Bullet Point

Gr 9 Up—Wyatt Lathem, a high school sophomore, lives with his mom, stepfather, and younger sister, and is on the varsity baseball team. When budget cuts shut down his school's baseball program, Wyatt's coach suggests that he transfer to another school so that he can play baseball and possibly get a full scholarship to college. When the boy learns that his best friend is also moving to Silver City to play baseball, he suggests that they both live with his aunt. Unfortunately, only one transfer student can play sports, and Wyatt's friend gets the spot. When Wyatt's father, who has lost his job, gets abusive and threatens the boy, Wyatt decides to move anyway. Wyatt learns that his biological father, Sonny, who he has never met, is in the Silver City penitentiary accused of murder. Wyatt meets Greer, a 19-year-old whose father is in prison with his dad, and she helps arrange a meeting. Wyatt begins to think that his father is innocent and makes a series of very bad decisions. Peter Abraham's gritty novel (HarperTeen, 2010), with strong language and sexual situations, never really seems to have a point. Rich Orlow does an adequate job with the narration, but doesn't provide enough voice changes to easily distinguish the characters.—Suanne B. Roush, Osceola High School, Seminole, FL