Throwing Heat

Known for his crazy fastball pitches, Jack has never had a problem striking a batter out. Until now.
  • ISBN: 9781561455737
  • Publication date: 02/01/2011
  • Page Count: 128
  • Size: 5-1/4" x 7-1/2"
  • Age Range: 7-12
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  • Price:
  • ISBN: 9781561455737
  • Publication date: 02/01/2011
  • Page Count: 128
  • Size: 5-1/4" x 7-1/2"
  • Age Range: 7-12
  • Price:
  • ISBN: 9781561455409
  • Publication date: 07/01/2010
  • Page Count: 128
  • Size: 5-1/4" x 7-1/2"
  • Age Range: 7-12
  • Price:
  • Age Range: 7-12
  • Price:
  • ISBN: 9781561456772
  • Publication date: 03/01/2012
  • Page Count: N/A
  • Age Range: 7-12
  • Price:
  • Age Range: 7-12
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Description

Known for his crazy fastball pitches, Jack has never had a problem striking a batter out. Until now.

This season, he’s playing in a new league where the distance to the catcher’s mitt is a lot greater, and he can’t get seem to get into the strike zone.

Then a baseball coach at a local college shows Jack some new pitches and tells him about Steve Dalkowski, who never made it out of the minor leagues because he wouldn’t throw other pitches. At first Jack doesn’t listen to the coach’s advice, but with the season on the line, he realizes that the coach was right. Is it too late to change his game plan?

In this installment of his Sports Story series, author Fred Bowen shows readers how to battle the ache of disappointment and rise to new challenges. Readers can learn more about pitching phenoms Steve Dalkowski and Sandy Koufax and their Major League Baseball careers in the afterword.

Author/Illustrator

Fred Bowen

Author

Fred Bowen is a lifelong sports fanatic who has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post.

Reviews

“Sports-minded readers should find the brisk pacing and simple vocabulary to their liking.” ―School Library Journal

“The prolific Bowen serves up a baseball tale that should appeal equally to middle-grade fans and less-able older readers.” ―Booklist

Resources

Resources: Discussion Guide

Discussion Guide

More Details

AR Level: 3.9
F&P: GRL R, Gr 4, Genre RF
Lexile: 600L
Themes: Baseball, Challenges, Confidence
BISAC 1: JUV032010 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Baseball & Softball
BISAC 2: JUV005000 JUVENILE FICTION / Boys & Men
BISAC 3: JUV039220 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Values & Virtues