Super-sized Slugger: Cal Ripkin Jr.'s All-Stars Series

Gr 5–7—"Porker." "Chubster." "Fat Boy." Cody Parker has heard them all. He prefers "brawny." He would also prefer to play third base, but not all coaches let him. And not all teammates either. When Cody moves to Baltimore (aka Dullsville), he joins the Dulaney Babe Ruth League's Team Orioles. While the coach is thrilled to have him, Dante Rizzo, local bully and third baseman wannabe, makes Cody his new target. And when a series of thefts begins plaguing Cody's school, life gets even more complicated. While there are no curveballs in the story's plot, diehard baseball fans will enjoy the play-by-plays of all of Cody's games and the satisfying, if predictable, ending. Stephen Hoye's pleasant narration makes it a good read-along option for groups or reluctant readers, and his enthusiasm adds a nice touch to the baseball scenes.—Michaela Schied, Indian River Middle School, Philadelphia, NY