(3) 4-6 Scaletta deftly weaves together the stories of Rafael, a young Dominican boy desperately committed to playing American Major League Baseball someday, and twelve-year-old Minnesotan girl Maya, who's desperately committed to saving the environment. He convincingly writes about these disparate subjects, peopling the novel with sympathetic, three-dimensional characters. Excellent sports writing, an appreciation of the natural world, and provocative ethical dilemmas add richness.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Jim ditches best friend Oliver to work with his crush on the science fair, and Oliver has to find a new partner. But when dangerous robots start harming people around town, the teams combine efforts to build a robot that can deal with the mysterious threat. Though slow to start and leaving a few loose ends, this solid boy book has entertaining moments.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) 1-3 Topps® League Story series. Illustrated by Eric Wight. As a batboy for the Pine City Porcupines, Chad discovers that his baseball cards can help the team mascot brighten a young fan's day (Jinxed) and inspire a player to steal bases (Steal). Though they're about as substantial as ballpark popcorn, these chapter books, filled with stats and minor league fun, offer avid baseball fans a seat in the dugout. Review covers these Topps® League Story titles: Jinxed! and Steal That Base!

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 1-3 Topps® League Story series. Illustrated by Eric Wight. As a batboy for the Pine City Porcupines, Chad discovers that his baseball cards can help the team mascot brighten a young fan's day (Jinxed) and inspire a player to steal bases (Steal). Though they're about as substantial as ballpark popcorn, these chapter books, filled with stats and minor league fun, offer avid baseball fans a seat in the dugout. Review covers these Topps® League Story titles: Jinxed! and Steal That Base!

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 1-3 Topps® League Story series. Illustrated by Eric Wight. Batboy Chad's baseball cards help calm his teammate so he can pitch a perfect game (Zip It!) and satisfy a grumpy fan who's been asked to return Teddy "the Bear" Larrabee's birthday home-run ball (823rd). They're insubstantial, but these chapter books, filled with stats and minor league action, offer baseball fans quick and easy reads. Review covers these Topps® League titles: Zip It! and The 823rd Hit.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 1-3 Topps® League Story series. Illustrated by Eric Wight. Batboy Chad's baseball cards help calm his teammate so he can pitch a perfect game (Zip It!) and satisfy a grumpy fan who's been asked to return Teddy "the Bear" Larrabee's birthday home-run ball (823rd). They're insubstantial, but these chapter books, filled with stats and minor league action, offer baseball fans quick and easy reads. Review covers these Topps® League titles: Zip It! and The 823rd Hit.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 Eric's father moves to Boston to get his college band back together. His mother spends most days searching for a runaway student. And glowing mushrooms are invading his Tanglewood, Maine, town. In this entertaining story, Eric cleverly conquers the challenges of baby-sitting his brother, caring for a dysfunctional pig, and solving a mystery that has haunted the town for decades.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 Linus, not yet thirteen, moves to Liberia with his family in the summer of 1982. Companionship with a deadly black mamba snake, with which he can seemingly communicate, helps Linus shed his scaredy-cat image. Predictably, his attachment to the snake results in a near tragedy. Though the multitude of eighties references grow tiring and Linus is rather two-dimensional, his emotions are relatable.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(2) 4-6 It's been raining in Moundville for twenty-two years. When the sun miraculously comes out, twelve-year-old baseball lover Roy assembles a scrappy team, including the surly and mysterious foster kid Roy's father invited into their home. As the "Mudville Nine" resurrect the soaked baseball field, they bring life to a whole town. Through his cast of memorable characters, Scaletta's baseball enthusiasm shines.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2009