FICTION

Say it Ain't So

by Josh BERK
288p. (A Lenny & the Mikes Mystery). Knopf. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780375870095; lib. ed. $19.99. ISBN 9780375970092; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780375987373.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3–7—Berk hits it out of the park with this delightful story of baseball, friendship, and the perils of middle school. Mike can no longer pitch due to a shoulder injury, so with the help of his best friend, Lenny, he becomes a dynamite catcher. He and a new hotshot pitcher heat up the field until Hunter's perfect pitching streak goes sideways. It appears that someone is stealing Mike's catcher signals. Could it be the former catcher who was caught with a stolen phone in his shin guard but swears he's innocent? Or is it possible Mike framed him in order to win the catcher's position? Berk deserves a wide readership with his tale of sports, friendship, loyalty, and humor. Say It Ain't So will appeal to kids who enjoy Matt Christopher but aren't quite ready for Mike Lupica.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK
Mike (Strike Three, You're Dead) can't pitch due to an arm injury but gets back into baseball by moving behind the plate. When Mike lands in the starting lineup after the primary catcher is booted for theft, Lenny and Other Mike suspect there's been a set-up. Lenny's humorous narration distinguishes this solid middle-school sports mystery.
Reviewed by Jane Henriksen Baird , Apr 01, 2014

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