The Fenway Foul-Up is the kickoff to a massive series of early chapter books called the Ballpark Mysteries. The premise is simple: cousins Mike and Kate travel to different Major League ballparks where they inevitably stumble into a mystery that needs solving before the ninth inning.

In this first installment, they’re at Fenway Park in Boston. The Red Sox star player, Big Papi (a very thinly veiled David Ortiz), has his "lucky bat" stolen right before a big game. Mike and Kate use their powers of observation and logic to track it down.

It’s not high literature, and it’s certainly not "gritty," but in a world where kids are often overstimulated by the frantic pace of Skibidi Toilet or the high-stakes dopamine hits of Roblox, there is something incredibly grounding about a story where the "big problem" is a missing piece of sports equipment.

We talk a lot at Screenwise about "digital wellness," but a huge part of that is providing compelling analog alternatives. By the time kids hit 2nd or 3rd grade, their reading level often lags behind their interest level. They want stories that feel "grown-up" and "cool," but they might not have the stamina for a 300-page Harry Potter book yet.

The Fenway Foul-Up solves this "Goldilocks" problem. The chapters are short (usually 5-8 pages), the vocabulary is accessible but introduces sports-specific terms, and there are illustrations every few pages to give the brain a micro-break.

It’s a "safe" book. You don't have to worry about weird thematic shifts or heavy-handed social commentary. It’s just kids being smart and solving problems. If your kid is currently obsessed with saying things are "Ohio" (meaning weird or cringe) or spending all their time in Brookhaven, this is a great way to pivot them back to a linear, focused narrative.

Kids at this age (6-9) are developmentally in a phase where they love "knowing things." They love outsmarting the adults. The Ballpark Mysteries allow them to play detective alongside Mike and Kate. The clues are laid out clearly enough that a focused reader can actually solve the mystery a few pages before the characters do, which provides a massive confidence boost.

David A. Kelly does a great job of mixing fiction with real-world facts. Each book ends with a "Ballpark Guide" section that explains the history of the stadium. For a kid who is into sports, this makes the book feel like a "real" hobby rather than a school assignment. It’s the same reason kids love National Geographic Kids—it validates their interests in the real world.

Let’s be real: kids love a series. Once they finish The Fenway Foul-Up, they know exactly what to do next. There are over 20 books in the series now, covering almost every major team. It removes the "choice paralysis" that often leads kids back to their iPads when they can't find something to read.

Check out our full list of the best book series for 7-year-olds

If your kid speeds through the Fenway mystery, here are the logical next steps to keep that reading momentum going.

This is the gold standard for early chapter book mysteries. Three friends solve crimes in their small town. Like the Ballpark Mysteries, it relies on logic and observation rather than magic or luck.

If they like the "traveling to new places" aspect of the baseball books, Magic Tree House is the ultimate time-travel equivalent. It’s a slightly lower reading level than The Fenway Foul-Up, making it a great confidence-builder for younger readers.

For a slightly more classic feel, these books are the "OG" of kid detectives. They have a bit more text and fewer illustrations, so this is a good "level up" once they've finished 5 or 6 Ballpark Mysteries.

If you want to have a family movie night that matches the "vibe" of these books, The Sandlot is the perfect choice. It captures that same sense of neighborhood independence and sports-centric childhood.

There is zero "parental advisory" needed here. No bad language, no violence (beyond a stolen bat), and no scary themes.

One thing to watch for: Mike and Kate do a lot of wandering around the stadium without an adult hovering directly over them. In the 2025 world of AirTags and "stranger danger" anxiety, this might feel a bit unrealistic to some parents, but it’s essential for the "kid-hero" trope. It’s a great opening to talk about situational awareness and what to do if they ever actually got separated from you in a crowd.

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If you want to turn this into a "Screenwise moment" (where you’re using media to build critical thinking), try asking these questions after they finish:

The Fenway Foul-Up isn't going to win a Pulitzer, but it is a "home run" for what it is: a clean, engaging, and educational entry point into the world of independent reading.

In a digital landscape that is increasingly fragmented and "brain-rot" adjacent, a book that teaches a kid to sit still, follow a sequence of events, and use their brain to solve a puzzle is a massive win. If you have a kid who loves sports but "hates" reading, buy this book. It might just change their mind.