One-Handed Catch

By MJ Auch
Sport: Baseball
Rating: 3 3/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Norman is your average 6th grader living in a small resort town in New York in the summer of 1946. But one day, while working in his father's grocery store, Norm has an accident with the meat grinder and loses his left hand. Norm is devastated, not least because now playing baseball is out of the question. But after his doctor shows him an article about a one-handed player in the major leagues, Norman decides he can try to play baseball, too. His father and his best friend Leon try to discourage him, feeling he will only fail, but Norm pushes himself harder than he ever has before to learn how to bat, field and pitch one-handed. He does make the summer league team, but now, a year after the accident, with the big game on the line, will Norman be able to help his team win? This is a cut above the average sports story, with plenty of character growth as Norman learns to live life again with only one hand as well as how his family and friends deal with the situation. Involving and interesting!