No Cream Puffs

July 1, 2008
Gr 5-8-In this novel set in 1980, Madison is an awkward 12-year-old who is taller than most of the boys in her class. As summer begins, she finds herself on the outs with her friend Sara and thrust into the role of reluctant trailblazer as the first girl to play league baseball in her area of Southern Michigan. Madison's a gifted athlete, but she doesn't like being called a tomboy and she's not sure how she feels about baseball. She loves to pitch, but is uncomfortable with the pressure and the crowds and is self-conscious about her changing body. She struggles to fit in with her teammates, developing a crush on one boy and finding an unexpected ally in another. Also, she finds herself bristling at her mother's attempts to be supportive. The coming-of-age theme is familiar, but Madison's voice and perceptions ring true. At times, Day's plot feels a bit overcrowded and a few of the supporting characters seem one-dimensional, but these are small missteps in an otherwise engaging novel. Recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Kristi Roberts's "My Thirteenth Season" (Holt, 2005) and Dori Hillestad Butler's "Sliding into Home" (Peachtree, 2003)."Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2008
Twelve-year-old tomboy Madison is the only girl to play in the boys' summer baseball league in 1980 Michigan. She just wants to compete but finds herself the focus of unwanted attention. Madison, feisty and strong-minded, struggles with changing friendships, gender roles, labels such as "trailblazer" and "feminist," and harsh criticism in this thoughtful sports story.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)