Out in Left Field

Collins, Matt     Out in Left Field       

 Holiday House     2012  217p  $16.95

978-0-8234-2313-2       elm/ms      VG      Historical 

This is a sequel to When the Sergeant Came Marching Home.  It is a gentle, somewhat slow-moving story of farm life in rural Montana.  Donald loves baseball.  In the ninth inning of a game against the neighboring town, he misses a pop fly because he has been  hit in the forehead by the ball.  He is sure he will never live it down.  He sets his heart on archery, and is a failure.  Then he tries ice hockey, then skiing, but all with similar results.  Donald is a bit clumsy and accident prone, and each escapade presents a new disaster.  Finally Donald learns that it is possible to forgive yourself.

This is a quiet story with laugh-aloud sections about rural farm life in post-World War II America.  A good boy story for that boy who is quieter.  It is not as interesting or adventure-filled as When the Sergeant Came Marching Home.

VG    Joan Theal        Farm life, Sports, Boys