The Sweet Spot

Gr 3-7–A warm, fast-paced novel about baseball, identity, and belonging that will resonate with middle graders, especially baseball fans. Twelve-year-old Trip—“the Third,” proudly carrying a family name and a love of Little League—enters the summer with one clear goal: win the championship. When his father is unexpectedly deployed overseas and a new teammate, Sam (short for Samantha), joins the team, Trip’s carefully balanced world begins to shift both on and off the field. As Trip navigates changing friendships, complicated family dynamics involving parents, siblings, and a memorably flatulent grandfather, he also grapples with leadership, fairness, and what it means to be part of a team. The presence of a girl on the team challenges long-held assumptions, opening space for growth, empathy, and self-reflection. Trip’s internal struggle—wondering whether some people are born with advantages while others must fight harder for recognition—adds emotional depth without slowing the story’s momentum. Humorous, honest, and heartfelt, this novel explores responsibility, loyalty, and standing up for what is right, while affirming that passion and compassion do not have to be at odds. Trip and his family are cued white.