I picked this digital ARC based on the title and the promise of a sports novel -- always a request in my middle school classroom. However, this is much more a family relationships novel, with some friendships and a fairy tale thrown in. Rick and his mom are spending the summer on the Oregon coast to clean out Grandpa's house in preparation for a move to assisted living. Rick gets the chance to play on a local club baseball team, something he hopes will replace the club opportunities he's missing back home in California. His closest friend ends up being a teammate's sister (who is sometimes allowed to play), probably his best option as a lot of the team are spoiled brats. The coach isn't any better as Rick illegally plays in another player's spot on the roster, something that should have cost the team their playoff chances.

Rather than much baseball action, this story centers more in Rick getting to know his grandfather and his mother rebuilding her relationship with her father. Rick bonds with Grandpa over a fairy tale of an underwater kingdom that has many parallels to their own family history. It was a great family story and a story of finding integrity in friendships -- but it won't satisfy my readers looking for a story about 400 million dollars or an epic summer of baseball.

I'm not a sports fan by any stretch, but I loved this story of how 12 year old Rick's anticipated summer of nothing but playing baseball with his team takes an unexpected turn when his mother takes him to Oregon to help move his grandfather into a residential facility. Rick ends up bonding with his grandfather as well as playing on a highly competitive local team, and learns a lot about both his family and his beloved baseball, including whether winning really is the most important thing. I really enjoyed the way the author worked in the Japanese folktale Urashima Taro, and what a wonderful aha moment when I realized who Rick's mother is. A satisfying and enjoyable read!

Twelve-year-old, biracial (Japanese American/white), LA-native Rick is obsessed with baseball—he’s a pitcher on his 12U team—and dismayed to learn that he’s going to have to spend the summer in a small town on the Oregon coast. He and his mom need to help his grandfather sell his house and find an assisted living facility. Rick doesn’t know much about Grandpa, whose relationship with Rick’s mom is distant and strained, but he turns out to be pretty cool. He shares a special Japanese picture book with Rick, a folk tale about a man named Urashima Taro. But Rick is confused when Grandpa starts messing up the pronouns in the story, using “I” instead of “he,” putting himself in the place of the main character. Is this a sign of dementia, a language barrier, or something else?

Meanwhile, Rick meets a girl named Toni while out exploring the creek. While there, he rescues a turtle from Toni’s twin brother and his friends, who are tormenting it, and takes the turtle home with him to keep as a pet. (Surprisingly, his mom has no objection to taking a wild animal out of its natural habitat.) Rick learns that Toni loves baseball, too, but since she’s a girl she can’t play on her brother’s 13U team. But Rick can—sort of. A player named Rich Garcia had to leave for baseball camp, leaving the team (which already finalized its roster) without their star player. Desperate to win at any cost, the coach lets Rick join the team under Garcia’s name, using Garcia’s jersey.

At home, they sell Grandpa’s house and find him a new place to live, and Rick also learns more about Grandpa’s past. I had some trouble following the story of Grandpa’s past and his relationship with Rick’s mother. I know Grandpa had essentially abandoned his family to move back to Japan to help his parents out. Part of what made it confusing was that it was told in pieces over the course of the book; it was also mixed in with the Urashima Taro story, which Grandpa uses a sort of metaphor for his regrets. Overall, it's a bit jumbled and confusing. There’s also a magical realism element that (for me) didn't mesh well with the rest of the story. It's a small part of the story, though, and the baseball elements were really strong and engaging.

Sweet book. I wish he got the money in the end, but I do love that he grew in his relationship with his friends and family. I have Waka T. Brown's other two books so I will be excited to read another.

This was an enjoyable book filled with lots of baseball, folktales, and friendship. It is not a book that I would have originally picked up had I not received an ARC, but I'm so glad that I did read it. I appreciated the relationship Rick built with his grandfather and how his mother and grandfather talked about decades-old issues. It will be a book that I add to my classroom library and recommend to students.

This was a great story about figuring out who you are and what you’re willing to stand up for. I loved how Brown incorporated the grandfather’s stories into the narrative. This is a great title for young readers who enjoy baseball.

I read this book with my 11 year old son and we both really enjoyed it. We enjoyed learning some aspects of Japanese culture and history.Rick was a very relatable character. The story was well written and the plot well paced.

This heartwarming and tender story tackles the difficult histories in a family, the challenges of divorce and moving away from your friends, and a baseball obsession. It centers around 12-year old Rick who must leave his LA town and his summer baseball league to help his mom take care of his elderly Japanese grandfather. While Rick is resistant to this move, he ends up learning many things about his family's history and some of the issues that his mom faced as a child when her dad left their family to return to Japan for many years. Rick develops a special relationship with his grandfather as well as a new appreciation of his mom. But, don't think this is all touchy-feely. If you are fan of baseball, you will love following Rick's journey as he gets to play on a competitive baseball team and befriends a local girl who is as obsessed with baseball as he is.

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Rick’s plans for the summer are baseball, baseball, and more baseball. With a coach who actually wants to win and doesn’t play everyone, maybe even make regionals or state.

Then his mother throws a spanner in the works by taking him to spend the summer with his Grandfather, who has been struggling physically, and hopefully move him into assisted living.

Rick meets a new team, and, through his grandfather’s stories, learns more about his Japanese heritage…except…his grandfather’s life ALSO runs pretty close to said folk tales. His new team…doesn’t follow all the rules…things just aren’t quite what they seem…or are they?

This is an enjoyable book for those who enjoy baseball. Cross-generational stories, or folk tales. I think it will find its place in many school libraries and classrooms.

This book was just okay for me. I struggled to connect with the characters. I loved the story line though. Great summer read.