“Friday Night Lights meets baseball in this edgy coming-of-age story about overcoming adversity and personal tragedy.” – Publishers Weekly
Andy Lembo is bent on becoming the starting catcher on a talent-packed varsity baseball team in his senior year at a new high school–whereas his brother Daniel, still a junior, is a shoe-in to be the team’s ace. With his 88-mile-per-hour fastball, Daniel has Major League scouts drooling. The brothers are tight and share a dream of winning the state championship. They also share painful memories of child abuse. But Andy carries extra burdens, from panic attacks to a shaky relationship with their father. Then there’s that burn scar covering half of Andy’s face and the bully who won’t leave Andy alone.
Chock-full of nail-biting baseball games, the Panthers are inching toward the division championship. But then Andy loses his biggest supporter in a freak accident and he blames himself for what happened. His emotions raw, Andy quits the baseball team and school, while his father calls him a loser. Eventually, a treasured memory coaxes Andy to attempt a challenging comeback. Andy must find the strength to go the distance–for himself, but also for his brother and their shared dream.
