John's public speaking schedulePublished Interviews with John
Over the Wall
(unabridged)
6 cassettes
7:25 hrs.
Recorded Books 2000 ISBN 0-7887-4570-0
Grades 6-9
John H. Ritter follows his critically acclaimed debut novel, Choosing Up Sides (Philomel, 1998), with Over the Wall (Philomel, 2000), a metaphorically complex treatment of the Vietnam War, emotional alienation, rage, and the catastrophic familiar effects of a child's death, all of which are played out in the uniquely American crucible of a baseball field.
Thirteen-year-old Tyler Waltern leaves his mother and distant father, emotionally shattered since the accidental death of Tyler's older sister some nine years earlier, to spend the summer in New York City with his uncle, aunt, and cousins. Tyler's considerable athletic prowess on a Central Park Little League team is overshadowed by his propensity for uncontrollable temper tantrums. A firm but sympathetic coach, the attention and help from his sagacious teenage cousin Brina, and several pilgrimages to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. contribute to Tyler's revelatory growth and redemption.
Narrator Johnny Heller is superb and completely natural in his seamless boyish vocal execution of Tyler while also providing a mature dimension to the adult characters.
An added bonus is the concluding interview with the author who discusses, among other topics, the novel's multidimensional themes and structure.
Imbued with passion, absolution, and grace, this beautiful story beautifully told is destined to become one of the year's best young adult audiobooks.
--Barry X. Miller
Austin Public Library, Austin, TX.
You can buy or rent the Audiotape version of Over the Wall from Recorded Books. This is the link to their Web site:
Over the Wall is published by Philomel Books, a division of
Penguin Putnam, New York.
© John H. Ritter, 2000 ISBN #0-399-23489-6.
You can buy or rent an excellent AUDIO VERSION of Choosing Up Sides from:
Choosing Up Sides is published by Philomel Books, a division of
Penguin Putnam, New York.
© John H. Ritter, 1998 ISBN #0-399-23185-4.
Teaching Aids and Classroom Plans
John's public speaking schedule
Published Interviews with John
Go to the Choosing Up Sides page
Order Choosing Up Sides
Go to the Over The Wall page
Order Over the Wall
Go to The Boy Who Saved Baseball page
Order The Boy Who Saved Baseball
Read an excerpt from Under the Baseball Moon
Order Under the Baseball Moon
Lefty info