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Ballpark Mysteries #19
The Black Cat Change-Up
Batter up! It's another Ballpark Mysteries baseball mystery chapter book. Next up is New York City!
Why is a black cat haunting the New York Mets? Kate and Mike arrive in New York for a big game against the Chicago Cubs, but Cookie, the team’s star hitter, is rattled by a phantom feline. Without a win at that night’s game, the Mets’ season might be over. Can Mike and Kate figure out who’s bringing a black cat and bad luck to the team before the big game?
Ballpark Mysteries are the all-star matchup of fun sleuthing and baseball action, perfect for readers of Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries and Matt Christopher's sports books, and younger siblings of Mike Lupica fans. Each Ballpark Mystery also features Dugout Notes with more amazing baseball facts.
Why is a black cat haunting the New York Mets? Kate and Mike arrive in New York for a big game against the Chicago Cubs, but Cookie, the team’s star hitter, is rattled by a phantom feline. Without a win at that night’s game, the Mets’ season might be over. Can Mike and Kate figure out who’s bringing a black cat and bad luck to the team before the big game?
Ballpark Mysteries are the all-star matchup of fun sleuthing and baseball action, perfect for readers of Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries and Matt Christopher's sports books, and younger siblings of Mike Lupica fans. Each Ballpark Mystery also features Dugout Notes with more amazing baseball facts.
- GenresMystery
89 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2022
7 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
David A. Kelly
66 books95 followersDavid A. Kelly is the author of over 30 children's books, including the bestselling Ballpark Mysteries series, the MVP series, the brand-new Football Mysteries series, and more.
Mr. Kelly is also the author of the early reader, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse and the picture books Tee Time on the Moon and Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and Secret Mud that Changed Baseball.
He has written about travel and technology for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun Times, and many other publications. Mr. Kelly lives in Newton, MA, with his family.
For more information, visit David’s webpage – www.davidakellybooks.com. He's available for school and library visits, in person or virtually.
Mr. Kelly is also the author of the early reader, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse and the picture books Tee Time on the Moon and Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and Secret Mud that Changed Baseball.
He has written about travel and technology for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun Times, and many other publications. Mr. Kelly lives in Newton, MA, with his family.
For more information, visit David’s webpage – www.davidakellybooks.com. He's available for school and library visits, in person or virtually.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 27, 2023
My thanks to BooksGoSocial for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
The Black Cat Change Up is a cute, quick and very enjoyable little children’s mystery set around baseball (though one doesn’t need to know much about the game to enjoy the book) and in this case themes of superstition and cats (the reason why I read it, in case you hadn’t guessed already :D).
Mike Walsh and Kate Hopkins are cousins visiting New York City to attend a baseball game. Kate’s mother is a sports journalist which gives them not only access to games but also back stage access where they get to meet players as well; some are already friends, involved in mysteries they’ve solved in previous books. This time the game they are getting to see is at the New York Mets Stadium, between the Mets and the Cubs. They get to the stadium after a bit of sightseeing, where they are to meet one of the players, Cookie Clifford. But almost as soon as they arrive, they learn of a ‘curse’ which had affected a baseball game between the same teams years ago, where a black cat had appeared on the field and now it seems it is back. Cat drawings with threatening messages are being left pinned around the Mets players’ locker room, and Cookie Clifford is especially terrified. Then someone delivers a cat carrier to him spooking him further. But is it only someone playing a prank, or is it something more serious? Practice and then the game begins, and the children start to look into the matter, which they have to solve fast before the players get too scared and the game ends up impacted. But alongside, they also manage to enjoy the game, some snacks and visit the Mets Hall of Fame!
The Black Cat Change Up is a book which is set in and around the world of baseball giving one a taste of games, baseball facts, and also the excitement and feel of a stadium before games (both among the audiences visiting and the players preparing for the game). We get a tour of the stadium with the different parts of the building—the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the Mets Hall of Fame and lots more. And there is of course the game itself. But while it does pretty much immerse one in the world of baseball, I found that even for one like me who knows absolutely nothing about the game, I was able to follow along and enjoy it (even if I didn’t quite know the terms or scoring and such). So a book which can equally be enjoyed by fans and non-fans of the game alike (to me, the book’s biggest strength). For those who are more into the game, the author, a former Little League player has included a section of fun facts and trivia at the end, which adds a great touch.
The mystery itself was not baseball centric but to do with black cats and superstition and we see a bit of superstition affecting Mike as well at the start as he develops a fear of Mr Mets, the Mets’ mascot. But as things are resolved, the book also delivers the message that one shouldn’t fall into fears caused by superstition and often times, the things causing it in us, are rather likeable and not to be feared. At the same time, I liked that the children are shown as recognising that everyone has their fears, and rational or irrational, these shouldn’t be made fun of.
The mystery is a very quick one, come across and solved by the kids just over the course of the one game. One can pretty much guess early on the person that is responsible for all that’s happening (I think even the intended audiences would) but one still enjoys following along to see how the children work it out and what the outcome of the game is.
The book is full of fun little illustrations by Mark Meyers which make one’s reading experience all the more enjoyable!
A series I’d certainly be interested in exploring more of!
The Black Cat Change Up is a cute, quick and very enjoyable little children’s mystery set around baseball (though one doesn’t need to know much about the game to enjoy the book) and in this case themes of superstition and cats (the reason why I read it, in case you hadn’t guessed already :D).
Mike Walsh and Kate Hopkins are cousins visiting New York City to attend a baseball game. Kate’s mother is a sports journalist which gives them not only access to games but also back stage access where they get to meet players as well; some are already friends, involved in mysteries they’ve solved in previous books. This time the game they are getting to see is at the New York Mets Stadium, between the Mets and the Cubs. They get to the stadium after a bit of sightseeing, where they are to meet one of the players, Cookie Clifford. But almost as soon as they arrive, they learn of a ‘curse’ which had affected a baseball game between the same teams years ago, where a black cat had appeared on the field and now it seems it is back. Cat drawings with threatening messages are being left pinned around the Mets players’ locker room, and Cookie Clifford is especially terrified. Then someone delivers a cat carrier to him spooking him further. But is it only someone playing a prank, or is it something more serious? Practice and then the game begins, and the children start to look into the matter, which they have to solve fast before the players get too scared and the game ends up impacted. But alongside, they also manage to enjoy the game, some snacks and visit the Mets Hall of Fame!
The Black Cat Change Up is a book which is set in and around the world of baseball giving one a taste of games, baseball facts, and also the excitement and feel of a stadium before games (both among the audiences visiting and the players preparing for the game). We get a tour of the stadium with the different parts of the building—the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the Mets Hall of Fame and lots more. And there is of course the game itself. But while it does pretty much immerse one in the world of baseball, I found that even for one like me who knows absolutely nothing about the game, I was able to follow along and enjoy it (even if I didn’t quite know the terms or scoring and such). So a book which can equally be enjoyed by fans and non-fans of the game alike (to me, the book’s biggest strength). For those who are more into the game, the author, a former Little League player has included a section of fun facts and trivia at the end, which adds a great touch.
The mystery itself was not baseball centric but to do with black cats and superstition and we see a bit of superstition affecting Mike as well at the start as he develops a fear of Mr Mets, the Mets’ mascot. But as things are resolved, the book also delivers the message that one shouldn’t fall into fears caused by superstition and often times, the things causing it in us, are rather likeable and not to be feared. At the same time, I liked that the children are shown as recognising that everyone has their fears, and rational or irrational, these shouldn’t be made fun of.
The mystery is a very quick one, come across and solved by the kids just over the course of the one game. One can pretty much guess early on the person that is responsible for all that’s happening (I think even the intended audiences would) but one still enjoys following along to see how the children work it out and what the outcome of the game is.
The book is full of fun little illustrations by Mark Meyers which make one’s reading experience all the more enjoyable!
A series I’d certainly be interested in exploring more of!
January 8, 2023
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Cousins Kate and Mike are back, and this time they are in New York at the Mets stadium with Kate's mother, who is a sports reporter. The team has a big game against the Chicago Cubs, but the Mets pitcher, Cookie Clifford, is spooked. There have been threatening notes and phone calls that a black cat ghost is going to ruin the game! In 1969, is a game between the Mets and the Cubs, a black cat got onto the field, and the Mets lost the game. Kate and Mike want to find out who is behind the threats; even though it's not really a serious issue, it has thrown Cookie off his game. As is their wont, the two check out the locker room and stadium, and share a lot of the history they find along the way, like the fact that the Mets honor Jackie Robinson, even though he was a Dodgers player! They meet a former ball girl who is now working with the equipment manager, Ash Santo. Her grandfather had played with the team, so she had an in. Mike, who is a little spooked by the mascot, Mr. Met, knows that something is up, and when Mr. Met shows up on the field during the game with a back pack, he and Kate are able to avert disaster. Will they also be able to solve the mystery?
Strengths: I learn so much when I read these books, like the fact that ball girls and boys don't travel with the teams. The teams bring along uniforms for the kids working for the home team to wear! I also didn't know that in the 1970s the Mets had Mettle the Mule as their mascot. Kate and Mike get along really well, and the unlimited access they have to the stadiums seems realistic and enviable. What child wouldn't want to meet players and get a good look behind the scenes? The mysteries have enough clues laid out early in the story that a reader who is really trying to solve the mystery has a good chance of doing so. I was a big fan of Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown when I was young, and reading this along with a 2nd or 3rd grader would be a great way to foster critical thinking skills. Meyers' illustrations are fun and help show details of the stadium as well as the players and game. There are lots of humorous moments, and the story moves along quickly. Elementary libraries should definitely have these in prebinds, because they will be in heavy rotation!
Weaknesses: As an adult, I always want to see the perpetrators brought to justice, but since the "crimes" are never that bad, there's not really a need.
What I really think: My children devoured books like this in early elementary school: Baily School Kids, A to Z Mysteries, Magic Treehouse, and the like. This series is perfect for readers beginning to enjoy chapter books and who want to revisit their favorite characters again and again. I am a little concerned that Random House doesn't seem to be publishing the books any more, which seems like a bad decision, since so many young readers are invested in sports and love to see sports stories, especially when they have Dugout Notes about different stadiums.
Cousins Kate and Mike are back, and this time they are in New York at the Mets stadium with Kate's mother, who is a sports reporter. The team has a big game against the Chicago Cubs, but the Mets pitcher, Cookie Clifford, is spooked. There have been threatening notes and phone calls that a black cat ghost is going to ruin the game! In 1969, is a game between the Mets and the Cubs, a black cat got onto the field, and the Mets lost the game. Kate and Mike want to find out who is behind the threats; even though it's not really a serious issue, it has thrown Cookie off his game. As is their wont, the two check out the locker room and stadium, and share a lot of the history they find along the way, like the fact that the Mets honor Jackie Robinson, even though he was a Dodgers player! They meet a former ball girl who is now working with the equipment manager, Ash Santo. Her grandfather had played with the team, so she had an in. Mike, who is a little spooked by the mascot, Mr. Met, knows that something is up, and when Mr. Met shows up on the field during the game with a back pack, he and Kate are able to avert disaster. Will they also be able to solve the mystery?
Strengths: I learn so much when I read these books, like the fact that ball girls and boys don't travel with the teams. The teams bring along uniforms for the kids working for the home team to wear! I also didn't know that in the 1970s the Mets had Mettle the Mule as their mascot. Kate and Mike get along really well, and the unlimited access they have to the stadiums seems realistic and enviable. What child wouldn't want to meet players and get a good look behind the scenes? The mysteries have enough clues laid out early in the story that a reader who is really trying to solve the mystery has a good chance of doing so. I was a big fan of Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown when I was young, and reading this along with a 2nd or 3rd grader would be a great way to foster critical thinking skills. Meyers' illustrations are fun and help show details of the stadium as well as the players and game. There are lots of humorous moments, and the story moves along quickly. Elementary libraries should definitely have these in prebinds, because they will be in heavy rotation!
Weaknesses: As an adult, I always want to see the perpetrators brought to justice, but since the "crimes" are never that bad, there's not really a need.
What I really think: My children devoured books like this in early elementary school: Baily School Kids, A to Z Mysteries, Magic Treehouse, and the like. This series is perfect for readers beginning to enjoy chapter books and who want to revisit their favorite characters again and again. I am a little concerned that Random House doesn't seem to be publishing the books any more, which seems like a bad decision, since so many young readers are invested in sports and love to see sports stories, especially when they have Dugout Notes about different stadiums.
January 27, 2023
I’m delighted to serve as a reviewer for the 2023 Multicultural Children’s Book Day. I was #gifted with the latest book in the Ballpark Mysteries series entitled The Black Cat Change-Up by David A. Kelly. The story centers on cousins, Mike and Kate, who travel to New York City to watch a baseball game between the Mets and Chicago Clubs teams at the Mets-Willets Point Station. Before the game starts, the cousins learn of spooky phone calls, drawings, and handwritten messages about a black cat sent to some of team players. The superstition of a black cat as bad luck adds depth to this mystery story. The author grabs the reader’s attention through humor, adventure, characterization, and the sheer love of baseball. The characters are relatable, interesting, and funny. I admire Mr. Kelly’s enthusiasm for baseball as a competitive sport. Throughout this chapter book, he emphasizes the historical and cultural significance of baseball. In addition to the Ballpark Mysteries series, David A. Kelly has written chapter books for the Most Valuable Players series, the early reader Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse, and the picture book Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and Secret Mud that Changed Baseball. I recommend The Black Cat Change-Up for all young readers alike #ReadYourWorld.David A. Kelly
January 3, 2023
"Why is a black cat haunting the New York Mets? Kate and Mike arrive in New York for a big game against the Chicago Cubs, but Cookie, the team’s star hitter, is rattled by a phantom feline. Without a win at that night’s game, the Mets’ season might be over. Can Mike and Kate figure out who’s bringing a black cat and bad luck to the team before the big game?"
This is a children's mystery.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
This is a children's mystery.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
February 28, 2023
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I came across this one on Netgalley and was instantly curious. I do love a good Children/MG mystery and this one looked like it would be perfect for me. And it was! I am not a baseball fan, which is in part because it is not a big thing in my country, I don’t even know if we have a team or something? But I couldn’t resist this book!
And I didn’t even mind that it was so baseball-oriented, if anything I had oodles of fun reading about the game, about the teams, about superstition, about old matches and see a new match. I soaked up the facts about the sport.
In this book we meet Mike and Kate who are are going to a big match + get to go backstage. I loved seeing them go backstage, meet people, say hi to people they know, and then also solve a mystery. Yep, as soon as they get there we learn of a mystery. Someone is making calls. Someone is leaving cat drawings. There are other things as well and it was great fun to follow this duo and solve the case alongside them. They were both really fun characters. I loved how they both solved the mystery AND had fun watching the match/the pre-game stuff. Sometimes kids in mystery book get so absorbed in the mystery they forget everything around them, but not these kids.
I was quickly suspicious of two people and then after a revelation of something I was honing in on one person specifically! I won’t spoil it of course. Haha, no you will have to read it. Yes, it was easy to figure out, but I don’t mind that much. Sometimes one just wants it simple. The suspect was great though, and while I wasn’t agreeing on why they did it or why they wanted to do things, I could also understand why they went so far.
I loved the facts at the end about baseball! That was a nice extra and I can appreciate it when people go the extra mile to add something fun!
I also liked the illustrations in the book, a really fun style~
All in all, despite not being a baseball fan myself or having much knowledge about the game, I had so much fun reading this book. Great mystery. Fun facts and fun match. Great characters. I would love to read more books in this series and see what other mysteries are to be solved. Recommended!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I came across this one on Netgalley and was instantly curious. I do love a good Children/MG mystery and this one looked like it would be perfect for me. And it was! I am not a baseball fan, which is in part because it is not a big thing in my country, I don’t even know if we have a team or something? But I couldn’t resist this book!
And I didn’t even mind that it was so baseball-oriented, if anything I had oodles of fun reading about the game, about the teams, about superstition, about old matches and see a new match. I soaked up the facts about the sport.
In this book we meet Mike and Kate who are are going to a big match + get to go backstage. I loved seeing them go backstage, meet people, say hi to people they know, and then also solve a mystery. Yep, as soon as they get there we learn of a mystery. Someone is making calls. Someone is leaving cat drawings. There are other things as well and it was great fun to follow this duo and solve the case alongside them. They were both really fun characters. I loved how they both solved the mystery AND had fun watching the match/the pre-game stuff. Sometimes kids in mystery book get so absorbed in the mystery they forget everything around them, but not these kids.
I was quickly suspicious of two people and then after a revelation of something I was honing in on one person specifically! I won’t spoil it of course. Haha, no you will have to read it. Yes, it was easy to figure out, but I don’t mind that much. Sometimes one just wants it simple. The suspect was great though, and while I wasn’t agreeing on why they did it or why they wanted to do things, I could also understand why they went so far.
I loved the facts at the end about baseball! That was a nice extra and I can appreciate it when people go the extra mile to add something fun!
I also liked the illustrations in the book, a really fun style~
All in all, despite not being a baseball fan myself or having much knowledge about the game, I had so much fun reading this book. Great mystery. Fun facts and fun match. Great characters. I would love to read more books in this series and see what other mysteries are to be solved. Recommended!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 4, 2023
This middle grade chapter book is #19 in a series. This book is deeply rooted in baseball history, including the teams and their stories, with mentions of Mettle, a mule mascot for the Mets and Jackie Robinson. It is definitely something that sets this book apart from other sports chapter books as it has a lot of really interesting facts and stories. The mystery aspect is also sure to win over readers in this age group as it is interesting and fun to follow. The illustrations are nice and well spaced throughout the chapters which are about 6-8 pages long. The font is a good size and the book is a good length at about 120 pages, divided into 13 chapters. Overall I think it would be a great addition to a classroom library, and I think some reluctant readers might find either the baseball or mystery aspects interesting in this one. In my opinion it is a great fit for the middle grade audience it is targeted at. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book, I might just have to pop out and check out the rest of the books in this series!
February 20, 2023
It is the first book in this series that I read, however it's pretty good. Young readers might enjoy it even more. I like the fact that the main "detective" characters are kids. The story was clear, with a little intrigue, with a lot info about the sport but explained and even not a fan of baseball it did not bother me at all.
I recommend it for children 6± and all in all it deserves the time.
I recommend it for children 6± and all in all it deserves the time.
February 3, 2023
This excellent book not only has a good story plot but teaches baseball history while the story unfolds. Excellent characters. My 8 year old grandson and I both enjoyed it. Now we are off to read the others in this excellent series! Thanks#netgalley and #BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
October 5, 2023
The Black Cat Change Up is a little chapter book for elementary age kids. The two main characters are Mike and Kate. While visiting a pro baseball game, they discover a mystery and decide to solve. It's nothing scary. It's just a little "who done it". Cute illustrations, too.
October 19, 2023
Great for kids!
This book was super cute and well written. I would recommend it to any kid who loves baseball :) Also the pictures are well done!
This book was super cute and well written. I would recommend it to any kid who loves baseball :) Also the pictures are well done!
May 2, 2025
These books are always fun mysteries and I love learning about the stadiums and fun stories and facts from baseball history.
October 16, 2025
This is a book I highly recommend for cat lovers. This story about the Mets is a very cool mystery and I think everyone that has rated a ballpark mystery over 2 should check this out.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews