misunderstandings and rocky starts. I loved the math challenges and who wouldn't love a dog named Fibonacci! As the only girl on the baseball team, the love of baseball shines through in the writing and adds an empowering element to the story for all girls, regardless of their passions. With enough magic to suspend reality at times, this story is sure to cast a spell on middle grade readers. #LitReviewCrew
June 20, 2021
Set in the fictional town of Comity, Much Ado About Baseball is a companion novel to Rajani's 2019 book Midsummer's Mayhem. It's not clear right away how the two stories fit together, but you have to trust that - in the end - they do.
Trish is the current reigning Math Puzzler Champion, so when her family moves to Comity she is surprised to see her rival, Ben, at her new team's baseball practice. She is determined to stay away from him, hate him even, but eventually - at the plotting of a common friend - the two begin to form a tentative friendship. When 2 secret math puzzle books mysteriously arrive, they bring good luck to the struggling baseball team. Can Trish and Ben work together to solve problems and win the championship game?
This was such a fun read. I loved the nod to MSM. This book includes the same yummy food references and hints at magic in the air. Highly recommend for kids in grades 3 and up.
Thanks to the author and Little Bee Books for an early copy to review.
Trish is the current reigning Math Puzzler Champion, so when her family moves to Comity she is surprised to see her rival, Ben, at her new team's baseball practice. She is determined to stay away from him, hate him even, but eventually - at the plotting of a common friend - the two begin to form a tentative friendship. When 2 secret math puzzle books mysteriously arrive, they bring good luck to the struggling baseball team. Can Trish and Ben work together to solve problems and win the championship game?
This was such a fun read. I loved the nod to MSM. This book includes the same yummy food references and hints at magic in the air. Highly recommend for kids in grades 3 and up.
Thanks to the author and Little Bee Books for an early copy to review.
December 10, 2021
Having read Midsummer's Mayhem a few years ago for our Mother/Daughter Book Group, I had a little bit of an idea about what to expect with this Shakespeare mash-up novel. I never imagined I'd be drawn to a book about math and baseball, but I was surprised and totally delighted. LaRocca subtly intertwines not only Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, but also A Midsummer Night's Dream and her previous novel, Midsummer's Mayhem. I really wondered how all of the loose ends would come together in the end but she did a beautiful job creating a tightly woven plot with well developed characters. Great middle grade realistic fantasy.
June 30, 2021
I enjoyed the whimsical and the math aspect of this book. I don’t really understand baseball so I kinda just scan through the passages. Overall, I think the book did a good job weaving a lot of messages in the book for middle graders. I would love for another book in this series.
September 25, 2021
MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL touched all the bases for me with its humor, whimsy, and heart. Rajani LaRocca effortlessly weaves a story that features magic, Shakespeare, baseball, and math. What a combination, but it totally works and MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL is a delight!
September 16, 2025
Cute story and kept my 8 year old daughter interested.
June 3, 2021
I’m not a big fan of realistic fiction stories touched with magic or fantasy elements, so I was not the right reader for this book. I did like the theme of summer baseball, the positive math representation, and the unexpected twist, though.
June 7, 2021
5 Reasons You Need to Read This Book:
1.Baseball with a young lady as a strong competitor
2.Shakespeare
3.Team Values
4.Math as an intriguing puzzle
5.Something for every reader throughout the story!
1.Baseball with a young lady as a strong competitor
2.Shakespeare
3.Team Values
4.Math as an intriguing puzzle
5.Something for every reader throughout the story!
June 10, 2021
Spectacular weaving of friendship stories, baseball, math, Shakespeare, and a touch of magic. There was so much to enjoy in the story and I enjoyed the math puzzles and how they were part of the story. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s something for everyone in this new middle grade novel told in back and forth chapters between the two main characters.
July 11, 2021
What a fantastic book! (Both as a companion to MIDSUMMER'S MAYHEM and on its own!) It's impossible not to root for Trish as she navigates her new home, new town, and new friends. Bursting with ever-important middle grade themes of community, self-confidence, and acceptance--but remixed with baseball, math, magic, and (of course) food and Shakespeare--MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL is a *ton* of fun. Also full of heart, this book will enchant every reader. I loved it 3.14 times infinity!
July 13, 2021
4 stars. A nice read for summer.
You have math, sports, magic and food. The author combined all the elements very well and created an addictive story. While I would argue that baseball is the lamest sport ever, the way it was described is amazing. Also that kid Abhi with the constant Shakespeare references LOL.
You have math, sports, magic and food. The author combined all the elements very well and created an addictive story. While I would argue that baseball is the lamest sport ever, the way it was described is amazing. Also that kid Abhi with the constant Shakespeare references LOL.
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