Rhino in Right Field by Stacy DeKeyser
The Hook:
Nick LOVES baseball! If he could, he would be playing baseball every minute of every day. But the year is 1948 and his hard-working, immigrant parents do not get it. They want him working at their shoe store if he’s not studying or at school. They definitely do not want him playing baseball in his spare time. In their view, that would be a waste of time. So, every Saturday morning he is hard at work at the store, not hanging out with his friends on the field.
Then he learns the local minor league baseball team is having a batboy contest. Nick is determined to win! But the contest is on a Saturday—the day Nick works at the shoe store.
Then there is another small problem…. well, not THAT small. The ball field the kids play at is right next to the city zoo. A 2,580-pound rhinoceros named Tank lives right beyond the fence in right field. Anytime the ball flies over right field everyone is scared it will go over the fence and into Tank’s yard. It has happened a couple of times now. One such time, Nick was chosen to retrieve it. He hopped over the fence into Tank’s yard, snagged the ball back and RAN back for the fence hoping to avoid Tank. No such luck. Tank nearly smashed him to bits as he charged after him. Nick does not want to do that again! He lived to tell the tale, but he might not be so lucky next time.
Nick sneaks in baseball every day with his best friend, Ace. and the new girl< Penny, in town who has an impressive throwing arm. But Nick has a tough time entering the contest without his parents’ permission. He has to lie to his parents, blackmail his uncle AND dodge the school bully. Talk about some curveballs!
Is Nick going to be able to keep his eye on the game? You will have to read the book to find out.
This book is in Sora and Axis 360. It is 7 AR points
My Thoughts and Recommendations (Careful! There Could Be Spoilers):
This book has sports and historical fiction all rolled into one. Nick and his immigrant parents from Greece are trying to make a living in the United States. Opening up their own store and working long hours is a family affair in that everyone is expected to help. The family is barely keeping afloat. Nick’s parents’ attitude that baseball is a waste of time is due to their struggle to make it in their community in this time period.
Also, in 1948, it was unusual to see a girl—Penny--playing baseball, and at first the boys were embarrassed to play with her. But once they saw her skills, they accepted her. That cannot be said for the batboy contest. They will not let girls try out. The ending, however, does have a satisfying conclusion for Penny as well.
This is a fun read! I recommend it for students in 4th-7th grades. 4.4 stars.
