One-Handed Catch

November 1, 2008
Gr 5-9-Mary Jane Auch's novel (Holt, 2006), narrated by 11-year-old Norm Schmidt, opens on the morning of July 4, 1946, with the whole town excited that rationing is over and fireworks are back. Norm, helping out in his family's meat market, catches his hand in the meat grinder and is rushed to the hospital. His hand must be amputated, and his dreams of bikes, cars, baseball, and drawing may be over. His parents react to the accident in different ways. His father becomes stoic with guilt, and his mother insists that Norm learn to do everything for himself. When Norm's best buddy tries to convince him to give up on baseball, the boy only becomes more fired up to try harder. An article about a one-handed major league pitcher provides additional encouragement. Norm also learns to fit back into life at school as a result of his mother's admonition to his teachers that he get no special treatment and a new friend who helps him become more confident of his artistic abilities. A colorful bully, Norm's best friend's sense of humor, the Boy Scouts, and baseball add to the fun. Listening to this book is like falling into a Norman Rockwell painting and getting to live among genuine post-war Americans. Narration by Ryan Sparkes and the Full Cast Family is enjoyable and well done. Period music and an interview with the author and her husband, whose childhood inspired the novel, add to this superior production. Fans of John Ritter's "The Boy Who Saved Baseball" (Philomel, 2003), "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf, 2003), and Edward Bloor's "Tangerine" (Harcourt, 1997) will enjoy this audiobook."Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY"

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