This is what good middle-grade fiction looks like: a page-turning sports story that doesn't talk down to kids about real-world problems. Lupica threads the needle between 'exciting baseball novel' and 'thoughtful exploration of immigration, loss, and bureaucratic failure' without losing momentum.
The book has aged well since 2007—the themes of documentation, immigration anxiety, and kids falling through systemic cracks are unfortunately still relevant. It's not groundbreaking literature, but it's engaging, emotionally intelligent, and gives kids a lot to think about beyond who wins the big game.
If your kid is into sports, this is an easy yes. If they're not, it's still worth considering for the character development and real-world themes, though the baseball-heavy scenes might test their patience.
