Sports Books

I thought this was a great book especially for someone that is self-motivating. There are so any work-outs included it will keep you busy for a long time!

I never thought I could or would run a triathlon, but this book really helped me train. It was a great guide and plan for the winter, and hopefully I'll be able to compete in the spring. Without this I'd be lost.

The triathlon program was thorough and easy to follow. I started the program less than 2 weeks ago and I can already see results. Highly recommended.

This book looks very good. Other books concentrate on total fitness for triathlon with only limited emphasis on weight training, while this book puts all of its emphasis on weight training and is the perfect supplement to any other triathlon book. The programs appear to be very easy to follow. I look forward to putting it to good use.

This book is a great in-depth manual for the art of UL hiking. They are a little sold-out to promoting their own products, but still highly recommended.

This is a great book that will give most anyone all the background needed to understand the concepts behind not only backpacking but also camping. The book is divided into sections: The art and science of Walking, Protection from the elements, Eating Drinking and Hygiene, First Aid, Proven Lightweight Solutions. The waking section includes a great deal of information regarding the forces placed on the feet and joints during walking/hiking whether it is uphill, downhill, across a hill, and also the effects of back packs and pack weight on these forces. I have been hiking a long time and there is a lot of interesting information here. The other sections of the book have similar in-depth background to help you understand better how things work. That is good to help you make better decisions on selecting gear and clothing. There is a lot of mention of the backpackinglight web site that I am now subscribed to. This book is a must-have if you are serious about not lugging around a lot of weight (that is really un-needed) out on the trail.

Other than my Royal Rangers Handbook as a kid in the 80's this was my first book into the world of backpacking. I have to say that the whole lightweight backpacking idea really appeals to me for many reasons. I remember lugging around all that unnecessary gear. The over weight packing made for some long and tortuous trips. Me and my wife are soon to move from South Florida to Denver CO. and are getting ourselves together for some good ol out dooring (hiking/backpacking /camping). I went to the public library to get some books to read on the subjects of camping /hiking and backpacking before I buy to see if there any good.
Ryan Jordan's LIGHTWEIGHT is to me a good book. It opened the door of the whole light and ultralight packing up to me and my wife.After Reading it along with all the other books I checked out from the public library Id have to say it was one of my favs. there were times that I wished MR Jordan would of went into a little more detail on certain subjects , but I guess he couldn't cover every subject in complete detail. I would have to say that this book to me is not the definitive backpackers guide. There was no survival section. There was a section specifically for women that my wife found both educational and entertaining. I will go and buy this book though and recommend it to anyone that is interested in backpacking , whether ultralight or not.

This the best book on the subject. I think the detail is a bit too much for the novice. "Lighten Up" is a better introductory work, but the depth offered here is without comparison. I loved it all except for the detail on walking. Either I don't have the patience/intellect, or it's just a bit too much. All that said, it truly is the best book on the subject, and I learned an incredible amount from it.

For those who are skeptical that backpacking relatively comfortably while carrying less weight is possible, this book does a pretty good job of making the case for dropping the extra pounds. However, if you're already convinced that lightweight or ultra lightweight backpacking is the way to go, this book feels a lot like preaching to choir.

I've been a lightweight convert for two years, and I bought this book hoping to learn some advice and techniques to shave my pack weight down even further. While the book has some useful specifics on some topics (I now swear by the bear bagging technique I learned from it, and the first aid section is very good), I found that it mostly lacked the level of detail I was looking for.

The essays all talk about how great going lightweight is and drool over expensive boutique gear. Indeed, there is a distinctly worshipful tone when discussing the latest carbon fiber and silnylon technologies. The book promotes a lot of very high end equipment while remaining seemingly oblivious to far less expensive alternatives that offer minimal performance compromises. But nothing really goes into specifics beyond what you could find on the internet for free. For example, the book extols the virtues of using a tarp tent, and has pictures of several brands, but provides only vague information on how to actually pitch one correctly, or how to pitch one when there aren't any trees while keeping it stable.

It seems obvious to me that carrying 20lbs would be better than carrying 50, I no longer need to be convinced. I was looking for more technical information and this book just didn't have it.

Also, the book is really just a collection of essays, many of which were written for Ryan Jordan's magazine/web site Backpacking Light, and as a result the book lacks a consistent voice and tone. The essays are also not really organized in an intuitive way.

Ryan Jordan also seems obsessed with light weight for light weight's sake, rather than as a means to add enjoyment to your backpacking experience. Sure it possible to get your pack weight down to 5lbs, if you're willing to shell out lots of money for lightweight fabrics and gear that's often not versatile and that you will probably have to replace every season because of its lack of durability. This might give you bragging rights at the trailhead, but I question if its really worth the added expense and inconvenience over say, a 15 pound pack, which is less weight than the average middle schooler carries every day, and can be acquired much less expensively.

This book has some useful ideas and recommendations on gear, so I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about lightweight backpacking for the first time, which is why I'm giving it three stars. If you've already shed some pounds from your pack, or are trying to enjoy the outdoors on a fixed budget, there are better and more detailed books out there, like The Complete Walker IV or Ray Jardine's Beyond Backpacking.

Whoa, if you can't learn something from this book you must be the greatest bass fisherman alive.

Not only is Roland Martin an incomparable bassing legend--he gives his advice and tells his story without the sanctimonious edge (sugary religious and family anecdotes) that other tournament pros feel compelled to include in their books these days.

If you want to buy only one book on bass fishing, this is the one. More then 25 years later, this book is still up-to-date. The lures described are still around and catch good bass. Whether you like fishing with heavy tackle, ultra-light or even fly fishing, this book covers it.

I picked up little, but it was entertaining and potentially a great resource for an emerging bass fisherman.

Roland Martin has always been my favorite bass pro. He exudes a love of the sport and has an unquenchable thirst for fishing knowledge. And he shares it all in this book.

It is packed with the bass patterns that Roland has learned throughout his career. He explains which lure works best under a given situation and why. He covers shallow, heavy cover situations to deep structure, live bait to lures to fly fishing. If you love fishing for bass, buy this book!

I got a hold of this book when I was still wet behind the ears as far as bass fishing goes. I'm not a huge reader, but I couldn't put this book down. Roland talks about how to be observant and pick a pattern apart, including everything from lure color to presentation speeds. He really reveals it all when he's talking about these patterns. He gives the time of year, water temp, clarity, etc.

I gained a tremendous amount of confidence from reading this, as these are some of the patterns that earned him 9 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year titles.

I've only been seriously fishing for about a year and there's no telling how many of these patterns I've used. I did skip over the parts on trolling and live bait, as they are not allowed in tournaments.

But an excellent book, as I refer to it over and over.

This is a very good inspirational book about an underdog inner city basketball team rising up to be the best, coached by Bob Hurley--best high school coach in small, broken down parochial school. Kids all had problems and he taught character and perseverance as well as basketball. It's tells how the coach motivated and taught his players. Parts moved a bit slow but it's definitely worth your time reading this one!

Coaching (and teaching) tips I got out of it included the following:

*Always keep the bar high and require respect.
*Never let anyone slide--keep on them all the time.
*Coach all the players, not just the best.
*Make kids earn your respect and ignore them until they do.
*Give everyone a role--even those on the bench.
*Use drastic measures (wrestling practice) to punish sloppy playing.
*Use the drastic measure practice for motivating in the future.
*Let the players experience the glory, keep low profile as coach.
*Help players make good decisions concerning their futures.

Karen Arlettaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

What a great, inspirational book. On top of that, it was only $5 when I purchased it, so you can't go wrong there. If you enjoy basketball, I strongly suggest you read this book!

I read this a few years back and I really enjoyed it. I have always found books about geniuses within their little realm fascinating. Bob Hurley's success is not attributed to a new revolutionary school of coaching thought, but rather basic hard work, discipline and commitment.

Despite its small enrollment, St. Anthony's teams have been pretty stacked over the years. That is why I always thought the St. Anthony's mystique (i.e. Poor little Catholic school in Jersey City) was overblown a bit. Give anyone an MacDonald all-american and a couple of All-NYC type players and you'll have success at the HS level. But this particular season, the players at St. Anthony's were something a bit less. Good players, certainly, but not the highly recruited types that usually populate the top HS Programs in the country. Hurley guiding this ragtag bunch of ballers to the heights of success says alot about the guys ability to coach and motivate. Its a great story that would have been something less if it chronicled one of the other St. Anthony's seasons.

Indeed, Hurley is a tough coach that borders on verbally absuive. But in this day and age of coddled athletes, he's refreshing. He's unambigious about what his expectations are and kids respond to his style. He's not a mean, cruel guy he just wants to get the most out of his players.

It would be a good read for coaches of youngsters through teenagers.

If you're a coach this is for you. If you're a sports fan this is for you. I loved it so much I bought a book for my entire coaching staff. And we are a hockey team! There are a lot lessons and values that Coach Hurley teaches. More importantly it's about life. He never let up on these kids and pushed them to success. Challenged them to succeed. At that age level they need guidance, they need someone to sponsor them. Then its up to them to follow the path Coach Hurley gives them. It's amazing how a time tested path still can't lead some kids. It's a struggle between the kids backgrounds and the future they can have
Wow what a great book. What I liked is that these kids are now in college so we can follow their careers.
The one player that sticks out to me is Sean McCready. Great talent, bad guidance (family). Now he is sitting out the 2008 season because he transferred. Coach Hurley was right!

I also loved the fact that he sweeps the floor. That's his time, and we all need our own time. But coach is dedicated to a school that is struggling. There is no way a school like this should be on the verge of bankruptcy. Coach could leave and make millions, but he doesn't. Because if he does the school will close.
BUY THE BOOK

Adrian Wojnarowski's "The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty" is one of the best sports and leadership books I have read this past year.

St. Anthony's is a private Catholic High School in Jersey City, NJ, with 230 students (120 boys). Students come from an area where 16% pass the HS proficiency test and where the local drug-infested, back-sliding culture has a hold on the kids. Despite its size and location, St. Anthony's basketball teams have gone undefeated four times, have won two USA Today national titles, and 24 New Jersey Parochial state championships. The basketball program has developed 200 college players, including 5 who went on to the National Basketball Association.

St. Anthony's is a special and safe place under Srs. Felicia and Alan and legendary Coach, Bob Hurley - the streets stop here. Their focus in athletics and academics has been to help kids get to the finish line. They share a collective value that there is no shortcut to success.

While Sister Felicia and Sister Alan play prominent roles in the success of St. Anthony's, "The Miracle of St. Anthony" is mostly about Bob Hurley and the class of 2004 - the most athletically and socially underachieving team in St. Anthony's history. Yet, under Hurley's coaching leadership, the team went undefeated, winning the NJ State Championship and was named by USA Today as the top high school team of the year.

Hurley struggles with the problems of the inner city and sees the potential in these kids that they do not see in themselves. He has always been a disciple of John Wooden... fundamentals, well-conditioned, team play, and defense...and he has always been a no-nonsense driver.

He creates an expectation of performance and accountability that the kids will not find anywhere else in their lives, and helps them out the door to life with values and a voice to become the best they can. And despite his daunting ways, the kids respect Hurley and when returning after graduation, they always come home to the warm embrace of family. The relationship changes from tough task master to a friend.

"St. Anthony's" covers the entire basketball year from pre-season preparations to the championship game. Wojnarowski provides the ups and downs of the season - injuries, players leaving the team, tough wins, and all the key relationships that makes St. Anthony's the special place it is.

This is a great read for anyone interested in coaching, leadership, and basketball.

I love this book. I have read some of the chapters two-three times now and get something more each time. As an amateur woodworker, I don't fully understand what each tool can do yet dream of outcomes that the masters create. This book explains in simple terms the what, how and what should be for each tool, be it a hand plane, chisel, hammer, etc. Most of my other woodworking books that speak of tools only touch on how to sharpen and maybe adjust but not the how it does it and how it should perform. This book heads to the top of my stack to reach for when I need some tutoring on a particular hand tool.

This is a beautiful book, the moment I read the first chapter I was wishing I'd bought the hard copy so I could put it in pride of place on my bookshelf.
I loved the illustrations, which are on almost every page and give exactly the right amount of detail in a way that photos can't. But the best part is the author's wonderful writing style, which really conveyed a sense of the timeliness and pleasure of woodworking. Even when describing such mundane things as taking measurements, the author has a great knack of focussing on the human aspect of the process, the decisions that need to be made and the emotions that the wrong and the right decision evoke. This, to me, is the reason working with handtools it is such a satisfying pastime, and this book wraps up all of those experiences in a really beautiful way. Top marks.

Just beginning my adventure in woodworking, this book has done exactly as it claims in the back cover. It feels like I have a readily available experience woodworker in my pocket whenever I have a question about a tool. The explanation is clear like a craftsman would teach his apprentice, and because of this, the obvious question of what tool should I get first and what tool should be my next purchase is easily answered, without actually saying. The drawings make the book almost timeless, not dated by photos, and the diagrams are reminiscent of the technical sketch you may see on a drafting table. I purchased other books along with this, but keep referencing back to this book to answer my questions about what tool do I need for the next part of the job. The writing is easily explanatory and conversational at once, and is quite enjoyable to read. You can either read it in a linear fashion, from front to back, or you can choose the tool you have questions about (from the Table of Contents) and move directly to it to have your question answered.

Free bench plans if you've never built a workbench, are included. This is a book that could sell itself if you had a chance to open it up.

I don't gush over books very often but this is one of the best investments I have ever made. The illustrations are startling and the writing is clear and unadorned.

What Watson does very well is assume nothing with regard to his reader. He neither panders to the "old pro" nor is condescending to the "rank amateur." He just talks about how to use hand tools, how to think about hand tools and how to appreciate hand tools. I don't think there is a person doing wood working today who would not find something in here that makes them say "Oh, yeah..., that's a good idea."

I have spent quite a lot of money on the Taunton woodworking library and I value them highly. They are good books. But this one is the first one I pick up when I am just spending a few minutes sitting down or before drifting off to sleep.

One caution - this book is about "hand tools" and does include chapters on tools like "hand augurs" which very few of us use, however I have to admit I am tempted to buy one just because of the obvious pleasure this guy has in them. One of my quirks I suppose.

Watson has written a clear and concise user's manual for woodworking hand tools. He includes many of the basic hand tools that are overlooked (such as the brace and drawknife) in other hand tool books. I got more information out of Watson's clear drawings than I did from the beautiful photographs in Garrett Hack's "Classic Hand Tools" book. This book is meant to be kept in your workshop instead of on the coffeetable.

This is a great book. For those fans of Tim Kurkijan, you can't go wrong on this read. Bought it for my husband, not only did he enjoy it, but I did too. great wit and a real fun book.

Long-time baseball writer and commentator Tim Kurkjian shares a great collection of off-beat and insightful baseball stories in his book. Kurkjian's love for the game and what he does comes through loud and clear.

Kurkjian covers a wide range of topics, including scouts, coaches, managers, spring training, being hit by the pitch, humorous incidents and much more. His stories are fresh, tightly written and entertaining.

This book focuses on all the reasons why you love baseball and why you know it's the best sport.

Tim K. found the essence of the game of baseball. His passion and love of the game come thru in this book. If you are any kind of a fan of baseball you will really enjoy "Is This a Great Game or What."

I am a baseball enthusiast and have read a lot of books on the subject. But this book had to be one of the best. Tim Kurkjian gives us a behind the scenes look not just at the sport of baseball, but the characters behind the scenes that make it the great sport it is.

There are a lot of funny stories not just about the players, but also the managers, agents, GM's, owners and scouts. You name it, and there is a story about it.

What makes baseball to me such a great sport are the athletes that are involved. And baseball players have to be the goofiest and funniest there are out there. And Tim Kurkjian captured that perfectly in this book.

Writing about baseball and being around the game his whole life, I can't wait for the next book to come out and I will be the first in line to buy it.

This is the best baseball book I've read in a long, long time.

With this slim volume (it could have been twice as long and I still wouldn't have had enough...) Tim Kurkjian vaults ahead of his peers to become one of the pre-eminent baseball writers alive today.

His elegant yet conversational style comes across beautifully on the printed page. It is so easy to read, yet many of his descriptions or turns-of-phrase are nicely constructed, poetic and hilarious.

His arguments...baseball fans LIVE for arguments...are so concise yet clear-cut, that I will tell you there is no question who's a better baseball player, Ruth or Bonds. It may be obvious to you, yet Kurkjian's theorem is iron-clad, and funny as all get out.

The theoretical question as to how many baseballs would an average person hit off the average professional pitcher...the answer, unequivocally, is zero...is answered SO unequivocally that it's brilliant in its' brevity and wit.

There are great lines and great stories on each and every page of this book. I was actually sad when it was done.

I will buy every single baseball book Mr. Kurkjian writes, for the rest of his career, based on this one book.

It's that good. By a mile.

Product was exactly as described. Arrived right on time when I needed it for the holidays. Thanks so much!

This is the perfect book for beginners. If you car just now getting into fishing, this is a great first book, no matter what type of fish you going for. It talks about different type of fishing and goes into details on how to catch them, and also some good boating/tackle info.

I would say for beginners, like me, this should be the first book you buy.

This book is great and everything I need to know, and then some,regarding freshwater fishing.

I was looking for a book that covered all freshwater fish species. I am mostly a bass & panfish fisherman, but I do get occasional opportunities to angle for something else. I wanted a book that would allow me to read a chapter on a specific type of fish and know some good lure types and tactics to try if such an opportunity arose. Overall, this book does a good job at meeting those requirements. On a few of the species the lure information seemed a little sparse and some of the information on tactics was information that was already talked about earlier in the same chapter. Some of the tactics also specified the use of a boat/fish finder, which may not work the best if you are fishing from shore or a canoe/kayak. The book covers most freshwater gamefish species found in the US(bass, walleye, trout, etc), but I would also have liked to have seen a chapter on non-gamefish (carp, gar, etc). Overall a recommended book.

Although it says it's a Complete Guide, I didn't find it so. There is a level of assumed knowledge. So if you're a beginner, like me, skip this book and find something more basic.
Specifically, it doesn't show how to thread a rod/reel; it doesn't show how to connect up sinkers, spinners, hooks, etc in the combinations you need for each type of fishing; and it doesn't describe how to do certain types of fishing -- it just names them and moves on.
It's also not specific enough for the region you live in. It's a wide overview of the types of Freshwater fish found in the US, but it doesn't break it down by region. Try to find a local guidebook for the types of fish in your specific area instead.

This book was used in my Exercise Phys course last year, and I must say that it is very thorough and presented in an easy-to-understand format. The text has many illustrations and graphs to show you the dynamics of each concept. I had no Exercise Physiology background prior to this class, and this book made all the difference in being successful with the new material. I have, on numerous occasion, referred back to this text for information after completing the class. I highly recommend purchasing this book at least as a reference go-to for any Exercise Science enthusiast.

This book maybe contains some useful information, but not for me. I would never recommend it as an instructional book.
Some parts are totally misleading for the beginners. Chapter about the serve especially disappointing - there is no sense to waist time to teach a serve like this. After reading this book I started immediately to look for other instructional material.

I have been a tennis coach for 22 years and have coached at every level. I was a college coach for years and now I coach players at the National level. I read Oscar's book about 5 years ago and thought it was somewhat flimsy. It looked too simple to be true. It is as if I wanted it to be complex to work. The truth is I reread this book three times looking for the truth it held. I decided to try the drills and exercises on myself before totally discounting the book. What I found was that Oscar's concepts were genius. These concepts have bridged the technical aspects of tennis with the all important feel and rhythm. It is a must read for all coaches and students. I do agree that seeing the DVD's was a big help. I think you can get them both as a set here at Amazon.

I have been a tennis coach for 22 years and have coached at every level. I was a college coach as well as a coach of touring pros. I read Oscar's book about 5 years ago and thought it was somewhat flimsy. It looked too simple to be true. It is as if I wanted it to be complex to work. The truth is I reread this book three times looking for the truth it held. I decided to try the drills and exercises on myself before totally discounting the book. What I found was that Oscar's concepts were genius. These concepts have bridged the technical aspects of tennis with the all important feel and rhythm. It is a must read for all coaches and students.

Oscar's instructions are so deceptively simple that a beginner might have difficulty comprehending them. The best way to learn tennis with Oscar's technique is to buy his dvd's. Just google his name and you will find his website.

Oscar's tennis perspective has changed my game over nite. I've been playing the game using classic style for a long time and saw a decline in my ability to compete with modern players. Oscar's explanation of the modern forehand and backhand has made it easy for me to make the transition. My new skills has enabled me to compete with more success agaisnt modern players.

This book is good for players who have been playing for a long time using classical style of the 70's who want to adapt to the modern style of play.
Good companion for beginner while taking some lessons from the teaching pros. It's a great book for all you frustrated players looking for something to bring back the edge.

This book was very disappointing. I am a 4.0 player. I was expecting an advanced book since the man talks about how he had something to do with Gustavo Kuerten's success. But as the book went on it was more tailored for beginners, telling people to choke up on the racquet in order to learn a stroke, how to hit top spin, etc. It's explanations oversimplify everything to a fault and the pictures accompanying the text are amateurish and inaccurate. For example, in explaining the serve motion, in one picture a woman is using the eastern grip to serve (ala a beginner) but in another picture the guy is using a continental and the text does not point out the difference or that there are different grips at all like the eastern, semi-western, western or continental. On the backhand grip, he says to put the thumb behind the racquet. He talks about the american twist serve but only explains its effect; not how to hit it or what grip to use. In another example, he is explaining the windshield wiper forehand but the woman in the picture isn't doing it.

It is the worst tennis book I've bought from Amazon so far. No wonder there are only six ratings on it but they all rate it very highly so I bought it. Now I regret it.

With HIGH HEAT, Carl Deuker again shows a steady hand with plot as he tells the tale of Shane Hunter, a kid who loses his father early on in the book and fights personal turmoil on the baseball diamond as a star closer. This melodramatic start soon takes a back seat to more pedestrian tribulations, however, as Shane's mother and sister Marian are left with little money and must move with Shane to city housing. The jolt is even bigger for our protagonist, who leaves a posh private school's winning team for a struggling city school's losing one.

This YA title is an excellent choice for parents and teachers of middle school boys who are reluctant readers -- if they are sports fans at least and baseball fans especially. Yes, there is a lot of game description and yes, people who are bored by baseball should steer clear. Other than that, it's a clear case of, "What's not to like?"

The best part of the novel is Deuker's deft handling of psychological issues. When fireballing closer Shane beans hot-hitting Reese Robertson, the very kid who moved into Shane's old mansion, there are two casualties. The incident puts Robertson in the hospital, but another headcase (Shane) is left untreated. The fallout of it all is a great pitcher who loses his ability to throw strikes and a great hitter who loses his ability to hit line drives.

The road to recovery becomes the heart of the book, and it's a book with heart, indeed. For its target audience, HIGH HEAT goes right over the heart of the plate. And in Coach Grandison, Deuker gives readers one of those irresistible mentor types that make great sports books for teens worth the money. Highly recommended.

If you like either of thse two things High Heat by Carl Deuker is the perfect book for you! High heat is about a kid that is a closer for his school team. He was really good, until all these tragedys happened to this pour kid. It is really suspenceful. It is just about the best book ever made. The story in this book is so fantastic. Once you read the first 3 pages you wont stop and befor you know it you will be half way through the book. Believe me and please read this book i know you will like it if you like baseball or even suspence.

High Heat
By: Carl Dueker

It all started when sixteen-year-old Shane Hunter's dad was caught in a drug deal. Shane had it all, big house, a lot of friends, the richest school in his area, and the best baseball team in the state. But then, something happens causing him to lose all of that and even make him quit the one thing that he loves and has never ever thought about quitting before.
What I liked about this book was that as soon as I picked it up I could instantly connect to Shane. Anyone who is a true baseball fan can connect to this book. Carl Dueker does an amazing job drawing the reader into the book. I read the first couple pages and I couldn't put the book down. Every minute there was a different scene shocking me. It kept me guessing and I think that's the kind of book that every reader wants to read.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a baseball fanatic, and anyone who has had something going great and everything going their way, when boom it all just goes down the drain.

Max M.

Shane Hunter, a sophomore at Shorelake High School had it all; money, great friends and baseball. One day, his perfect world changes when Shane's father is arrested for money laundering and commits suicide. Shane's family must move to the "other" side of town that Shane despises. Shane has a difficult time adjusting to his new life and gets arrested for stealing and his punishment is repairing a local baseball diamond. This brings back memories of his old life, and Shane is faced with the decision of whether or not he should join the team and continue playing the game his father taught him. Will fear of failure overpower him or will he step up to the plate? Read this book and find out!
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Mainly because it's about baseball and baseball is my favorite sport. But the book has more to offer, it deals with how a teenager copes with the suicide of a parent.
It also tells how Shane struggled when he had to move and change schools. Whether you're a baseball fan or not this is a book you won't want to put down until you finish it.

I liked this book because it was a great book. I play baseball so I thought it would be a good book to read.
Shane Hunter is a great relief pitcher at Shorelake High School in Seattle. At one of his games, these two guys come a take Shane's dad away. He was caught for money laundering. Shane's dad commits suicide and they have to move away to a new house that is a lot smaller. Shane gets caught stealing beer with his friends and for his punishment, he has to do community service and get counseling for a year. For his community service, he gets to clean up a baseball field. He does a great job on the field. The next year, Shane goes to Whitman High School and plays baseball there. His team has an okay season. During that year, Shane hits a kid named Reese Robertson in the head and sends him to the hospital. Shane doesn't pitch as well for the rest of the year and Reese doesn't play as well as he used to be able to. The next year, Shane plays on the baseball team again and they have a great season and make it into the playoffs. A guy on Shane's team, Kim Seung, gets a full scholarship to USC. A scout from the University of Portland is looking at Shane to see if he wants to recruit him. In the playoffs, Whitman faces the Shorelake team. The game comes down to the last pitch and it is Shane against Reese. Will Shane strike out Reese and win the game for his team? Or will Reese get a hit and win the game for his team? Read the book and find out.
I think that sports readers would like this book because it is a great baseball book and it keeps you interested. Also, realistic fiction readers would like this book too because the things that happen in this book could really happen in real life.