Fenway Fever!

Gr 5-8–It is the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox, and everyone is excited for a great season, except their star pitcher, Billee Orbit. The Red Sox have finally broken the Curse of the Bambino, winning two World Series, but Billee believes there is a new curse. To help him work through it, he turns to his young friend Alfredo ‘Stats’ Pagano, of Papa Pagano’s Red Sox Red Hots hotdog stand, a staple at Fenway since Alfredo’s grandfather opened it when he arrived in America. Billee and Stats try to figure out what could have caused the new curse and how to counter it. They look into all possibilities, including the ballpark’s history, Chi, ley lines, and pyramids. This discussion of mysticism could be confusing and turn off readers. Stats has other problems. He was born with a weak heart, which keeps him from playing baseball, but it can’t stop his love for the game, and he is facing a difficult surgery that could help him or be fatal. On top of that, his father is facing some financial difficulties and may have to sell off the hotdog stand. Reluctant readers may lose interest in the story due to the slow pace and lack of action.–Erik Carlson, White Plains Public Library, NY