Hothead (Cal Ripken, Jr.'s All-Stars)

Gr 3-6—Connor Sullivan seems to have it made: the seventh-grade all-star shortstop is well liked by his teammates and has a good shot at the invitation-only Brooks Robinson Camp. But he hasn't told anyone that his dad was laid off from his job as a car salesman, and that financial worries are creating tension at home. The stress starts to get the better of Connor on the field, and the previously even-tempered player starts having major meltdowns. At first, his outbursts are self-directed, but when his best friend misses a catch, Connor lashes out at him as well. After a couple of warnings, Connor is suspended for a game, and he knows that if he can't rein in his temper, Coach Hammond will oust him from the team. To make matters worse, the sports editor of the school paper got some footage of Connor losing his temper and is threatening a feature story. When Coach stops by to talk with Connor's dad, the job situation comes to light and Connor is able to vent some of his fears and frustrations. Not surprisingly, things begin to look up, and while he has a few minor setbacks along the way, he ultimately learns that he can control his reactions. Although fairly formulaic, this book has plenty to recommend it. Baseball history aficionados will enjoy Ripken's homage to fellow Oriole superstars, and the book has engaging characters and plenty of on-the-field action. Fans of Mike Lupica and Matt Christopher will be thrilled.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In a surprisingly bland story given the title, retired Baltimore Orioles star and first-time children's book author Ripken and coauthor Cowherd introduce seventh-grader Connor Sullivan, a baseball phenom with a killer swing but an ever-mounting temper. Connor's team is headed for the Babe Ruth League championship, until his game-time outbursts jeopardize the team's success. Suddenly Connor's life is on a downward spiral: his best friend balks at his poor behavior, his coach threatens to kick him off the team, financial pressures mount at home (his father has been out of work for months), and an annoying but cute classmate insists on documenting his demise for the school newspaper. A pep talk from his coach gets Connor back on track, and—no surprise—Connor rebounds to lead his team to victory. Ripken and Cowherd's characters are empathetic (the economic stresses weighing on Connor add to his relatability and to the book's timeliness), and baseball fans should find the action on the diamond enjoyable if not nail-biting. Still, the plot is a little too familiar, and Connor's "all is lost" moment is mild. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.