Children's middlegrade fiction (grief novel--loss of older sister, with baseball subplot). ( )

This book has a disappointing beginning. There is too much that is unexplained. The chapters alternate between last summer and this summer. Once the book gets moving, this works well, but in the beginning it creates confusion.

The first chapter starts off in the present with Quinnen and her father going to pick up the minor league baseball player who will be living with them for the summer. The second chapter jumps to the past and sets up the best friend relationship between Quinnen and her older sister, Haley. This jumping around before I was invested in the story almost caused me to abandon the book. Since the book is short and I love the dual theme of grief and sports, I pushed on. Eventually, I was on board and sped through to the end.

The gist of the past is that Haley gets a boyfriend and doesn't want to spend as much time with Quinnen anymore. Quinnen is jealous of the boyfriend and ends up doing something stupid to sabotage the relationship. Meanwhile, she is the starting pitcher for the summer baseball team and loves going to her town's minor league games.

The gist of the present is that Quinnen no longer plays baseball. She can't bear the thought of playing without her sister there to watch. She still attends the minor league games to cheer on her favorite players. Two players help her come to terms with her sister's death. Hector teaches her that you have to face your fear and get back in the game. Brandon teaches her that sometimes the ones who annoy you the most are the ones you will miss the most.

At the end of last summer, Haley dies, which sets up the alternating chapters of the summer before her death and the summer after. I'm getting this book because both themes will be popular with girls, especially those who play sports. ( )

Last summer, Quinnen was the star pitcher of her baseball team, the Panthers. They’re headed for the championship, and her loudest supporter at every game was her best friend and older sister, Haley.

This summer, everything is different. Haley’s death, at the end of last summer, has left Quinnen and her parents reeling. Without Haley in the stands, Quinnen doesn’t want to play baseball. It seems like nothing can fill the Haley-sized hole in her world. The one glimmer of happiness comes from the Bandits, the local minor-league baseball team. For the first time, Quinnen and her family are hosting one of the players for the season. Without Haley, Quinnen’s not sure it will be any fun, but soon she befriends a few players. With their help, can she make peace with the past and return to the pitcher’s mound?

Love t! A Heartwarming story of a girl who lived her sister, baseball, and family. Until one day tragedy strikes s d her life changes forever. ( )

Teenage sister Haley was eleven-year-old Quinnen’s biggest fan. Ever since Haley’s death, Quinnen refuses to play baseball. Since her family is devoted Tri-Cities Bandits fans, they decide to house a player for the season. As Quinnen develops relationships with the baseball players, her and her family’s hearts slowly begin to heal.

Author, Jenn Bishop, forces the reader to deeply care about all the characters involved. She writes about a tragic situation in such a loving way and manages to focus on the positive and not dwell in the sorrow of the situation. This is a happy tale of family, friends, and new relationships. We are all human. We are all connected. Well done Jenn Bishop! ( )