John Ritter, San Diego mountains
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Choosing Up Sides bookcover

The Story behind the Story

Reviews

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Teacher and Parent Resources

Notorious Lefties

 

 

Reviews of
Choosing Up Sides

  • "No ordinary baseball book, this is a rare first novel."
    Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

  • "A dramatic and inspirational story."
    The Los Angeles Times

  • "Beginning with one of the best opening paragraphs in recent memory... With its wide appeal, this first-person story is a recommended purchase for all public and school libraries."
    —Dr. Stefani Koorey, VOYA

  • "...the pure joy of baseball and...its redemptive power."
    —Elizabeth Bush, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

  • "Like the best...sports novels of Robert Lipsyte, Chris Crutcher, or Walter Dean Myers, this novel goes well beyond the issues involved in a game... Authentic...suspenseful...excellent..."
    —Dr. Marjorie M. Kaiser, The ALAN Review

Awards:

  • Winner of the 1999 International Reading Association's "Children's Book Award."
  • Named an American Library Association "Best Book for Young Adults."
  • Named a 1999 "Blue Ribbon Book" by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
  • Named an International Reading Association "Young Adult Readers Choice" for 2000.
  • Named to the Children's Book Council's "Adult Crossover" list.
 

Home | Blog | Books | Bio | Interviews | Music | Essays | FAQ | Appearances | Contact
Fenway Fever | The Desperado Who Stole Baseball | The Boy Who Saved Baseball | Under the Baseball Moon | Choosing Up Sides | Over the Wall