All-Stars Squeeze Play

Corey Maduro should be having the time of his life. It’s baseball season and his team, the Orioles, are heading to a great week-long tournament. But, Corey has been in a hitting slump of epic proportions. While he’s trying to work out of that, he has two other problems: his father has become a complete jerk at the games, embarrassing Corey no end, and Katelyn Morris, the only girl on the team, seems to try to humiliate Corey at every turn. Katelyn gives all the guys something of a bad time, but seems to really have it in for Corey. When Corey’s father films another team and tries to steal their signs at the tournament, all could be lost for the Orioles.

Cal Ripken, Jr. and Kevin Cowherd certainly know baseball, and their knowledge steeps this book in the game. Kids who are fans of baseball will be completely engaged. The problems Corey faces are problems those readers will relate to and sympathize with. The writing is crisp, the story is compelling, and the characters are well drawn and believable. This series focuses on one player on the Orioles for each book and will have readers coming back for more.